Where to find notification settings on each device

Notification settings live in different places depending on what device you use. On a smartphone or tablet, they're usually in the main Settings app. On a computer, they're often buried in system preferences or individual app menus. The fastest way is to search your device's settings for the word "notification" — most devices have a search function that will take you straight there.

If you're trying to silence notifications from a specific app rather than your whole device, look for that app's own settings first. Many apps like Gmail, Facebook, or Slack let you control their notifications without touching your device settings at all. This is often the better choice because you can be more precise — you might want email notifications but not chat notifications, for example.

Key Takeaways

  • Notification settings are in your device's main Settings app on phones and tablets, and in System Preferences or System Settings on computers.
  • You can turn off notifications entirely, silence them for specific hours, or control them app by app depending on what your device allows.
  • Most apps have their own notification controls inside the app itself, which is often faster than digging through device settings.
  • Do Not Disturb or Focus modes let you silence notifications temporarily without permanently turning them off.
  • Turning off notifications for background app refresh can reduce the number of alerts you receive overall.

Disable notifications on iPhone or iPad

Open Settings and tap Notifications. You'll see a list of every app that sends you notifications. Tap any app name to open its notification settings. From there, you can toggle "Allow Notifications" off entirely, or keep notifications on but turn off specific types — like sounds, badges, or banners.

If you want notifications to stop during certain hours but come back later, use Focus modes instead. Tap Focus (or Do Not Disturb on older iOS versions), create a new Focus, and choose which apps can notify you during that time. You can set it to turn on automatically at a specific time each day, or turn it on manually when you need quiet.

Disable notifications on Android

Open Settings and search for "notifications" or look for Apps & Notifications. Tap Notifications or App Notifications depending on your phone's version. You'll see a list of apps. Tap the app you want to control, then toggle "Show notifications" off. Some phones also let you control notification channels — different types of alerts within the same app — so you might silence alerts but keep messages.

Android also has Do Not Disturb mode. Open Settings, search for "Do Not Disturb," and turn it on. You can set it to allow calls and messages from specific contacts while blocking everything else, or silence all notifications entirely. Set it to turn on automatically at bedtime or during work hours.

Disable notifications on Windows

Open Settings and go to System, then Notifications. You'll see a master toggle at the top — turn it off to silence all notifications. Below that, you can control notifications from individual apps. Scroll down to see the list and toggle each app on or off.

Windows also has Focus Assist, which is similar to Do Not Disturb on phones. Open Settings, go to System, then Focus Assist. Choose Alarms Only (silences everything except alarms), Priority Only (lets through notifications from people and apps you choose), or Off. You can set it to turn on automatically during certain hours or when you're using full-screen apps.

Disable notifications on Mac

Click the Apple menu, go to System Settings, then Notifications. You'll see a list of apps on the left. Click any app to control how it notifies you — you can turn notifications off entirely, or keep them but turn off sounds and banners. Some apps let you control different notification types separately.

Mac also has Focus modes, which work like iPhone's. Click the Control Center icon in the top right, then click Focus. Choose an existing focus like Do Not Disturb or Sleep, or create a new one. You can set it to allow notifications from specific people or apps while blocking the rest, and have it turn on automatically at certain times.

Turn off notifications inside individual apps

Many apps have their own notification settings that override your device settings. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences (usually a gear icon or three horizontal lines), and search for Notifications. From there you can often choose which types of alerts you want — for example, in Gmail you might turn off promotional notifications but keep messages from your inbox.

This approach is often faster than hunting through device settings, especially if you only want to silence one or two apps. It also gives you more control. Some apps let you turn off notifications during certain hours, or only notify you for messages from specific people.

Stop background notifications without turning off the app

If an app keeps sending you notifications even when you're not using it, check whether background app refresh is turned on. On iPhone, go to Settings, General, Background App Refresh, and toggle it off for apps you don't need updates from. On Android, go to Settings, Apps, tap the app, then Battery, and choose Restrict or Don't Allow.

Turning off background refresh won't delete the app or prevent you from opening it manually — it just stops the app from running in the background and sending you alerts. This can also improve battery life. You can turn it back on anytime if you change your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off notifications prevent me from seeing messages?

No. Turning off notifications just stops the alerts. Your messages, emails, and other content will still be there when you open the app. You just won't get a ping, badge, or banner telling you something new arrived.

Can I turn off notifications for just one person or contact?

It depends on the app. Some messaging apps like iMessage or Android Messages let you mute conversations with specific people. Open the conversation, look for a mute or silence option, and choose how long to mute it. Other apps don't have this feature, so you'd need to turn off notifications from the entire app.

What's the difference between Do Not Disturb and turning off notifications?

Do Not Disturb is temporary and reversible — you turn it on for a few hours and it automatically turns off. Turning off notifications is permanent until you turn them back on. Do Not Disturb also usually lets you allow notifications from specific people or apps, while turning off notifications blocks everything.

If I turn off notifications, will my phone still ring for calls?

Usually yes, but it depends on your settings. Most phones keep phone calls separate from app notifications, so calls will still ring even if you've silenced notifications. However, if you've turned on Do Not Disturb or Focus mode, calls may be silenced unless you've set them to come through. Check your Do Not Disturb settings to see which calls are allowed.

Can I schedule notifications to turn off automatically at night?

Yes. Use Do Not Disturb on iPhone, Focus Assist on Windows, or Do Not Disturb on Android. All three let you set a schedule — for example, turn on automatically at 10 p.m. and off at 7 a.m. You can also set it to turn on when you're using certain apps, like when you're in a meeting or watching a movie.