Where to find notification settings on your phone or computer

Notifications live in different places depending on what device you use. On an iPhone, you'll find them in Settings > Notifications. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications. On Windows, open Settings > System > Notifications. On a Mac, it's System Settings > Notifications.

Once you're in the notifications section, you'll see a list of apps that can send you alerts. Some apps are already turned on by default when you install them. Others stay off until you manually enable them. The steps are the same whether you want notifications from a messaging app, a calendar, a news outlet, or a banking service.

Key Takeaways

  • Notifications are turned on or off in your device's main Settings app, not within the individual app itself.
  • You can turn notifications on for an entire app, or fine-tune which types of alerts that app sends you.
  • Different devices store these settings in different places, but the process is similar: find the app name, then toggle notifications on.
  • Some apps send multiple types of notifications — messages, reminders, promotions — and you can control each one separately.

Turning notifications on for a specific app on iPhone

Open Settings and tap Notifications. Scroll down to find the app you want to hear from. Tap the app name. At the top of the screen, you'll see a toggle switch next to "Allow Notifications." If it's gray, notifications are off. Tap it to turn it green, which means notifications are on.

Once you've turned notifications on, you can customize how they arrive. You can choose whether alerts appear as a banner at the top of your screen, as a badge (a red number on the app icon), or as a sound. You can also decide whether notifications appear on your lock screen or only when you unlock your phone. These choices are all in the same screen, below the main toggle.

Turning notifications on for a specific app on Android

Open Settings and go to Apps & Notifications. Tap Notifications. You'll see a list of apps. Find the one you want and tap it. Look for a toggle or switch labeled "Allow notifications" or "Show notifications." If it's off, tap it to turn it on.

Android also lets you control notification channels — different types of alerts from the same app. For example, Gmail might have separate channels for new messages and for security alerts. You can turn on the app overall but keep certain channels off if you don't want those specific alerts. This option appears below the main toggle if the app uses channels.

Turning notifications on for Windows

Open Settings and go to System > Notifications. Scroll down to "Notifications from apps and other senders." You'll see a list of apps. Find the one you want and toggle the switch next to it from off to on. A blue switch means notifications are active.

Windows also has a section called "Do Not Disturb" higher up on the same page. If Do Not Disturb is turned on, notifications will be silenced even if individual apps have them enabled. Check that toggle first if you've turned notifications on but aren't seeing them.

Turning notifications on for Mac

Open System Settings and click Notifications in the sidebar. You'll see a list of apps on the left. Click the app you want. On the right side, you'll see options for how that app can notify you. Make sure the checkbox next to "Allow notifications" is checked. If it's unchecked, click it to enable notifications.

On Mac, you can also choose whether notifications appear in Notification Center (a panel that slides in from the right side of your screen) or as banners that pop up briefly. You can turn sounds on or off, and decide whether notifications show on your lock screen. All these options are on the same screen.

What to do if an app doesn't appear in your notification settings

Some apps don't have notification settings because they don't send alerts. Others may have been installed but never registered with your device's notification system. If you don't see an app listed, open the app itself and look for a settings or preferences menu inside it. Some apps let you turn notifications on from within the app rather than from your device settings.

If an app still doesn't appear and you want notifications from it, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. This forces the app to register with your device's notification system. After reinstalling, go back to your device settings and the app should now appear in the notification list.

Understanding notification types and what each one does

Most apps can send you different kinds of notifications. A banner is a message that appears at the top or bottom of your screen for a few seconds. A badge is a small red circle with a number on your app icon, showing how many unread items you have. A sound is an audio alert. A lock screen notification appears even when your phone is locked.

You don't have to accept all of these. You might want a badge and a sound from your messaging app, but only a badge from your email app. You might want your calendar to send you a notification one hour before an event, but not a sound. The granular controls let you decide what kind of interruption each app is allowed to create.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't I see an app in my notification settings even though I have it installed?

Some apps don't send notifications at all, so they won't appear in the list. Others may need to be opened at least once before they register with your device. Try opening the app, then checking your notification settings again. If it still doesn't appear, check inside the app's own settings menu — some apps control notifications from within the app rather than from device settings.

Can I turn notifications on for just one type of alert from an app?

Yes. Once you've turned notifications on for an app, you can customize which types of alerts it sends. On iPhone, you can choose banners, badges, or sounds. On Android, you can control notification channels separately. On Windows and Mac, you can choose whether notifications appear in your notification center or as banners. The exact options depend on your device and the app.

What's the difference between turning notifications on in Settings versus in the app itself?

Device Settings control whether the app is allowed to send notifications at all. App settings control what the app does with that permission — like whether it sends alerts about promotions versus account security. You usually need notifications turned on in both places for them to work. If you've turned them on in Settings but not in the app, you won't see alerts.

If I turn notifications on, will my phone battery drain faster?

Notifications use very little battery power. The main drain comes from the app itself checking for new information in the background. Turning notifications on or off won't significantly affect battery life. If battery is a concern, focus on closing apps you're not using or lowering your screen brightness instead.