A push notification is a message that appears on your device without you asking for it
A push notification is a short message sent from an app or website directly to your device — your phone, tablet, or computer — even when you are not actively using that app. It pops up on your screen, often with a sound or vibration, to grab your attention. The app or service sends it to you; you do not request it the way you would request an email or text message.
The word "push" describes the direction the message travels. The app pushes the message out to you, rather than you pulling it in by opening the app yourself. This is why you might see a notification from a news app about breaking news, or from a shopping app about a sale, without having opened those apps in hours or days.
Push notifications are different from other alerts because they do not require an internet connection at that exact moment — your device receives them through a background service that stays connected even when the app is closed. On iPhones, Apple's servers handle this. On Android phones, Google's Firebase Cloud Messaging system does the work. On computers, the notification system depends on your browser or operating system.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications are messages sent to your device by apps or websites without you requesting them, and they arrive even when the app is closed.
- Each app or website needs your permission before it can send push notifications, and you can turn off notifications from any app at any time in your device settings.
- Apps use push notifications to alert you about messages, news, sales, reminders, and app updates, but they also use them to keep you engaged and encourage you to open the app.
- Turning off push notifications from apps you do not use regularly reduces distractions and can slightly improve battery life on phones.
How push notifications ask for permission and what happens if you say no
The first time an app or website wants to send you push notifications, it must ask for your permission. On an iPhone, you will see a popup that says something like "Allow 'Instagram' to send you notifications?" with options to allow or not allow. On Android, the permission process is similar. On a computer browser, you might see a popup asking if you want to allow notifications from a specific website.
If you tap or click "Don't Allow" or "Block," that app or website cannot send you push notifications. You will not see them, and the app cannot change that decision without asking again. If you change your mind later, you can go into your device settings and turn notifications back on for that app — or turn them off for apps you already allowed.
Some apps will ask again after a few weeks or months if you initially said no, but they cannot force notifications on you. The permission system is designed so that you stay in control. However, some apps will nag you repeatedly to turn notifications on, because they know notifications keep people engaged with the app.
What kinds of messages apps send as push notifications
Apps use push notifications for many different purposes. A messaging app like WhatsApp or Telegram sends a notification when someone sends you a message. A weather app might notify you about severe weather in your area. A calendar app can remind you about an upcoming appointment. A news app sends notifications about breaking news or topics you follow. A shopping app notifies you about sales or when an item you watched goes on sale.
Some notifications are genuinely useful — a banking app alerting you to unusual account activity, or a delivery app telling you your package has arrived. Others are designed mainly to bring you back into the app so you spend more time there. A social media app might send a notification saying "Your friend posted a photo" or "You have 5 new likes," even though you could find that information by opening the app yourself.
The difference between useful and intrusive often depends on your own needs. A reminder notification from a fitness app might be motivating to one person and annoying to another. The point is that you get to decide which notifications are worth the interruption.
Why apps want to send you push notifications
From the app maker's perspective, push notifications serve two purposes: to deliver information you might actually need, and to keep you thinking about the app. A notification is one of the most effective ways to pull someone back into an app. When you see a notification on your lock screen, you are more likely to open the app than if you had to remember to open it yourself.
This is why many apps send notifications that are not strictly necessary. A social media app does not need to notify you about every like or comment — you could see those by opening the app. But the notification makes you more likely to open it, which means you spend more time on the app, which means the app can show you more ads or collect more data about your behavior.
App makers track how many people open the app after receiving a notification, and they use that data to decide what kinds of notifications to send. If notifications about sales drive more people to open a shopping app, the app will send more sale notifications. This is why some apps seem to send notifications at odd times or about things you do not care about — they are experimenting to see what works.
How to turn off push notifications from specific apps
On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications. You will see a list of all apps that have permission to send notifications. Tap any app to see its notification settings. You can turn off all notifications from that app by switching off "Allow Notifications," or you can customize what kind of notifications it sends — for example, allowing sound but not badges, or allowing notifications only when you unlock your phone.
On an Android phone, go to Settings, then Apps or Application Manager. Find the app you want to change, tap it, then tap Notifications. You can turn off all notifications or customize them by category if the app offers that option. Different Android phones have slightly different layouts, but the basic path is the same.
On a computer, notification settings depend on your browser and operating system. In most browsers, you can click the lock icon next to the website address in the address bar and change notification settings from there. On Windows, go to Settings, then System, then Notifications and Actions. On a Mac, go to System Preferences, then Notifications, and you can customize settings for each app.
The difference between push notifications and other types of alerts
A push notification is sent by an app or website and appears on your device without you requesting it. An email is sent to your email address and you see it when you check your email app or inbox. A text message (SMS) is sent through your phone's cellular network and appears in your Messages app. A banner alert is a notification that appears at the top of your screen and disappears after a few seconds. A badge is a small red number on an app icon showing how many unread items you have.
Push notifications are faster than email because they do not go through email servers — they use a direct connection between the app and your device. They are more intrusive than badges because they interrupt you with a sound or vibration. They are more reliable than text messages for app-related alerts because they do not depend on your cellular network.
Some apps use multiple methods. A messaging app might send you a push notification when someone messages you, an email if you do not read the notification within an hour, and a text message if you have that option turned on. Each method reaches you in a different way, and you can control each one separately.
Why you might want to turn off notifications from apps you do not use often
If you have an app installed but rarely open it, turning off its notifications reduces interruptions. You will not see random alerts from apps you forgot about, and your lock screen will be less cluttered. This is especially useful if you have many apps installed — every notification you disable is one fewer distraction.
Notifications also use a small amount of battery power because your device has to wake up, display the message, and play a sound or vibration. If you turn off notifications from apps you do not use, you might see a small improvement in battery life, though it is usually not dramatic unless you have dozens of apps sending notifications.
The simplest approach is to turn off notifications from any app you have not opened in the past month. If you later realize you miss notifications from that app, you can turn them back on in seconds. You are not deleting the app or losing any data — you are just stopping it from interrupting you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an app send me notifications if I said no the first time?
No, not unless you change your mind and turn them on yourself. An app cannot override your choice. Some apps will ask again after several weeks, but you can always say no again. The permission stays in effect until you change it in your device settings.
Do push notifications work if my phone is off or in airplane mode?
No. Your device must be powered on and connected to the internet (or cellular network) to receive push notifications. If your phone is off or in airplane mode, notifications will not arrive. Some devices will deliver the notification when you turn the phone back on, but this depends on how long it was off and the app's settings.
Why do I sometimes get the same notification twice?
This usually happens when an app sends a notification through multiple channels — for example, both through push notification and through email, or when a notification arrives on your phone and your computer at the same time. You can reduce duplicates by turning off notifications from one device or by customizing which apps can send notifications on each device.
Can I get push notifications from websites on my phone?
Yes, if you use a web browser like Chrome or Safari. When you visit a website, it can ask permission to send you push notifications. These work similarly to app notifications — they appear on your lock screen even when you are not on the website. You can turn them off the same way you would for an app, by going to your browser or device notification settings.
What happens to notifications if I uninstall an app?
Once you uninstall an app, it cannot send you notifications anymore. If you reinstall the app later, it will ask for permission again before sending notifications. Any notifications that were already on your device will disappear when you uninstall the app.