Where to find and remove notifications
Notifications pile up fast — old messages, app alerts, reminders you no longer need. The way you delete them depends on what device you're using and where the notifications are sitting. On most phones and computers, you can clear them one at a time, in groups, or all at once. The steps are straightforward once you know where to look.
Your notifications live in a few places: the notification center (sometimes called the notification panel), individual apps, and your settings. Clearing them from one place doesn't always clear them from another, so you may need to do this in multiple spots to get a truly clean slate.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones, swipe down from the top to open Notification Center, then swipe left on any notification and tap the trash icon to delete it.
- On Android phones, swipe down twice to open the full notification panel, long-press a notification, and tap "Remove" or the trash icon.
- On Windows computers, click the notification icon in the bottom right corner, then click the X on any notification you want to dismiss.
- On Mac computers, click the notification icon in the top right corner and click the X next to each notification to clear it.
- Clearing notifications from your notification center does not delete them from the apps themselves — you may need to clear app notifications separately.
Deleting notifications on iPhone
On iPhone, notifications appear in two places: the lock screen and the Notification Center. To delete them from Notification Center, swipe down from the very top of your screen (or swipe up from the bottom if you have an older iPhone). This opens Notification Center and shows all your recent alerts grouped by app.
To delete a single notification, swipe left on it with your finger. A trash icon or delete button will appear on the right side. Tap it. The notification disappears. To delete all notifications from one app at once, swipe left on the app's group header (the line that says the app name), then tap "Clear All" or the trash icon.
If you want to delete notifications from your lock screen instead, swipe left on the notification itself. The same trash icon appears — tap it to remove that alert from your lock screen. Note that deleting a notification from your lock screen or Notification Center does not delete the message or alert from the app itself.
Deleting notifications on Android
On Android phones, pull down from the top of your screen once to see recent notifications. Pull down again to see the full notification panel with all your alerts. Find the notification you want to delete, then swipe left or right on it (the direction depends on your phone model). A trash icon or "Remove" button will appear — tap it to delete that notification.
To delete all notifications at once, look for a "Clear All" button, usually at the bottom of the notification panel. Tap it and every notification in your panel disappears. Some Android phones also let you long-press a notification to see options like "Remove" or "Block" — tap whichever option your phone shows.
If notifications from a specific app keep bothering you, you can manage them directly in that app's settings. Open the app, go to Settings (usually a gear icon), look for Notifications or Alerts, and turn off the ones you don't want. This stops new notifications from that app before they reach your notification panel.
Deleting notifications on Windows
On Windows 10 and 11, notifications appear in the bottom right corner of your screen. To see all of them at once, click the notification icon (it looks like a speech bubble or bell) in the system tray at the bottom right. This opens your notification center and shows recent alerts stacked vertically.
To delete a single notification, hover your mouse over it and click the X button that appears on the right side. The notification closes. To clear all notifications at once, look for a "Clear All" button at the top or bottom of the notification center panel and click it.
If you want to stop notifications from a specific app, right-click on one of its notifications and select "Manage Notifications" or "App Settings." This takes you to Windows Settings where you can turn off notifications for that app entirely or customize which types of alerts it sends.
Deleting notifications on Mac
On Mac, notifications appear in the top right corner of your screen. To see all of them, click the notification icon (it looks like a bell) in the menu bar at the top right. This opens Notification Center and shows your recent alerts in a list.
To delete a single notification, hover your mouse over it and click the X button that appears on the right side. To clear all notifications at once, scroll to the bottom of Notification Center and click "Clear All." Some versions of macOS label this button differently, but it's always at the bottom of the list.
If you want to stop notifications from a specific app, click the X next to one of its notifications, and macOS will ask if you want to turn off notifications from that app. You can also go to System Settings, click Notifications, find the app in the list, and toggle notifications off for that app.
Clearing notifications from individual apps
Deleting a notification from your notification center or lock screen doesn't remove it from the app itself. If you want a truly clean slate, you may need to clear notifications inside the app too. Open the app and look for a Messages, Inbox, or Notifications section. Many apps show a number badge on their icon (like a red circle with a number) — clearing the app's internal notifications usually makes that badge disappear.
Some apps, like email clients, let you select multiple messages and delete them at once. Others, like messaging apps, show a list of conversations you can swipe on to delete. Check the app's menu or settings for options like "Clear All Messages," "Mark All as Read," or "Delete Notifications." The exact wording varies by app.
Stopping unwanted notifications before they arrive
The easiest notifications to manage are the ones you never receive. Most apps let you turn off specific types of alerts in their settings. Open the app, find Settings or Preferences, look for a Notifications or Alerts section, and toggle off the ones you don't want. You can usually choose to keep some notifications (like messages from people you follow) while turning off others (like promotional alerts).
On your phone or computer, you can also manage notifications at the system level. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Notifications, find the app, and choose "Allow Notifications" or "Turn Off." On Android, go to Settings, tap Apps, find the app, tap Notifications, and toggle them off. On Windows and Mac, use the Notification Center settings to turn off notifications from specific apps entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting a notification delete the message or email it came from?
No. Deleting a notification only removes the alert from your notification center or lock screen. The actual message, email, or item the notification was about stays in the app. If you want to delete the message itself, you need to open the app and delete it there.
Can I delete notifications without opening the notification center?
On some phones, yes. On iPhone, you can swipe left on a notification that appears on your lock screen and delete it without opening Notification Center. On Android, you can swipe notifications away from the top of your screen. On Windows and Mac, notifications in the corner can sometimes be dismissed by clicking the X, but opening the notification center gives you more control.
Why do notifications keep coming back after I delete them?
If the same notification keeps reappearing, it's usually because the app is sending new alerts. Deleting one notification doesn't stop the app from sending more. To stop them permanently, turn off notifications for that app in your phone or computer settings, or adjust the app's notification preferences.
How do I delete notifications from my smartwatch?
On Apple Watch, swipe left on a notification and tap the trash icon. On Wear OS (Android watches), swipe left on a notification and tap the X. Notifications on your watch are usually synced with your phone, so clearing them on your watch may also clear them on your phone, depending on your settings.
Can I recover a notification after I delete it?
Once you delete a notification, it's gone from your notification center. However, the original message or alert is still in the app itself. If you need to find it again, open the app and look in your messages, emails, or history. Your phone or computer does not keep a separate archive of deleted notifications.