Where notifications live and how to remove them
Notifications appear in different places depending on your device and what app sent them. On phones, they stack in a notification center or shade that you pull down from the top of the screen. On computers, they pop up in the corner or sit in a system tray. To erase them, you need to know which one you're looking at — because the steps change depending on whether you want to clear one notification, all notifications from a single app, or your entire notification history.
Most devices let you swipe, tap, or click to dismiss individual notifications as they arrive. But if you have dozens piled up, clearing them one at a time takes too long. That's when you use the "clear all" button, which empties your notification center in one action. Some apps also let you turn off notifications from that app entirely, which stops new ones from arriving.
Key Takeaways
- On Android phones, swipe down twice to open the notification shade, then tap the X or "Clear all" button to remove all notifications at once.
- On iPhones, swipe down from the top to see notifications, then swipe left on individual ones to delete them, or tap "Clear" to remove all from one app.
- On Windows computers, click the notification icon in the system tray (bottom right), then click the X next to each notification or use "Clear all".
- On Mac computers, click the notification center icon in the top right corner, then swipe left on notifications to delete them individually.
- Turning off notifications from an app in its settings prevents new ones from arriving, which is different from erasing ones that are already there.
Clearing notifications on Android phones
On Android, your notifications live in the notification shade. To open it, swipe down from the top of your screen once. You'll see a list of recent notifications. If you want to remove one notification, swipe it left or right — most phones will show an X button or trash icon as you swipe. Tap that icon and the notification disappears.
To clear all notifications at once, look for a button labeled "Clear all" at the bottom of the notification shade. The exact location varies by phone brand — Samsung phones, Google Pixels, and others place it slightly differently — but it's always near the bottom. Tap it once and every notification in the shade vanishes. This does not turn off notifications from apps; new ones will still arrive. It only removes the ones currently sitting there.
If you want to clear notifications from just one app, swipe down to open the notification shade, find the app's notifications, and look for a settings icon (usually three dots) next to the app name. Tap it and select "Clear" or "Remove". Again, this only removes existing notifications; the app can still send new ones.
Clearing notifications on iPhones
On iPhone, notifications appear in the notification center, which you open by swiping down from the top of the screen. You'll see a list organized by app. To delete one notification, swipe left on it — a red trash or delete button will appear. Tap that button and it's gone.
To clear all notifications from one app, swipe left on the app's name or section header, and you'll see a "Clear" button. Tap it and every notification from that app disappears. If you want to clear your entire notification center at once, swipe down to open it, then tap "Clear all" in the top right corner (on newer iPhones) or look for an edit button that lets you select and delete in bulk.
The steps vary slightly depending on your iPhone model and iOS version. If you don't see a "Clear all" button, try tapping "Edit" in the top left of the notification center, then tap the red minus sign next to each app's notifications, or select multiple apps and tap "Clear".
Clearing notifications on Windows computers
On Windows, notifications appear as pop-ups in the bottom right corner of your screen, and they also collect in the notification center. To open the notification center, click the notification icon in the system tray (bottom right of your taskbar, usually a bell or speech bubble icon). A panel will slide in from the right showing all your recent notifications.
To remove one notification, hover over it and click the X button that appears. To clear all notifications at once, look for a "Clear all" button at the top of the notification panel. Click it and the entire list empties. If you don't see a "Clear all" button, you may need to click an icon that looks like three dots or a menu button to find the option.
Clearing notifications in the notification center does not stop apps from sending new ones. If you want to prevent an app from sending notifications altogether, you need to change its settings in Windows Settings, not in the notification center itself.
Clearing notifications on Mac computers
On Mac, the notification center sits in the top right corner of your screen. Click the notification center icon (it looks like three horizontal lines or a bell) and a panel slides in from the right showing all your notifications, organized by app.
To delete one notification, hover over it and click the X button that appears on the right side. To clear all notifications from one app, hover over the app's section and click "Clear" if it appears. To clear your entire notification center, look for a "Clear all" button, usually at the top or bottom of the panel, and click it.
On some Mac models or macOS versions, you may need to right-click a notification to see delete options. If the standard swipe or click methods don't work, try right-clicking on a notification to see what options appear.
Turning off notifications from specific apps
Clearing notifications removes the ones already sitting in your notification center. Turning off notifications prevents new ones from arriving in the first place. These are two separate actions.
On Android, go to Settings, then Apps or Application Manager, find the app you want to silence, tap Notifications, and toggle off "Allow notifications" or "Show notifications". On iPhone, go to Settings, find the app in the list, tap Notifications, and toggle off "Allow Notifications". On Windows, go to Settings, then System, then Notifications, find the app, and toggle off "Show notifications for this app". On Mac, go to System Settings, then Notifications, find the app, and uncheck "Allow notifications".
You can also silence notifications without turning them off completely. Most phones let you set an app to "silent" mode, which stops the sound and vibration but keeps the notification in your center so you can see it later. Check your notification settings for options like "Silent", "Mute", or "Do Not Disturb".
Clearing notifications from your lock screen
On iPhones and some Android phones, notifications also appear on your lock screen — the screen you see before you unlock your device. Clearing notifications from your notification center does not always clear them from your lock screen, and vice versa.
On iPhone, swipe left on a lock screen notification to delete it, just as you would in the notification center. On Android, the process depends on your phone model. Some phones let you swipe left or right on lock screen notifications to dismiss them; others require you to unlock the phone first. If you want to prevent notifications from showing on your lock screen at all, go to the app's notification settings and toggle off "Show on lock screen".
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing notifications turn off the app?
No. Clearing notifications only removes the ones currently in your notification center. The app keeps running and can send new notifications. If you want to stop an app from sending notifications, you must change its settings in your phone or computer's notification preferences.
Will I lose information if I clear all notifications?
Clearing notifications removes them from your notification center, but it does not delete messages, emails, or other data in the app itself. If a notification was about an important message, the message is still in your email or messaging app — you just won't see the notification reminder anymore.
Can I clear notifications from my smartwatch?
Yes, but the steps depend on your watch. On Apple Watch, swipe left on a notification and tap the X. On Wear OS watches, swipe left and tap the trash icon. Clearing notifications on your watch does not clear them from your phone, and vice versa — they are separate notification centers.
Why do notifications keep coming back after I clear them?
If new notifications keep arriving immediately after you clear them, the app is actively sending them. This usually means the app has a setting that generates notifications automatically — like a news app sending breaking news alerts, or a messaging app notifying you of new messages. To stop this, turn off notifications from that app in your device settings.
Can I recover a notification after I delete it?
Once you clear a notification, it is gone from your notification center. Most devices do not keep a trash or recovery folder for notifications. If the notification was about something important, check the app itself — the original message, email, or alert is usually still there.