Where to find the notification switch for most apps

Push notifications are messages that pop up on your phone or computer even when you're not using an app. To turn them on, you usually go into the app's settings, find a "Notifications" section, and toggle the switch to on. The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or a computer, and which app you're trying to enable notifications for.

Most apps ask for permission to send notifications the first time you open them. If you said no then, you can change your mind later by going into your phone's settings rather than the app itself. This is often faster than hunting through an app's own menu.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, find the app name, and turn on "Allow Notifications".
  • On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Notifications, select the app, and toggle notifications on.
  • On a computer, notification settings live in your browser preferences or in the app itself, depending on what you're using.
  • If an app never asked for permission, you may need to uninstall and reinstall it to see the permission prompt again.

Turning on notifications on an iPhone

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap "Notifications". You'll see a list of every app installed on your phone. Find the app you want notifications from and tap its name.

At the top of that app's notification settings, you'll see "Allow Notifications" with a toggle switch next to it. Make sure the toggle is on (it will be green). Below that, you can choose what kind of notifications you want — sounds, badges on the app icon, or banners that appear at the top of your screen. You don't have to change these; just turning on "Allow Notifications" is enough to start receiving messages from that app.

Turning on notifications on Android

Open the Settings app. The location of the Notifications menu varies slightly by phone brand, but the path is usually Settings > Apps or Applications > Notifications. Some phones call it "App Notifications" instead.

Find the app you want notifications from in the list and tap it. You'll see a toggle for "Notifications" or "Show Notifications". Turn it on. Some Android phones also let you choose the notification channel — for example, a messaging app might have separate channels for direct messages and group chats. You can turn on the channels you care about and leave others off.

Enabling notifications for websites in your browser

Websites can also send push notifications, though they work differently than app notifications. When you visit a website that offers notifications, your browser will ask "Do you want to allow notifications from this site?" If you click "Allow", you'll start receiving messages from that website even after you close the browser tab.

To manage these later, the steps depend on your browser. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications, and you'll see a list of websites you've allowed. You can toggle any of them off or remove them entirely. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications. On Firefox, the path is Firefox > Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notifications.

What to do if an app never asked for permission

Some apps don't ask for notification permission when you first install them. If you go to your phone's notification settings and don't see the app listed, or if the toggle is already on but you're not receiving messages, the app may not have requested permission yet.

The most reliable fix is to uninstall the app and reinstall it. When you open it for the first time after reinstalling, it will ask for permission again. You can then say yes. Alternatively, some apps have their own notification settings inside the app itself — look for a gear icon or "Settings" in the app's menu, then search for "Notifications" there.

Notification settings you can customize after turning them on

Once notifications are on, you usually have choices about how they appear. On iPhone, you can decide whether you want notifications to show as banners (a message that slides down from the top), alerts (a box that pops up and requires you to dismiss it), or badges (just a number on the app icon). You can also turn on or off sounds and vibrations.

On Android, the options vary by app and phone brand, but you often can choose the notification importance level (which affects sound and vibration), whether notifications appear on your lock screen, and whether they show a preview of the message content. These choices let you keep notifications on without them being disruptive — for example, you might turn off sounds but keep visual notifications, or only allow notifications during certain hours.

Troubleshooting: notifications are on but you're not receiving them

If you've turned notifications on and still aren't seeing messages, check a few things. First, make sure the app itself isn't muted. On iPhone, look for a mute switch on the side of your phone — if it's in the off position (toward the back), your phone is in silent mode and won't make notification sounds. On Android, check your volume settings and make sure notifications aren't set to silent.

Second, check whether your phone's battery saver or do-not-disturb mode is on. Both can prevent notifications from appearing or making sounds. Third, some apps require additional permissions beyond just "Notifications" — for example, a messaging app might also need permission to access your contacts. If an app's notification settings look different than expected, look in your phone's main Settings app under "Apps" or "Permissions" and make sure you've granted all the permissions that app needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn on notifications for just one type of message in an app?

Yes, most apps let you customize which notifications you receive. For example, a social media app might let you turn on notifications for direct messages but turn off notifications for likes and comments. Look inside the app's settings menu for "Notification Preferences" or "Message Types", or check your phone's notification settings for that app — some phones let you manage these details there instead.

Will turning on notifications drain my battery?

Push notifications use very little battery. The app or website sends a message to your phone, and your phone displays it — the process takes seconds. You'll use more battery from having your screen on or using location services than from notifications themselves.

What's the difference between allowing notifications and subscribing to them?

Allowing notifications means you're giving the app permission to send them. Subscribing usually means you've chosen specific topics or channels you want to hear about. You typically allow notifications first (in your phone settings), then subscribe to what you want inside the app itself.

If I turn notifications on, will the app track my location?

Notifications and location tracking are separate permissions. Turning on notifications doesn't automatically let an app see your location. Your phone will ask for location permission separately, and you can say no to that while still allowing notifications.