Badge notifications are the small red circles or numbers that appear on app icons to tell you something needs your attention
A badge notification is a small visual marker — usually a red circle with a number or a dot — that sits on top of an app icon on your phone, tablet, or computer. The number tells you how many unread messages, updates, or alerts are waiting for you. A dot or solid circle means something new is there, but the app isn't counting how many items.
You see badges most often on messaging apps like text messages or email, but they appear on almost any app that receives new information. When you open the app and read or clear the items, the badge disappears. If you ignore the notification, the badge stays put until you deal with what triggered it.
Badges are different from push notifications, which are the pop-up messages or sounds that interrupt you when something arrives. A badge is always there on the icon itself, waiting quietly until you notice it.
Key Takeaways
- Badge notifications are small numbers or dots on app icons that show you have unread items or pending actions inside the app.
- The number in a badge tells you exactly how many unread messages, emails, or alerts are waiting — clearing them removes the badge.
- Badges work on phones, tablets, and computers, and they stay visible until you open the app and address what triggered them.
- You can turn badges on or off for individual apps in your device settings, separate from other notification types.
Where you see badges and what they mean
On an iPhone or iPad, badges appear as red circles in the top-right corner of the app icon on your home screen. On Android phones, they look similar but may appear slightly different depending on your phone model and Android version. On a Mac or Windows computer, badges show up on the app icon in the dock or taskbar.
A badge with a number — like a "3" on your email icon — means you have three unread emails. A badge that is just a red dot or solid circle means the app has something new, but it is not counting individual items. Some apps use badges to show you have pending updates or actions that need your response, not just unread content.
The badge stays on the icon until you open the app and clear the items that triggered it. Reading an email removes one from the count; deleting a message removes one; marking something as read removes one. Once all the items are handled, the badge disappears.
How to turn badges on or off for specific apps
You control badges separately from other notifications. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then Notifications, then select the app you want to change. Look for the option labeled "Badge App Icon" or "Badges" and toggle it on or off. If you turn it off, the app will no longer show a badge, but it may still send you push notifications or sounds.
On an Android phone, open Settings, then Apps or Application Manager, find the app, and tap Notifications. Look for "Badge" or "Show notification badges" and toggle it off. The exact wording varies by phone model and Android version, but the setting is always in the notification controls for that app.
On a Mac, go to System Settings, then Notifications, select the app, and look for "Badge icon" or a similar option. On Windows, open Settings, then System, then Notifications, find the app in the list, and toggle off "Badge" if that option appears. Not all Windows apps support badges, so you may not see this setting for every program.
Why badges can pile up and how to clear them
Badges add up quickly because each unread item counts as one. If you receive ten emails and do not open your email app, the badge will show "10". If you then delete five of them without reading, the badge drops to "5". The badge only disappears when the app has nothing left to alert you about.
Some apps are aggressive with badges — they may badge you for items you have already seen but not formally marked as read. Email apps often work this way: opening an email in a preview does not always clear the badge; you may need to mark it as read or move it to a folder. Messaging apps usually clear the badge as soon as you open the conversation, even if you do not reply.
If a badge seems stuck and will not go away, try opening the app, finding the unread items, and marking them as read or deleting them directly. If that does not work, you can turn the badge off in settings and turn it back on — this sometimes resets it. Restarting your device also clears stuck badges in most cases.
Badges versus other types of notifications
A badge is only one way an app gets your attention. A push notification is a message that pops up on your screen or appears in your notification center, often with a sound or vibration. A banner is a notification that slides down from the top of your screen and disappears after a few seconds. An alert is a notification that stays on screen until you dismiss it.
You can have badges turned on but push notifications turned off, or vice versa. Many people turn off push notifications to avoid interruptions but leave badges on so they can check the app when they have time. Others do the opposite — they want the immediate alert but do not want the icon cluttered with badges.
The settings for each type are separate. Turning off badges does not turn off sounds or vibrations. Turning off push notifications does not turn off badges. You control each one independently in your notification settings for each app.
Common reasons badges stay on your screen
The most common reason a badge will not clear is that the app has items you have not dealt with yet. Email apps often badge you for messages in your inbox, even if you have read them. Some apps badge you for items in multiple folders or sections, so clearing one area does not clear the badge. Check the app's settings to see if you can control which items trigger a badge.
Some apps badge you for things other than unread messages — pending updates, new features, or actions you have not completed. A fitness app might badge you if you have not logged your activity for the day. A shopping app might badge you if you have items in your cart. These badges do not clear until you take the action the app is prompting you for.
If a badge is truly stuck and you have cleared all the items in the app, try force-closing the app and reopening it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top-right on newer models) to close the app completely, then tap it again to reopen. On Android, go to Settings, Apps, find the app, and tap "Force Stop," then open it again. On a computer, quit the app completely and relaunch it.
How to manage badges so they stay useful
Badges work best when you check them regularly. If you ignore badges for weeks, they pile up and stop being useful — a badge showing "47" does not tell you much. Set a habit of clearing badges from your most important apps once a day, so the badge count stays low and actually means something.
Consider turning off badges for apps that are not urgent. Social media apps, games, and news apps often send badges for things that do not need your immediate attention. Keeping badges on only for email, messages, and calendar events means you notice the badges that actually matter when you glance at your home screen.
If an app badges you for things you do not care about, check the app's own settings — not just your device settings — to see if you can control what triggers a badge. Many apps let you choose whether to badge you for all items, only important items, or no items at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see a badge number without opening the app?
Yes, that is the whole point of a badge. The number sits on the app icon on your home screen or in your app drawer, so you can see at a glance that you have unread items. You do not have to open the app to know something is waiting.
Why does my badge show a number that does not match the unread items in the app?
Some apps count unread items differently than you expect. Email apps may count unread messages across all folders, not just your inbox. Messaging apps may count conversations with unread messages, not individual messages. Check the app's settings to see if you can control what gets counted toward the badge.
If I turn off badges, will I still get notifications?
Turning off badges only removes the number or dot from the app icon. You will still receive push notifications, sounds, and vibrations if those are turned on. Badges, push notifications, and sounds are controlled separately in your notification settings.
Do badges work the same way on all phones?
The basic idea is the same — a number or dot on an app icon — but the exact appearance and settings vary between iPhones, Android phones, and different Android manufacturers. The location and color of badges may look slightly different, but they work the same way.
What should I do if a badge will not disappear?
First, open the app and make sure all unread items are marked as read or deleted. If the badge still will not clear, try force-closing the app and reopening it, or restart your device. If it stays stuck, you can turn off badges for that app in your notification settings.