Badges are the small numbers and dots that appear on your app icons
A badge is a small red circle, number, or dot that appears on top of an app icon on your iPhone home screen or in your app library. The badge tells you that something in that app needs your attention — usually a new message, notification, or update waiting for you. The most common badge is a red circle with a white number inside, like the "3" on your Mail app when you have three unread emails.
Badges serve one purpose: to catch your eye and let you know there is something new without you having to open the app. Your iPhone puts badges on apps automatically based on what is happening inside them. You do not have to turn them on or set them up — they appear on their own when the app has something to show you.
Key Takeaways
- Badges are small numbers or dots on app icons that show you have unread messages, notifications, or updates waiting.
- A red circle with a number means you have that many unread items; a red dot with no number means something needs attention but the count is not shown.
- You can turn badges off for individual apps in Settings, or turn them off for all apps at once.
- Clearing the notification or opening the app usually makes the badge disappear automatically.
Common types of badges and what they mean
The most common badge is a red circle with a white number inside. This number tells you exactly how many unread items are waiting — three unread emails, five unread text messages, or two pending app updates. The number changes as you read messages or clear notifications, and the badge disappears when the count reaches zero.
A red dot with no number appears on some apps that do not count individual items. For example, the Find My app shows a red dot when someone is trying to reach you, but it does not show a number because there is only one alert to respond to. The Reminders app might show a red dot when you have an overdue task, even though you might have multiple tasks in the app.
Some apps use a small number badge without the red circle, though this is less common on newer iPhones. You might also see badges on the Settings app itself when your iPhone has a system update waiting or when you have pending changes to review.
Which apps show badges and why
Not every app on your iPhone shows badges. Mail, Messages, and Phone almost always show badges because they handle communication — your iPhone wants to make sure you see new messages and missed calls. Calendar shows a badge when you have upcoming events. Reminders shows a badge for overdue tasks. The App Store shows a badge when updates are waiting for your apps.
Apps that show badges are usually ones where missing a notification could matter — you might miss an important message, forget an appointment, or miss a security update. Apps like Games or Photos typically do not show badges because they are not time-sensitive. Some apps let you decide whether they show badges; others do not give you that choice.
How to turn badges off for specific apps
Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Notifications. You will see a list of all the apps that can send you notifications. Find the app where you want to turn off badges — for example, Mail or Messages.
Tap the app name. Look for the option that says Badges or Badge App Icon. It will have a toggle switch next to it. If the toggle is green, badges are on. Tap it once to turn it off — the toggle will turn gray. Now that app will not show a badge on its icon, even when you have unread messages or notifications waiting.
You can turn badges back on the same way: go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and toggle Badges back on. Each app's badge setting is separate, so you can turn badges off for Mail but keep them on for Messages if you want.
How to turn off all badges at once
If you want to remove badges from every app on your iPhone, you can do this in one place instead of going through each app individually. Open Settings and tap Notifications. At the very top of the screen, you will see an option called Show Previews or similar wording depending on your iPhone model. Below that, look for a toggle or option related to badge display.
On most iPhones, you can scroll to the bottom of the Notifications settings and find a master toggle for badges. However, the exact location varies by iPhone model and iOS version. If you cannot find a master toggle, the fastest way is to go through your most-used apps one by one and turn off badges individually in each one.
Turning off all badges means you will not see any numbers or dots on any app icons. You will still get notifications — they will just appear as alerts or sounds instead of badges on the home screen. This is useful if badges distract you or if you prefer to check apps on your own schedule rather than being prompted by the badge count.
Making badges disappear
Badges disappear automatically when you clear the notification or open the app. If you have three unread emails and you open Mail and read all three, the badge will vanish on its own. If you have a notification waiting and you swipe it away from your lock screen or notification center, the badge disappears too.
Some apps let you clear badges without reading everything. For example, you can open Mail, swipe left on a message, and tap the trash icon to delete it — this lowers the badge count by one. You can also mark messages as read without reading them fully, which clears the badge. The method depends on the app, but the goal is the same: once the unread or pending items are handled, the badge goes away.
If a badge stays on an app even after you have dealt with the notifications, try closing the app completely and reopening it. Sometimes a badge gets stuck if the app did not refresh properly. Close the app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (or double-tapping the home button on older iPhones), wait a few seconds, and open it again. The badge should update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Mail badge show a number that does not match my unread emails?
Mail sometimes counts emails differently than you expect. It might count emails in multiple accounts, or it might count emails you have marked as unread even if you have already read them. Open Mail and check all your inboxes and folders. You can also try going to Settings > Mail and toggling off Badges, then toggling it back on to reset the count.
Can I have badges on some apps but not others?
Yes. Go to Settings > Notifications and turn badges on or off for each app individually. You might want badges on Messages and Mail but not on Games or Social Media. Each app's badge setting is independent, so you have full control over which apps show them.
What does a badge on the Settings app mean?
A badge on Settings usually means your iPhone has a system update waiting, or you have pending changes in Settings that need your attention — like privacy permissions you have not finished reviewing. Open Settings to see what needs your attention, then the badge will disappear once you have handled it.
Do badges use battery or slow down my iPhone?
No. Badges are just visual indicators — they do not drain your battery or affect your iPhone's speed. The app itself might use battery if it is constantly checking for new messages, but the badge display itself has no impact on performance.
Why is there a badge on an app I never use?
Apps can show badges for things you might not expect — system updates, security alerts, or background activity. If you do not use the app and do not want to see the badge, you can turn badges off for that app in Settings > Notifications, or delete the app entirely if you do not need it.