Where to find notification settings on your iPhone
Notifications on iPhone are controlled through the Settings app, not through individual apps themselves. Open Settings, then tap Notifications. From there you can turn notifications on or off for each app one at a time, or adjust what type of notification each app sends — whether it appears as a banner at the top of your screen, a badge on the app icon, or a sound.
The Notifications section shows every app installed on your phone that can send notifications. Apps you have never opened may not appear in the list yet. Once you open an app for the first time, it usually shows up in Notifications within a few minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, then Notifications, then select the app you want to adjust — you cannot turn notifications on or off from within the app itself.
- Toggle "Allow Notifications" on to receive any notifications from that app, or off to block them completely.
- Once notifications are allowed, you can choose whether they appear as banners, badges on the app icon, or sounds, and whether they show on your lock screen.
- Some apps ask for permission to send notifications the first time you open them — tapping "Allow" is the same as turning them on in Settings.
Turning notifications on for a specific app
Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Notifications. The list shows every app that can send notifications, sorted by how recently you used each one. Find the app you want to adjust and tap its name.
At the top of that app's notification settings, you will see a toggle next to "Allow Notifications". If the toggle is gray and off, tap it to turn it green and on. That single step turns notifications back on for that app. You do not need to change anything else unless you want to control how the notifications appear.
Choosing how notifications appear on your screen
After you turn on "Allow Notifications" for an app, several options appear below it. The most common choice is between Banners and Alerts. A banner slides down from the top of your screen, shows the notification for a few seconds, then disappears automatically — you can keep using your phone while it is there. An alert stops what you are doing and requires you to tap a button to dismiss it.
You can also turn on "Badges" to show a red circle with a number on the app's icon — this tells you how many unread notifications you have without opening the app. "Sounds" plays an audio alert when a notification arrives. "Show on Lock Screen" determines whether notifications appear when your phone is locked. Most apps have all of these turned on by default once you enable notifications.
What to do if an app asks for permission when you open it
Some apps ask "Would you like to receive notifications?" the first time you open them. Tapping "Allow" turns on notifications for that app immediately — it is the same as toggling "Allow Notifications" on in Settings. Tapping "Don't Allow" turns them off, but you can change your mind later by going back to Settings > Notifications and turning them on manually.
If you tapped "Don't Allow" and now want notifications from that app, you do not need to uninstall it. Simply go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and toggle "Allow Notifications" on. The app will not ask for permission again.
Turning notifications off for an app you no longer want to hear from
Open Settings, then Notifications, then tap the app you want to silence. Toggle "Allow Notifications" off. The toggle will turn gray, and that app will stop sending any notifications to your phone. All the options below it — banners, badges, sounds — disappear because they no longer apply.
Turning off notifications does not delete the app or change anything else about how it works. You can still open the app and use it normally. The only difference is you will not receive alerts when something happens in that app.
Finding apps that are not in your Notifications list yet
If you just installed an app and do not see it in your Notifications list, open the app once. Most apps appear in Settings > Notifications within a few minutes of first use. If an app still does not show up after you have opened it, it may not support notifications — some simple apps like calculators or flashlights do not have anything to notify you about.
You can also search for an app in the Notifications list. At the top of Settings > Notifications, there is a search box. Type the app's name to find it faster instead of scrolling through the entire list.
Notification settings that apply to all apps at once
At the very top of Settings > Notifications, before the list of individual apps, you will see options like "Show Previews" and "Notification Grouping". These control how all your notifications behave across every app. "Show Previews" determines whether the content of a notification appears on your lock screen or just says "Notification" without details. "Notification Grouping" lets you stack notifications from the same app together instead of seeing them one by one.
These global settings apply to every app unless you override them for a specific app. You can usually leave these at their defaults and adjust individual apps instead, but they are useful if you want to change how notifications work across the board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I not receiving notifications from an app even though I turned them on?
Check that "Allow Notifications" is actually toggled on — the toggle should be green. Also check that your iPhone's overall notification volume is not muted. Look at the left side of your phone near the top: if you see a red mute switch, flip it up to unmute. Some apps also have their own notification settings inside the app itself, separate from iPhone Settings, so check there too.
Can I turn notifications on for just one type of notification from an app?
Yes. You can turn on "Allow Notifications" but then turn off "Sounds" if you only want to see badges, or turn off "Badges" if you only want sounds. You can also turn off "Show on Lock Screen" if you want notifications to appear only when your phone is unlocked. Mix and match these options to get exactly the notifications you want from each app.
If I turn off notifications for an app, will it still work?
Yes. Turning off notifications only stops the app from sending you alerts — it does not affect the app's ability to run or function. You can still open the app and use it normally. The app will continue to work in the background; you just will not be notified when something happens.
What is the difference between a banner and an alert?
A banner slides down from the top of your screen, shows the notification for a few seconds, then disappears on its own. You can keep using your phone while it is there. An alert stops what you are doing and requires you to tap a button to dismiss it. Banners are less disruptive; alerts make sure you see the notification before you can continue.