Where to find push notification settings on each device
Push notifications live in different places depending on what device you're using. On an iPhone, they're in Settings > Notifications. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications. On Windows, check Settings > System > Notifications & actions. On Mac, it's System Settings > Notifications. Each operating system groups them slightly differently, but they're all in the settings area — not buried in individual app menus.
The fastest way to turn off notifications from a single app is often right from the notification itself. When a notification pops up on your phone or computer, look for an options menu (usually three dots or a gear icon). Many apps let you silence them directly from there without digging into settings. This works on most phones and computers, though the exact button location varies by device.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications can be turned off entirely for your device, or silenced for specific apps — you choose the level of control that works for you.
- On iPhones, Android phones, Windows, and Mac computers, notification settings are in the main Settings app, not inside individual apps.
- You can silence notifications during certain hours (like sleep time) without turning them off completely, using Do Not Disturb or Focus modes.
- Turning off notifications for an app does not delete the app or prevent it from working — it only stops the pop-up alerts.
Turning off notifications for individual apps on iPhone
Open Settings and tap Notifications. You'll see a list of every app that has sent you a notification. Tap the app you want to silence. At the top of that app's notification screen, toggle off "Allow Notifications." That's it — the app will no longer send you alerts, but it will continue to work normally in the background.
If you want to keep some notifications but reduce how many you see, you have middle-ground options. You can turn on "Time Sensitive" to let only urgent alerts through, or switch from "Lock Screen" delivery to "Notification Center" so alerts stack quietly instead of popping up immediately. You can also toggle off "Badges" (the red number circles on app icons) or "Sounds" individually, keeping visual alerts but removing the noise.
Turning off notifications for individual apps on Android
Open Settings and go to Apps & notifications. Tap Notifications. You'll see a list of apps; tap the one you want to silence. Look for a toggle labeled "Allow notifications" or "Show notifications" and turn it off. Some Android phones also let you tap "Notification settings" to access more granular controls, like turning off only sound or vibration while keeping visual alerts.
If you have an older Android phone, the path might be slightly different — try Settings > Applications > Application Manager, find the app, and look for a "Notifications" option. The exact wording changes between phone makers like Samsung, Google, and others, but the concept is the same: find the app in settings and toggle notifications off.
Turning off notifications on Windows and Mac computers
On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings > System > Notifications & actions. Scroll down to "Notifications" and toggle off "Get notifications from apps and other senders." If you want to keep notifications but silence specific apps, scroll further down to "Notifications from these senders" and toggle off individual apps. You can also turn off notification sounds without hiding the alerts themselves.
On Mac, open System Settings > Notifications. You'll see a list of apps on the left. Click each app you want to silence and uncheck "Allow notifications." You can also choose to show notifications only in Notification Center (quietly) rather than as banners that pop up on your screen. Some apps let you keep notifications but turn off sounds or badges separately.
Using Do Not Disturb and Focus modes to silence notifications temporarily
If you don't want to turn off notifications permanently, but you need them quiet during certain times, use Do Not Disturb (iPhone and Mac) or Focus modes (newer iPhones) to pause them automatically. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus and create a new Focus (like "Sleep" or "Work"). Choose which apps can notify you during that time, and set a schedule for when it turns on and off. Your phone will silence notifications automatically at those times without you having to remember to toggle anything.
On Android, look for "Do Not Disturb" in Settings > Sound & vibration. You can set it to turn on at specific times or manually. Windows has a "Focus assist" feature in Settings > System > Focus assist that works similarly. Mac has Do Not Disturb in the top-right corner of the screen — click it to silence notifications for a set period. These modes are useful if you want notifications back later; turning off notifications entirely is better if you never want them from that app again.
What happens when you turn off notifications
Turning off push notifications does not uninstall the app, delete your data, or stop it from working. The app continues to run normally — it just stops sending you alerts. If you turn off notifications for email, for example, new messages will still arrive and sync to your phone; you just won't get a pop-up or sound telling you about them. You can still open the app and see everything that's happened.
If you change your mind later, you can turn notifications back on the same way you turned them off. Go back to that app's notification settings and toggle "Allow Notifications" back on. There's no penalty for turning notifications off and on repeatedly — it's a setting you can adjust anytime without affecting the app itself.
Handling notifications from websites and browsers
Websites can also send push notifications through your browser. These are separate from app notifications and live in your browser settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. You'll see a list of websites that have permission to notify you. Click any site and choose "Block" to stop its notifications. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notifications and manage them the same way.
When you visit a website that wants to send notifications, your browser will ask for permission with a pop-up. You can click "Block" immediately, or if you accidentally clicked "Allow," you can revoke that permission later in your browser settings. Website notifications work the same way as app notifications — turning them off doesn't affect the website's functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications stop the app from working?
No. Turning off notifications only stops the alerts — the app continues to function normally. You can still open it, use it, and see all your data. Notifications are just the pop-ups and sounds; they're not required for the app to work.
Can I turn off notifications for just one type of alert from an app?
Yes. Most apps let you toggle off sounds, badges, or banners individually while keeping other notification types on. Go to that app's notification settings and look for options like "Sound," "Badges," or "Lock Screen" — you can turn off any combination of these without silencing all notifications from that app.
How do I stop notifications from a website?
In your browser settings, go to Notifications (the path varies by browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all have slightly different menus). Find the website in the list and click "Block." If you're not sure which sites have permission, you can see them all in that same settings area and revoke permission from any of them.
If I turn off notifications at night, will I miss important alerts?
That depends on your settings. Do Not Disturb and Focus modes let you allow notifications from specific contacts or apps even when they're on — so you could silence everything except calls from family, for example. Check your Do Not Disturb settings to see which apps or contacts can still reach you during quiet hours.
Can I turn off all notifications at once instead of one by one?
Yes. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and toggle off "Allow Notifications" at the very top. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications and toggle off "Show notifications." On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions and toggle off "Get notifications from apps and other senders." This silences everything, though you can still turn individual apps back on afterward if you want.