Where to find notification blocking on each device
The steps to block notifications differ depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac. Each operating system keeps these controls in a different place, and most let you block notifications from individual apps rather than all at once.
On iPhone, open Settings, tap Notifications, find the app you want to silence, and tap it. Toggle off "Allow Notifications" to block all alerts from that app. On Android, open Settings, go to Apps or Application Manager, select the app, tap Notifications, and toggle off "Show Notifications." On Windows, open Settings, select System, then Notifications & Actions, and uncheck the apps you want to silence. On Mac, open System Preferences, click Notifications, select the app, and choose "None" under Alert Style.
Key Takeaways
- Most phones and computers let you block notifications app by app rather than turning off all alerts at once.
- iPhone users toggle off "Allow Notifications" in the Settings app under each app's name.
- Android users find the same control under Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications.
- You can silence notifications during specific hours using Do Not Disturb on iPhone or Focus modes on Mac without deleting the apps.
- Some apps send notifications through your web browser instead of your phone, so blocking one does not stop the other.
Blocking notifications on iPhone
Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Notifications. Tap it, then scroll through the list of apps until you find the one you want to silence. Tap the app name, then toggle off the switch next to "Allow Notifications." The app will stay on your phone but will no longer send you alerts.
If you want to keep some notifications but block others, you have more options. Tap the app name in Notifications settings, then toggle on "Allow Notifications" but turn off "Badges," "Sounds," or "Banners" individually. This way you can, for example, let an app send you a small red number badge but no sound or popup.
For temporary silence without blocking permanently, use Do Not Disturb. Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen, press and hold the Do Not Disturb icon, and set how long you want it on. During this time, calls and notifications will be silent unless they come from people in your Favorites list.
Blocking notifications on Android
Open Settings and look for Apps, Application Manager, or Manage Apps depending on your phone brand. Find the app you want to silence, tap it, then look for Notifications or App Notifications. Toggle off "Show Notifications" or "Allow Notifications." The exact wording varies by phone manufacturer, but the control is always in this section.
If you cannot find the app in Settings, try opening the app itself and looking for a Settings or Preferences menu inside it. Many apps have their own notification controls separate from the phone's system settings. Check both places to make sure you have turned off all the notifications you want to block.
For temporary silence, use Do Not Disturb mode. Swipe down twice from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings, find Do Not Disturb or Quiet Hours, and tap it. You can set it to turn on for a specific amount of time or until you turn it off manually. During this time, most notifications will be silent, though you can usually allow calls from specific contacts through.
Blocking notifications on Windows
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the app that appears. Select System from the left menu, then click Notifications & Actions. Scroll down to see a list of apps that send notifications. Uncheck the box next to any app you want to silence.
You can also control whether notifications show on your lock screen and whether they play sounds. In the same Notifications & Actions menu, toggle off "Show notifications on the lock screen" if you do not want alerts visible when your computer is locked. Turn off "Play notification sounds" if you want to see notifications but not hear them.
For temporary silence, use Focus Assist. Click the notification icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar, then click Focus Assist and choose Alarms Only, Priority Only, or Off. Priority Only lets you choose which people and apps can still notify you while everything else stays silent.
Blocking notifications on Mac
Open System Preferences by clicking the Apple menu in the top left and selecting System Preferences. Click Notifications, then find the app you want to silence in the list on the left. Click it, then change the Alert Style dropdown from Banners or Alerts to None. The app will no longer send you any notifications.
If you want to keep notifications but change how they appear, select the app and choose Banners instead of Alerts. Banners appear briefly in the top right corner and disappear on their own, while Alerts stay on screen until you close them. You can also toggle off "Sound" and "Badge app icon" individually if you want to see notifications but not hear them.
For temporary silence, use Focus mode. Click the Control Center icon in the top right corner of your menu bar, then click Focus. Choose Do Not Disturb, Work, Personal, or another Focus you have set up. During this time, notifications from apps not on your allowed list will be silenced. You can set a Focus to turn on automatically at certain times or locations.
Blocking web browser notifications
Websites can send notifications through your web browser separately from your phone or computer's notification system. If a website asks permission to send notifications when you visit it, you can click "Block" to refuse. If you already allowed a website and want to stop its notifications, the process differs by browser.
In Chrome, click the three-line menu in the top right, select Settings, click Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Notifications. Find the website in the list and click the three dots next to it, then select Remove. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari menu > Settings > Websites > Notifications, find the site, and change the dropdown to Deny. On Firefox, click the menu button, select Settings, go to Privacy & Security, scroll to Permissions, click Settings next to Notifications, find the site, and remove it.
Blocking notifications from specific contacts or groups
Some apps let you block notifications from particular people or groups without blocking the app entirely. In most messaging apps like Messages, WhatsApp, or Slack, you can long-press a conversation, look for a Mute or Silence option, and choose how long to mute it. The conversation stays in your inbox but will not send you alerts.
Email apps usually have a similar feature. In Gmail, you can mute a conversation by opening it and clicking the mute icon, which looks like a speaker with a line through it. In Outlook, right-click a message and select Mute. The emails will still arrive in your inbox but will not trigger notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will blocking notifications delete the app or my data?
No. Blocking notifications only stops the alerts. The app stays on your device with all your data intact. You can unblock notifications anytime by going back to the same settings and turning them back on.
Can I block notifications from one app but keep them from another?
Yes. You block notifications individually for each app, so you can silence some while keeping others active. This is the most common way people manage notifications.
What is the difference between muting and blocking notifications?
Muting usually means silencing notifications for a set time, after which they turn back on automatically. Blocking means turning them off until you manually turn them back on. Both keep the app on your device and let you use it normally.
If I block notifications on my phone, will they still come through on my computer?
It depends on the app. Some apps send notifications only to your phone, while others send them to all your devices. You may need to block notifications separately on each device if you want to silence them everywhere.
Can I block notifications from a website without uninstalling the app?
Yes. Website notifications come through your browser, not your phone's app system. You can block website notifications in your browser settings without affecting the app on your phone.