Where to find push notification settings

Push notifications are turned on or off in two places: your phone's main settings, and inside individual apps. Most apps won't send you notifications unless you've switched them on both places — the phone blocks them by default, and the app respects that choice. You'll need to check both locations to get notifications working.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications. These are the master switches that let any app send you alerts. If notifications are off here, no app can reach you no matter what you do inside the app itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Push notifications require permission at two levels: your phone's settings and the individual app's settings.
  • On iPhone, turn them on in Settings > Notifications; on Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications.
  • When you first open an app, it usually asks permission to send notifications — you can say yes then or change your mind later in settings.
  • Each app has its own notification controls, so you can choose which types of alerts you want from each one.
  • If an app stops sending notifications, check both your phone settings and the app's own notification menu.

Turning on notifications for individual apps on iPhone

Open Settings and tap Notifications. Scroll down to find the app you want notifications from. Tap the app name, then toggle on Allow Notifications. That's the main switch — without it on, nothing else matters.

Once Allow Notifications is on, you'll see more options appear. Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners control how and where you see alerts. You can also choose the notification sound, badge (the red number on the app icon), and whether notifications appear on your lock screen or only when you unlock your phone. These choices are all optional — turn on Allow Notifications first, then adjust the rest to your preference.

Turning on notifications for individual apps on Android

Open Settings and go to Apps & notifications. Find the app you want notifications from and tap it. Look for a Notifications option — it may say "Show notifications" or "Allow notifications." Toggle it on. Some Android phones call this section "App notifications" instead; the location varies slightly by manufacturer, but the toggle is always there.

Once notifications are on, you may see additional choices like notification importance level, sound, and vibration. These let you decide whether notifications pop up as banners, appear silently in your notification center, or interrupt what you're doing. Android also lets you control notifications by category — for example, you might allow messages but block promotional alerts from the same app.

What to do if an app asks for permission when you first open it

Many apps ask "Allow notifications?" the first time you open them. If you tap Allow, notifications turn on automatically. If you tap Don't Allow, you'll need to go back into settings later to turn them on — the app won't ask again.

If you missed that first prompt or want to change your answer, you can always go back. On iPhone, find the app in Settings > Notifications and toggle Allow Notifications on or off. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications, find the app, and toggle Show Notifications on or off. You're not locked into your first choice.

Checking notification settings when they stop working

If you were getting notifications but they suddenly stopped, start by checking your phone's main notification settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and make sure the app is still listed and Allow Notifications is still on. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications and verify the app's toggle is still enabled.

Next, open the app itself and look for its own notification settings — usually under Settings or Preferences inside the app. Some apps have a separate on/off switch for notifications, and some let you turn off specific types of alerts (like promotional messages) while keeping others on. If the app's settings look correct, restart your phone. If notifications still don't come through, uninstall and reinstall the app — this sometimes resets the notification permission and lets you say yes to the initial prompt again.

Why some apps need location or contact permissions to send notifications

A few apps ask for extra permissions before they can send notifications. Maps might ask for location access, messaging apps might ask for contact access, and social apps might ask for camera or photo access. These aren't required to receive notifications — they're required for the app to do what it does.

You can turn on notifications without granting these extra permissions. If an app says it needs location to send notifications, it usually means location-based alerts (like "You're near a store you follow") won't work, but other notifications will. You decide what's worth the trade-off. Go to Settings > Privacy (iPhone) or Settings > Apps & permissions (Android) to manage these separately from notifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn on notifications for some types of alerts but not others?

Yes. Most apps let you control notification categories inside their own settings. For example, a shopping app might let you turn on price-drop alerts but turn off promotional messages. Open the app, find Settings or Preferences, and look for a Notifications section. The options vary by app.

Why does my phone keep asking me to allow notifications?

If an app keeps asking even after you've said yes, the permission may not have saved properly. Go to your phone's settings, find the app, and manually toggle notifications on. Then restart the app. If it keeps asking, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

Do I need to allow notifications to use an app?

No. Notifications are optional. You can use any app without turning them on. The app will work normally — you just won't get alerts. Some apps may remind you that notifications are off, but you can dismiss those reminders.

What's the difference between banners and badges on iPhone?

A banner is a pop-up alert that appears at the top of your screen when a notification arrives. A badge is the red number that appears on the app icon. You can have one, both, or neither. Banners interrupt what you're doing; badges just show you that something new is waiting.

Can I turn on notifications for an app I don't have installed yet?

No. You can only manage notifications for apps that are already on your phone. Once you install an app, you can turn notifications on or off in your phone's settings or when the app first asks for permission.