Where to find notification settings on each device
Notification controls live in different places depending on what device you use. On a smartphone or tablet, they're usually in Settings. On a computer, they're split between your operating system and individual programs. The fastest way is to find the Settings app or menu, then search for "notifications" — most devices will take you straight there.
You don't have to turn off all notifications at once. Most devices let you silence notifications from one app while keeping them on for others, or turn off just the sound while keeping the visual badge. This section shows you where each type of device keeps these controls.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones and iPads, go to Settings > Notifications and tap each app to turn off alerts, sounds, or badges individually.
- On Android phones, open Settings > Apps & Notifications, select an app, and toggle notifications off or adjust what type of alert you see.
- On Windows computers, go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions to control which apps can send alerts.
- On Mac computers, open System Preferences > Notifications and choose which apps can send alerts and how they appear.
- You can silence notifications without deleting them — they'll still appear in your notification center if you want to check them later.
How to turn off notifications on iPhone and iPad
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap Notifications. You'll see a list of every app that has sent you a notification. Tap the app you want to change.
Once you're in that app's notification settings, you have three main controls. Toggle Allow Notifications off completely to stop all alerts from that app. If you want to keep notifications but remove the sound, toggle off Sounds. If you want to keep the notification but remove the red badge number on the app icon, toggle off Badges. You can also change Notification Style from Banners (which pop up at the top) to None, or adjust whether notifications appear on your lock screen.
To turn off notifications for multiple apps at once, go back to the main Notifications screen and scroll to the bottom. You'll see options like Siri Suggestions and App Library Suggestions — toggle these off if you don't want iOS suggesting apps to you.
How to turn off notifications on Android phones
Open the Settings app. Tap Apps & Notifications or Applications (the exact name varies by phone brand). You'll see a list of installed apps. Tap the app you want to change.
Look for Notifications in the app's settings menu. Tap it, then toggle Allow Notifications off. If you want to keep notifications but change how they appear, you can instead tap Notification Categories or Advanced to adjust individual settings like sound, vibration, or whether the notification shows on your lock screen.
Some Android phones also let you manage notifications from the notification panel itself. Pull down from the top of your screen to open notifications, find one you don't want, press and hold it, then tap Turn off notifications for that app. This is faster if you only want to silence one or two apps.
How to turn off notifications on Windows computers
Click the Windows Start button and type Notifications. Open Notifications & actions settings. You'll see a toggle at the top that says Get notifications from apps and other senders — turn this off to stop all notifications.
If you want to keep notifications from some apps but not others, leave that toggle on. Scroll down to Get notifications from these senders and you'll see a list of apps. Find the one you want to silence and toggle it off. You can also scroll further down to adjust whether notifications appear on your lock screen or in your notification center.
For notifications from websites in Microsoft Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions > Notifications. You'll see a list of websites that have asked for permission to send you alerts. Click the three dots next to any site and choose Remove.
How to turn off notifications on Mac computers
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs). Click Notifications. You'll see a list of apps on the left side.
Click the app you want to change. Toggle off Allow notifications to stop all alerts from that app. If you want to keep notifications but remove the sound, uncheck Play sound for notifications. You can also change where notifications appear — toggle Banners to show them as temporary pop-ups, or Alerts to make them stay until you dismiss them.
At the top of the Notifications window, you can also toggle off Show notifications on lock screen if you don't want alerts visible when your Mac is locked.
How to turn off notifications in individual apps
Some apps have their own notification settings separate from your device settings. Open the app and look for a menu (usually three horizontal lines, three dots, or a gear icon). Tap or click Settings or Preferences. Look for a section called Notifications, Alerts, or Messages.
In the app's own settings, you might find options like Email notifications, Push notifications, In-app notifications, or Message notifications. Turn off whichever ones you don't want. Some apps also let you choose which types of activity trigger a notification — for example, you might turn off notifications for comments but keep them for direct messages.
If you turn off notifications in the app but they still appear on your device, go back to your device's notification settings and turn them off there too. The app's settings control what the app tries to send; your device's settings control whether your device actually shows them.
What to do if you can't find notification settings
If you've looked in Settings and can't find notifications, try searching. On iPhone, iPad, and Android, open Settings and use the search box at the top — type "notifications" and the system will show you the right page. On Windows, click the Start button and type "notifications". On Mac, click the Apple menu and search for "notifications".
If an app is sending notifications but you can't find its settings, the app might not have individual notification controls. In that case, turn off notifications from the app using your device's settings instead. You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the app — sometimes this resets notification permissions.
If a website keeps sending you notifications even after you've turned them off, the website might have stored permission on your device. On your phone or computer, go to your browser settings (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge), find the Websites or Notifications section, and look for that website in the list. Remove it or change its permission to "Deny".
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I still see notifications if I turn off the sound?
Yes. When you turn off sound, notifications still appear on your screen and in your notification center — they just won't make a noise or vibrate. You can check them whenever you want by opening your notification center or the app itself.
Can I turn off notifications for just one contact or person?
It depends on the app. Some messaging apps let you mute notifications from specific people while keeping them on for others. Open the conversation with that person, look for a mute or silence option (usually in a menu or by pressing and holding the conversation), and choose how long to mute it. For other apps, you'll have to turn off all notifications from that app.
What's the difference between turning off notifications and uninstalling an app?
Turning off notifications stops the app from sending you alerts, but the app stays on your device and you can still use it. Uninstalling removes the app entirely. If you just don't want to be bothered by alerts, turn off notifications. If you don't use the app at all, uninstalling frees up storage space.
Why do notifications keep coming back after I turn them off?
Some apps reset their notification permissions when you update them. If notifications return after an app update, go back to your notification settings and turn them off again. You can also check the app's own settings — it might have turned notifications back on there.
Can I schedule notifications to turn off at certain times?
Yes, most devices have a "Do Not Disturb" or "Focus" mode that silences notifications during hours you choose. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus and create a new focus. On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Focus assist. On Mac, click the Control Center and select Focus. You can set different schedules for work, sleep, or other times.