Where to find Gmail notification settings
Gmail notifications appear in different places depending on what device you use. On your phone, they show up in your notification center or lock screen. On your computer, they appear as browser pop-ups or in your system tray. To turn them off, you need to visit the settings for each device separately — turning off notifications on your phone does not affect your computer, and vice versa.
The fastest way to silence notifications without changing any settings is to mute individual conversations. Open any email thread, tap or click the three-dot menu, and select "Mute." That conversation will stop sending you alerts, though new messages will still arrive in your inbox. You can unmute it the same way whenever you want.
Key Takeaways
- Phone notifications turn off in Gmail's settings under Notifications, where you can disable all alerts or choose which types of emails trigger them.
- Computer notifications require changes in your browser settings, not Gmail itself, because they come from your web browser rather than the Gmail app.
- You can mute individual email conversations without touching any settings, which stops alerts for that thread but leaves your inbox intact.
- Gmail's default is to notify you for all new mail, so you must actively change settings to reduce the number of alerts you receive.
Turning off notifications on Android phones
Open the Gmail app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Manage your Google Account," then go to the "Notifications" tab. Tap "Gmail" and you will see options for notification types. You can turn off all notifications by toggling the main switch, or keep notifications on but disable specific types like "New mail" or "Promotions."
If you want to keep some notifications but reduce how often they arrive, look for the "Notification frequency" option. You can set it to "All," "Batched," or "None." Batched notifications group multiple emails together and send one alert instead of many. After you make changes, the Gmail app will stop sending alerts to your phone's notification center immediately.
Turning off notifications on iPhones and iPads
Open the Gmail app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left. Scroll down and tap "Settings," then select your email account. Tap "Notification settings" and you will see toggles for different notification types. Turn off "Notifications" entirely, or disable specific categories like "New mail" while keeping others on.
If you want to receive notifications but silence the sound and vibration, go to your iPhone's Settings app instead. Tap "Notifications," find Gmail in the list, and turn off "Sound" and "Vibration" while leaving notifications enabled. This way you will still see alerts on your lock screen, but your phone will not make noise or vibrate when they arrive.
Turning off notifications on Windows and Mac computers
Gmail notifications on computers come from your web browser, not from Gmail itself. If you use Chrome, click the lock icon next to the web address at the top of the Gmail page, then click "Notifications." Change the setting from "Allow" to "Block." If you use Firefox, click the information icon next to the web address, find "Notifications" in the dropdown, and select "Block."
For Safari on Mac, go to Safari menu > Settings > Websites > Notifications, find Gmail in the list on the left, and change the dropdown to "Deny." After you make this change, Gmail will no longer send pop-up notifications to your desktop. If you want to turn notifications back on later, return to the same location and change the setting back to "Allow."
Controlling notifications without turning them off completely
If you want to keep notifications but receive fewer of them, Gmail offers middle-ground options. In your notification settings, you can choose to receive alerts only for emails from your contacts, or only for messages marked as important. This reduces noise while keeping you informed about messages that matter most.
You can also set quiet hours. In Gmail settings on your phone, look for "Notification schedule" or "Quiet time" and set the hours when you do not want to receive alerts. During those hours, emails will still arrive in your inbox, but your phone will not notify you. This is useful if you want to silence notifications during work, sleep, or meetings without turning them off permanently.
What happens when you turn off notifications
Turning off notifications does not delete your emails or prevent them from arriving. New messages will still appear in your inbox normally — you simply will not receive an alert when they land. You can still check Gmail whenever you open the app or website and see all your mail.
If you turn off notifications and later decide you want them back, you can reverse the change in the same settings menu. There is no penalty for turning notifications on and off as many times as you need. Some people turn them off during the day and turn them back on in the evening, or disable them on weekends and re-enable them on weekdays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off Gmail notifications affect my other Google apps?
No. Gmail notifications are separate from notifications for Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Meet, and other Google services. Changing Gmail notification settings will not affect those apps. You can turn off Gmail alerts while keeping Calendar reminders on, for example.
Can I turn off notifications for just one email address if I have multiple Gmail accounts?
Yes. If you have multiple accounts on the same phone or computer, each account has its own notification settings. Open Gmail, switch to the account you want to change, and adjust its notification settings independently. Other accounts will keep their current settings.
Why am I still getting notifications after I turned them off?
Check whether you changed the setting in the right place. Phone notifications come from the Gmail app settings, while computer notifications come from your browser settings. If you turned off notifications in Gmail but your browser still has them enabled, you will continue to see desktop alerts. Check both locations.
Can I turn off notifications just for promotional emails?
Yes. In Gmail's notification settings, you can disable alerts for specific categories like Promotions, Updates, Forums, or Social. This way you will still get notified about regular emails from people, but not about marketing messages or notifications from websites.