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How to Turn Off Notifications on Android
Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
AndroidNotificationsUser InterfaceSmartphonesSettingsManagementMobile DevicesFeaturesTipsGuides
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Notifications on Android devices can be useful for staying up-to-date with important messages, app alerts, and reminders. However, they can also be overwhelming and distracting if you get too many notifications or if the notifications aren't relevant to you. This guide will explain in detail how to turn off notifications on Android devices, giving you control over the types of alerts you receive and when you receive them.
Understanding android notifications
Before learning how to manage notifications on Android, it's important to understand what types of notifications you can get on your Android device. Android notifications fall into several categories, such as:
- App notifications: These are alerts from applications installed on your device, such as messages, status updates from social media apps, or reminders from productivity apps.
- System notifications: Notifications generated by the Android operating system. They can alert you to system updates, battery status, or other system activities.
- Group notifications: When multiple notifications are sent from the same app in a short period of time, Android can combine them into a single, expandable group notification.
Steps to turn off notifications for individual apps
If you want to make changes to your notifications and turn off specific alerts from certain apps, here's how you can do so on most Android devices:
Step 1: Open the settings app
The first step is to open the Settings app on your device. You can usually find this app in your app drawer or on your home screen. It is represented by a gear or wrench icon.
Step 2: Go to apps & notifications
Once you're in the Settings menu, scroll down until you find an option labeled Apps & notifications, or it may just say Apps on some devices. Tap this menu item to proceed.
Step 3: Access the notifications
In the Apps & notifications menu, you will find an option that refers directly to notifications. Tap on it to open the notification management screen. Here, you can see the list of apps and the types of notifications they send.
Step 4: Select an app to modify notification settings
Browse through the list and select the app you want to stop receiving notifications from. Tap the app's name to open its notification settings.
Step 5: Turn off notifications
In the notification settings of the selected app, you will see an option labeled something like Show Notifications. There is usually a switch or toggle next to this option. Disable it by tapping on it. This action will prevent the app from sending any notifications to your device.
Example:
Suppose you are getting too many notifications from a particular messaging app, which is distracting you from work. Follow the steps to go to the notification settings of the messaging app and then turn off Show Notifications. This will block notifications from that app.
Global notification management
In addition to controlling notifications at the app level, you can also use Android's Do Not Disturb mode to limit interruptions at the system level. This can be especially useful during meetings, while sleeping, or when you need to concentrate without distractions.
Using do not disturb mode
Do Not Disturb (DND) mode allows you to temporarily mute all notifications, except those you have specifically allowed. Here's how to activate and customize it:
Step 1: Access quick settings
Swipe down from the top of the screen to access the Quick Settings menu. You may have to swipe twice or use two fingers to see all the options, depending on your device model.
Step 2: Enable the do not disturb feature
Look for the Do Not Disturb icon, which can also be represented as a line through the middle of a circle. Tap it to activate Do Not Disturb mode.
Step 3: Customize do not disturb settings
To adjust what happens during Do Not Disturb, long-press and hold the Do Not Disturb icon. This action will take you to the settings panel, where you can adjust various options, such as allowing calls from certain contacts or allowing alarms to ring.
You can select the Schedule option in Settings, which will cause DND to turn on automatically at certain times, like your bedtime or work hours.
Example:
If you want to receive calls and texts only from family members during DND, set the Allow exception to Favorites, where only contacts marked as Favorites will bypass DND.
Managing system notifications
As mentioned, app notifications are easy to manage, but system notifications may require a slightly different approach. You can:
Accessing system notifications
Open the Settings app and look for a section such as System or Sound. In this section, you can often find settings related to system notifications.
Disabling specific system notifications
Although it is not recommended to turn off all system notifications since some of them are important, you can sometimes disable specific notifications, such as sound alerts for system activities, by unchecking their respective toggle switches.
Customizing notifications: an in-depth look
In addition to turning notifications on or off, Android also provides options to change the way notifications appear and behave:
Adjust notification importance
- High priority: Pop up notifications on the screen.
- Medium priority: Display on the status bar, but don't interfere.
- Low priority: Notifications won't alert you, but will still appear in the tray.
To adjust this, go to the app's notification settings as described earlier and look for Notification Importance or a similar term.
Notification channels
Modern Android versions introduce notification channels, which allow users to control different notification types separately within an app. For example, a news app can have separate channels for breaking news and daily newspapers.
To configure it, go to the Notifications section of the app, and find the different channels listed, where you can turn them on or off based on preference.
Example:
In the Weather app, you can enable severe weather alerts (high priority), while disabling the daily forecast notification (low priority) for fewer distractions.
Summary
Managing notifications on Android devices involves a variety of strategies, from disabling them for individual apps to using system-wide features such as Do Not Disturb mode. Understanding how to adjust these settings can help you focus on important information while minimizing distractions. Whether it's through built-in settings, modifying the importance of notifications, or navigating through notification channels, Android provides flexible tools to effectively manage your notification experience.
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