Your phone buzzes. Then it buzzes again. A banner pops up on your screen, then another. If you feel like your phone runs your life rather than the other way around, you are not alone — and the good news is that turning off unnecessary notifications takes only a few minutes.
Why So Many Apps Send Notifications
Every app you install is allowed to ask for permission to send you notifications. Many apps set everything to “on” by default, hoping you will just accept it. Shopping apps want to tell you about sales. Social media apps want to pull you back in. News apps want to grab your attention with headlines. None of this is in your interest — it is in theirs.
How to Turn Off Notifications on an iPhone
- Open Settings (the grey icon with cogs).
- Scroll down and tap Notifications.
- You will see a list of every app on your phone. Tap any app to see its notification settings.
- To silence an app completely, tap the toggle next to Allow Notifications so it turns grey.
- Or, leave notifications on but turn off Sounds and Badges (the red number dots) to reduce interruptions without missing everything.
- Banners or alerts. Where your phone lets you choose, a banner drops down and then disappears on its own. An alert stays on screen until you dismiss it. To keep an app’s notifications but make them quieter, choose banners. The option is usually in the same app settings, though its name varies by version.
How to Turn Off Notifications on Android
- Open Settings and tap Notifications (sometimes listed under Apps).
- Tap App notifications to see the full list.
- Tap any app and use the toggles to turn off some or all of its notifications. Once you switch a toggle off, that app should stop sending the notifications it covers.
- On some Android phones, you can also deal with a notification as it arrives. See “A Quicker Way” below.
A Quicker Way: Press and Hold the Notification
You can often deal with a notification as it arrives, without going into Settings. Press and hold the notification. You will usually see an option to turn off notifications from that app, or to change how it notifies you. The options vary by phone and version. This is the fastest way to quiet an app that keeps interrupting you.
Notifications on Your Computer
Windows and Mac computers show notifications too. On a Windows computer, look for the notifications icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Its look varies by Windows version. Open the notification settings from there, then switch off notifications for individual apps. The app should then stop showing its notifications on your computer. On a Mac, open System Settings and go to Notifications. Names and places vary by version, so look for the closest match if your screen differs.
Which Notifications Are Worth Keeping?
Not all notifications are bad. The ones worth keeping are usually:
- Phone calls and text messages from real contacts
- Banking and security alerts
- Calendar reminders
- Delivery updates you are actively waiting for
The ones worth turning off are usually social media likes, daily “streaks” from apps, promotional offers, and news alerts for stories you did not ask about.
A useful rule of thumb: turn off notifications for any app that you will check yourself when you are ready, such as social media, news, or shopping apps. Keep them on for apps where timing genuinely matters, such as messages from people you know or your banking app.
Stop and get help if an essential alert stops arriving, such as a bank or security alert. First check that notifications are still on for that app. If the alert still does not arrive, contact your bank or your phone maker for help.
Focus Modes: A Quieter Alternative
Both iPhones and Android phones have a Focus or Do Not Disturb mode. When turned on, only the contacts and apps you choose can get through. Everything else is silenced until you switch it off. This is useful at night, during meals, or whenever you need to concentrate.
On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Centre and tap the crescent moon icon. On Android, pull down the notification shade and look for Do Not Disturb or Focus Mode.
You can also allow calls from specific people to come through even when Do Not Disturb is on.
Taking back control of your notifications is one of the easiest ways to make your phone feel less overwhelming — and it costs you nothing but five minutes.
People were grumbling about distraction long before phones learned to buzz, and a page of quotes about distraction on Sms4Smile shows how little the complaint has changed.
Last updated: October 9, 2026