Where to find push notification settings on each device
Push notifications live in different places depending on what device you use. On an iPhone, they're in Settings under Notifications. On Android phones, go to Settings, then Apps or Applications, then Notifications. On Windows computers, check Settings > System > Notifications & actions. On a Mac, open System Settings, then Notifications. The exact path matters because turning them off in the wrong place won't work.
Before you start, know that you have two choices: turn off notifications from a single app, or turn them off across your entire device. Most people want to silence specific apps while keeping notifications from others. That's the approach we'll cover first, since it gives you the most control.
Key Takeaways
- Each app has its own notification settings, so you can turn off alerts from one app while keeping them from another.
- On iPhones, go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and toggle off Allow Notifications.
- On Android phones, go to Settings > Apps > [app name] > Notifications and turn off all notifications or choose specific types.
- Turning off notifications in an app's own settings menu is faster than digging through your device settings.
- Some apps will still show a badge with a number on the icon even after you disable notifications.
Disabling notifications from a single app on iPhone
Open Settings and tap Notifications. Scroll down to find the app you want to silence — the list is alphabetical. Tap the app name. At the top, you'll see "Allow Notifications" with a toggle switch next to it. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The switch will turn gray, which means notifications from that app are now off.
If you want to keep notifications but just change how they appear, you have other options in that same menu. You can choose whether alerts show on your lock screen, in your notification center, or as banners at the top of your screen. You can also turn off the sound and vibration while keeping the visual alert. But if you want them gone entirely, turning off "Allow Notifications" is the quickest route.
Disabling notifications from a single app on Android
Open Settings and go to Apps (some phones call this Applications). Find the app you want to silence and tap it. Look for Notifications — it may be under Advanced or a separate menu depending on your phone model. Tap Notifications. You'll usually see a toggle for "All" notifications at the top. Tap it to turn notifications off for that app.
Some Android phones let you turn off specific types of notifications instead of all of them. For example, you might silence alerts but keep badge numbers on the app icon. If you see options like "Show notifications," "Sound," or "Vibration," you can toggle each one separately. Experiment to find what works for you, but turning off "All" or "Show notifications" will silence the app completely.
Turning off notifications in an app's own settings
Many apps have their own notification settings buried inside the app itself, separate from your device settings. This is often faster than going through your phone's main settings menu. Open the app, look for a menu icon (usually three horizontal lines or three dots), and tap Settings or Preferences. Look for a section called Notifications or Alerts. You'll usually find toggles to turn off different types of notifications — messages, reminders, promotions, or activity updates.
The advantage of this method is that you can be very specific. You might turn off promotional notifications from a shopping app while keeping order updates on. You might silence notifications from a social media app during work hours but keep them during evenings. Check both your device settings and the app's own settings, because some apps require you to turn notifications off in both places.
Disabling notifications on Windows computers
Click the Start button and open Settings. Go to System, then Notifications & actions. At the top, you'll see "Get notifications from apps and other senders." Toggle this off to silence all notifications at once. If you want to keep notifications from some apps but not others, leave this toggle on and scroll down to "Notifications from these senders." Find the app you want to silence and toggle it off individually.
Windows also lets you turn off notifications during specific hours. In the same Notifications & actions menu, look for "Quiet hours." You can set a time range when notifications won't bother you — for example, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. During quiet hours, notifications will still arrive, but they won't make sounds or show on your screen until quiet hours end.
Disabling notifications on Mac computers
Open System Settings and click Notifications in the sidebar. You'll see a list of all your apps on the left. Click an app to see its notification options. Uncheck "Allow notifications" to turn them off completely. If you want to keep notifications but change how they appear, you can uncheck "Banners" or "Sounds" while leaving other options on.
Mac also has a Focus feature that silences notifications during certain times or activities. Click Focus in System Settings, then create a new Focus (like "Work" or "Sleep"). Choose which apps can notify you during that Focus, and set a schedule for when it turns on automatically. This is useful if you want notifications off during work hours but back on in the evening.
What happens after you turn notifications off
Once you disable notifications, the app will stop sending alerts to your lock screen, home screen, or notification center. You won't hear sounds or feel vibrations from that app. However, the app itself keeps running in the background — turning off notifications doesn't close the app or stop it from using data.
Some apps will still show a red badge with a number on their icon, even after you disable notifications. This badge usually means you have unread messages or updates. If you want to remove the badge too, look for a "Badge App Icon" or "Show badge" option in the app's notification settings and turn that off as well. The badge and the notification alert are separate controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications stop an app from running in the background?
No. Disabling notifications only stops the alerts from reaching you. The app can still run, use data, and update information behind the scenes. If you want to stop an app from running entirely, you need to close it or uninstall it — turning off notifications won't do that.
Can I turn off notifications from just one contact or person?
It depends on the app. Some messaging apps like Messages or WhatsApp let you mute notifications from specific people or group chats. Open the conversation, look for a mute or silence option (usually in a menu or by long-pressing the conversation), and choose how long to mute it. Other apps don't have this feature and only let you turn off notifications for the entire app.
What's the difference between turning off notifications in device settings and in the app itself?
Device settings control whether your phone or computer allows notifications at all. App settings control what the app sends. Some apps require you to turn notifications off in both places to fully silence them. Start with the app's own settings menu, then check your device settings if notifications keep coming through.
If I turn off notifications, will I miss important messages?
You won't get alerts, but the messages will still arrive in the app. You'll see them the next time you open the app. If you're worried about missing urgent messages, consider muting notifications only during certain hours instead of turning them off completely, or mute only promotional notifications while keeping alerts from people you know.
Can I schedule notifications to turn off at certain times automatically?
Yes. iPhones have Focus modes, Android has Do Not Disturb, Windows has Quiet hours, and Macs have Focus. Each one lets you set a time range when notifications are silenced. You can also create custom schedules — for example, a Work Focus that silences notifications during business hours, or a Sleep Focus that turns them off at night.