Where notifications live and how to find them
Notifications come from two places: your device's operating system (the software that runs your phone or computer) and the individual apps installed on it. To remove a notification, you first need to know which one is sending it. The notification itself usually shows you — look at the app icon or the sender's name at the top of the alert.
On most devices, notifications pile up in a notification center or notification panel. On iPhone and iPad, swipe down from the top of the screen to see all recent notifications. On Android phones, swipe down from the top twice — the first swipe shows quick settings, the second shows your notification history. On Windows computers, click the time in the bottom right corner. On Mac, click the notification icon in the top right corner. Finding them here is the first step to turning them off.
Some notifications are system messages from your device itself — software updates, battery warnings, storage alerts. Others come from apps you installed. The removal process differs slightly depending on which type you are dealing with, but the principle is the same: you are telling the app or system to stop sending that particular alert.
Key Takeaways
- Most app notifications can be turned off in the app's own settings, usually under a Notifications or Alerts section.
- You can silence notifications from a specific app without uninstalling it, and you can turn off just one type of notification while keeping others.
- System notifications like software updates and storage warnings are controlled in your device's main settings, not in individual apps.
- On iPhone, you can silence an app by long-pressing its notification and choosing "Manage"; on Android, swipe and hold a notification to access its settings.
Removing notifications from individual apps on iPhone
Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app that has sent you a notification. Tap the app whose notifications you want to remove. At the top of the screen, you will see a toggle labeled "Allow Notifications" — tap it to turn it off. That app will no longer send you any notifications.
If you want to keep some notifications from that app but silence others, keep "Allow Notifications" turned on and scroll down. You will see options like "Sounds", "Badges", and "Banners". Turn off whichever ones bother you. For example, you might keep badge notifications (the red number on the app icon) but turn off sounds and banners (the alerts that pop up on your screen). This gives you control over which types of alerts reach you.
You can also silence an app notification in the moment. When a notification appears on your screen, press and hold it. A menu will appear with options including "Manage". Tap "Manage" and you will go directly to that app's notification settings. This is faster if you only want to adjust one app right now.
Removing notifications from individual apps on Android
Open Settings on your Android phone. Tap Apps or Applications (the exact name varies by phone maker). Find the app whose notifications you want to remove and tap it. Look for a Notifications section — on most phones this is near the top. Tap Notifications, then toggle off "Show Notifications" or "Allow Notifications". The app will stop sending alerts.
If you want finer control, look for options like "Notification sounds", "Vibration", or "Badges" in that same section. You can turn off the sound while keeping the visual alert, or vice versa. Some apps also let you silence notifications during certain hours — look for "Quiet hours" or "Do Not Disturb" settings within the app's notification menu.
You can also manage notifications directly from the notification itself. When a notification appears, swipe it to the right and hold it there. A menu will pop up with options including "Manage notifications" or a settings icon. Tap it and you will go to that app's notification settings. This is the quickest way if you are already looking at the notification that is bothering you.
Removing system notifications on Windows and Mac
On Windows, open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then pressing Enter. Click System, then Notifications. You will see a list of apps that send notifications. Toggle off the ones you do not want to hear from. You can also scroll down to see options for notification sounds, banners, and badges — turn off whichever ones you prefer not to see.
On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Notifications. You will see a list of apps on the left. Click an app and you will see its notification options on the right. Uncheck "Allow notifications" to silence it completely, or uncheck specific options like "Sounds" or "Badges" to keep some alerts but not others.
Both Windows and Mac also have a Do Not Disturb or Focus mode that silences all notifications during set times. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Focus information. On Mac, go to System Settings > Focus. You can turn this on manually or set it to set up automatically during work hours, sleep time, or other periods when you do not want interruptions.
Removing notifications from web browsers
Websites can also send notifications — these appear as pop-ups or alerts even when you are not on the website. To stop them, open your browser settings. In Chrome, click the three-line menu in the top right, then Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Notifications. You will see a list of websites that have permission to send notifications. Click each one and select "Remove" or "Block".
In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right, then Settings, then Privacy & Security. Scroll down to Permissions and find Notifications. Click "Settings" next to it. You will see websites that have permission to notify you. Select each one and click "Remove".
In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings, then Websites, then Notifications. You will see a list of sites. Click each one and change the setting from "Allow" to "Deny". On iPhone, Safari notifications are handled through the same Settings > Notifications menu as app notifications — look for Safari in the list and turn it off.
What to do if you cannot find the notification setting
Some apps hide their notification settings in unexpected places. If you cannot find a Notifications option in the app's main settings, try looking under Privacy, Alerts, Messages, or Preferences. On iPhone, you can also search for the app name in Settings — type the app name in the search box at the top of Settings and tap the result to jump straight to its settings page.
If an app does not have a notification setting at all, your device's operating system may still let you silence it. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and look for the app in the list — even if the app itself has no settings, you can turn off notifications here. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications and toggle off "Show Notifications".
Some apps send notifications through email instead of through your device. If you are getting unwanted emails from an app, look for an unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email, or go to the app's account settings and look for an Email Preferences or Communications section. Turn off the types of emails you do not want.
Removing notifications without uninstalling the app
You do not have to delete an app to stop its notifications. Turning off notifications in settings keeps the app on your device so you can still use it when you open it manually — it just will not bother you with alerts. This is useful for apps you use occasionally but do not need to hear from constantly.
If you want to remove an app entirely, the process is straightforward. On iPhone, press and hold the app icon on your home screen, then tap "Remove App" and confirm. On Android, go to Settings > Apps, find the app, tap it, then tap "Uninstall". On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, find the app, click it, and click "Uninstall". On Mac, open Applications in Finder, click the app, and press Command + Delete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off notifications from one contact but keep them from others?
This depends on the app. In Messages on iPhone, you can mute notifications from a specific conversation by opening it, tapping the contact name at the top, scrolling down, and toggling off "Hide Alerts". In Gmail, you can mute a sender by opening their email, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting "Mute". Most other apps do not offer per-contact control — you either silence the app entirely or keep all notifications from it.
What if I turn off notifications and then change my mind?
Go back to the same settings menu and toggle notifications back on. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > [App Name] and toggle "Allow Notifications" back on. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications and toggle "Show Notifications" back on. Your settings are saved, so you can turn notifications on and off as many times as you want.
Do I lose messages if I turn off notifications?
No. Turning off notifications only stops the alerts — the messages, emails, or other content still arrive and are stored in the app. When you open the app later, you will see everything that came in. You are just choosing not to be interrupted by alerts about them.
Why do some apps keep sending notifications even after I turned them off?
Some apps have multiple notification channels. For example, an app might have separate settings for messages, reminders, and promotions. You may have turned off one type but left another on. Go back to the app's notification settings and look for a list of notification types — turn off each one individually if needed. If the app still sends notifications, try restarting your device, as settings sometimes do not take effect until you restart.
Can I schedule notifications to stop at certain times?
Yes, through your device's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus and create a custom focus that silences notifications during your work hours or sleep time. On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and set a schedule. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Focus information and turn on Focus information during set hours. This silences all notifications device-wide rather than from individual apps.