Where to find notification settings on each device

The fastest way to stop notifications depends on what device you use and whether you want to silence everything or just certain apps. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and you'll see a list of every app that sends alerts. Tap any app name to turn off notifications entirely, or keep them on but disable sounds, badges, or banners. On Android, the path is Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications, then select the app you want to control.

On a Windows computer, open Settings > System > Notifications & Actions. You can toggle notifications off completely, or scroll down to see which apps are allowed to send them — click any app to disable it individually. On Mac, go to System Settings > Notifications, pick an app from the list on the left, and choose whether it can send alerts, sounds, or badges.

If you want to silence notifications without changing settings, most devices have a quick toggle. On iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center and tap Focus (or Do Not Disturb in older versions). On Android, swipe down twice from the top and look for Do Not Disturb. On Windows, click the notification icon in the taskbar and select Focus Assist. On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner and turn on Do Not Disturb.

Key Takeaways

  • Every device has a settings menu where you can turn off notifications per app or disable them entirely — iPhone and Android in the Notifications section, Windows and Mac in System Settings.
  • You can silence notifications temporarily using Do Not Disturb or Focus mode without changing permanent settings.
  • Email apps, messaging services, and social media usually have their own notification controls inside the app itself, separate from device settings.
  • Turning off notifications at the device level stops alerts even if an app is set to send them.
  • Some apps will still show unread badges or counts even when notifications are off — you may need to disable those separately.

Stopping notifications inside individual apps

Many apps have their own notification controls that override device settings. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences (usually a gear icon or three horizontal lines), and search for Notifications or Alerts. Email apps like Gmail and Outlook let you choose whether to get alerts for all messages, only important ones, or none at all. Messaging apps

Social media apps

Using Do Not Disturb and Focus modes

Do Not Disturb (on iPhone and Android) and Focus (on newer iPhones) let you silence notifications for a set time without permanently changing settings. On iPhone, open Control Center, press and hold Do Not Disturb or Focus, and set a duration — notifications will resume automatically when the time ends. You can also schedule Do Not Disturb to turn on at the same time every day, like during work hours or bedtime.

Android's Do Not Disturb works similarly: swipe down twice from the top, tap Do Not Disturb, and choose how long it lasts. You can set exceptions so calls from certain contacts still come through even when Do Not Disturb is on. Windows Focus Assist has three levels: Off (all notifications), Priority Only (only from apps you choose), and Alarms Only (just alarms). Mac's Do Not Disturb hides all notifications until you turn it off, though you can check them in Notification Center afterward.

Stopping notifications from websites and browsers

Websites can send notifications through your browser even when you're not visiting them. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications, and you'll see a list of websites allowed to send alerts. Click any site and select Block. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notifications and remove sites from the list. In Safari, go to Preferences > Websites > Notifications and change the dropdown to Deny for any site you don't want alerts from.

When a website first asks permission to send notifications, you can click Block or Don't Allow instead of Allow. If you accidentally allowed a site, you can revoke permission anytime through your browser settings. Some websites will ask again later, but you can block them again — most browsers remember your choice after the second or third refusal.

Turning off badge numbers and unread counts

Even with notifications off, many apps show a red badge with a number on their icon — this tells you how many unread messages or alerts you have. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, select an app, and toggle off Badge App Icon. On Android, the process varies by phone maker, but usually you go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications and look for Badge or Notification Dot.

Some apps let you clear badges manually without reading everything. Open the app and look for a Mark All as Read button, usually in the menu or settings. Email apps often have this option. If you turn off notifications but leave badges on, you'll still see the count but won't get alerts — useful if you want to check messages on your own schedule without being interrupted.

Stopping notifications from specific contacts or groups

If you want to keep notifications on overall but silence one person or group chat, most messaging apps let you mute them individually. In iMessage, swipe left on a conversation and tap Mute. In WhatsApp, long-press a chat, tap Mute Notifications, and choose how long. In Facebook Messenger, swipe left on a conversation and select Mute. In Gmail, open an email from the sender, click the three dots, and select Mute.

Muting is different from blocking — the person can still message you, and you'll see their messages when you open the app, but you won't get alerts. You can unmute anytime by opening the conversation again and selecting Unmute. Some apps let you mute notifications but keep message previews in your notification center, so you can see what they said without being interrupted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off notifications stop me from getting messages?

No. Turning off notifications only stops the alerts and sounds — messages, emails, and other content will still arrive and be stored in the app. You just won't be interrupted by a notification when they come in. You can check the app anytime to see what you missed.

Can I turn off notifications for one app but keep them for others?

Yes. On any device, you can go to notification settings and disable notifications for specific apps while leaving them on for others. You can also mute individual conversations or contacts within an app while keeping notifications on for everyone else.

What's the difference between muting and blocking?

Muting stops notifications from someone but they can still message you and you'll see their messages in the app. Blocking prevents them from contacting you at all. Muting is temporary and reversible; blocking is more permanent and the person may be notified that you blocked them.

If I turn off notifications in the app but leave them on in device settings, will I still get alerts?

No. Device-level settings override app settings — if notifications are off in your phone or computer settings, you won't get alerts even if the app is set to send them. You need to turn them off in at least one place for them to stop.

Can I schedule notifications to turn off at certain times automatically?

Yes. Most devices let you schedule Do Not Disturb or Focus mode to turn on and off at specific times. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus > [Focus Name] > Schedule. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Do Not Disturb > Schedules. You can set different schedules for work, sleep, or any other time you want silence.