How to turn off all notifications across your devices to reclaim your time and attention span
- There's no easy way to turn off notifications on all of your devices at once.
- If you want to turn off all your notifications, you'll need to disable them on each device individually.
- Most devices let you turn off or mute notifications easily, usually through a settings menu.
Sometimes you just need to tune everything out and take a digital detox. However, that can be hard when you're used to receiving emails, text messages, and social media notifications all day.
Unfortunately there isn't an easy "off" switch you can flip to disable the notifications on all your devices. Whether it be your smartphone or computer, every device has its own way to disable notifications.
Luckily, disabling notifications on your phone, computer, and web browser isn't hard, although it may take some time. Here's how to do it.
How to turn off notifications on your iPhone, iPad, and Android device
On an iPhone
There are a few different ways to turn off or restrict notifications on an iPhone.
The easiest way to silence notifications is by putting your device in "Do Not Disturb" mode. This will mute all incoming notifications, including phone calls. You'll still receive messages and emails, but they'll be stored quietly in your Notification Center.
1. Open the Control Center and tap the icon that looks like a crescent moon. This will turn on Do Not Disturb until you tap it again.
Quick tip: You can open the Control Center on an iPhone X or later by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen. On an older model, swipe up from the bottom center of the screen.
2. If you press and hold your finger on the icon, you can turn on Do Not Disturb temporarily.
3. You can also tap "Schedule" at the bottom of this menu to set up a recurring schedule for Do Not Disturb mode. This is great if you want to mute notifications at a certain time each day.
The best way to manage your iPhone's notifications for the long term is by customizing which apps send notifications.
1. Open the Settings app and tap "Notifications."
2. You'll be shown all your apps. Find and tap the app that you want to disable notifications for.
3. To turn off all of that app's notifications, tap the "Allow Notifications" toggle at the top of the page. You can also use the options below to edit how you receive the notifications - for example, you can turn off just the sounds.
Here's a longer step-by-step guide on both methods.
On an iPad
You can turn off notifications on an iPad in the exact same ways you can on an iPhone.
Either open the Control Center and turn on Do Not Disturb mode, or go to Settings > Notifications and manage notifications for each app individually.
On an Android
Just like an iPhone, there are two ways to turn off notifications on an Android phone or tablet.
Android devices have a Do Not Disturb mode that will mute all notifications, including phone calls.
1. Open the Settings app and tap "Sounds."
2. In the menu that opens, tap "Do Not Disturb."
3. You'll be able to edit its settings, including which notifications, if any, can get through.
You can also disable notifications for each app on your phone.
1. Open Settings and tap "Notifications," and you'll find a full list of all your apps.
2. Tap the toggle switch next to each app to turn off its notifications.
3. If you want to leave an app on but customize the type of notifications it sends, tap "Advanced" at the top-right and then tap an app's name to edit it.
How to turn off notifications from your computer
On a Mac
You can turn on Do Not Disturb on a Mac, or turn off notifications for each app.
To turn on Do Not Disturb:
1. Click the notifications icon in the top-right corner of your screen - it looks like a bulleted list.
2. Select the "Notifications" tab and scroll up as high as you can.
3. Click the "Do Not Disturb" switch to turn it on for a day.
Quick tip: If you want to turn Do Not Disturb on for longer, open System Preferences and select "Notifications." Here, you'll be able to choose how long Do Not Disturb is on.
To edit each app's notifications:
1. Open System Preferences and click "Notifications."
2. In the left sidebar, you'll be shown a list of apps that can send notifications. Click one.
3. To turn off all notifications from this app, click the toggle switch next to "Allow Notifications."
4. You can also use the options below this to edit how notifications are displayed.
On a PC
PCs also have a Do Not Disturb mode, called "Focus Assist," along with a menu for turning on individual apps.
To turn on Focus Assist:
1. Click the Action Center icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen. It looks like a square speech bubble.
2. In the menu that opens, click "Focus assist" to enable it. Clicking it once will turn on "Priority" mode, which means that only apps who've been given priority will be able to send you notifications.
Quick tip: You can manually edit which apps have priority. Open the Settings app and select "System," and then "Focus assist."
Under "Priority only," click "Customize your priority list."
3. Clicking it twice will turn on "Alarms" mode, which will mute all notifications except for alarms you've set with Cortana.
To turn off your apps' notifications permanently:
1. Open the Start menu and search for "Notifications."
2. Select "Notifications and actions settings" in the search results.
3. In the menu that opens, you can turn off all notifications permanently by toggling off the switch labeled "Get notifications from apps and other senders."
4. Also be sure to switch off "Show me the Windows welcome experience..." and "Get tips and tricks..." These are notifications straight from Windows, teaching you how to use the system.
5. Underneath these options is a full list of all your apps. Click the toggle switch next to any app to disable its notifications.
How to turn off notifications from your web browser
In Google Chrome
Google Chrome lets you turn off all notifications, or just notifications sent by certain websites.
1. Click the three dots in the top-right, and then "Settings."
2. Scroll down and click "Site settings." It's under "Privacy and security."
3. Scroll down and select "Notifications."
4. To turn off all your notifications, toggle off the switch next to "Sites can ask to send notifications." You can also select "Use quieter messaging" for a pseudo-Do Not Disturb mode.
5. Below this will be a list of all the sites that you've specifically either blocked or allowed notifications from. Click the arrow next to any website to edit its settings, including whether you want notifications from it.
In Microsoft Edge
1. Click the three dots in the top-right, and then select "Settings."
2. In the left sidebar, select "Site Permissions."
3. Click "Notifications."
4. If you want to turn off all your notifications, toggle the "Ask before sending" switch off.
5. Below this will be a list of the websites that you've specifically blocked or allowed notifications from. Click the three dots next to each one's name to remove or block it.
In Firefox
1. Click the three lines in the top-right, and then select "Preferences."
2. Click "Privacy & Security" and scroll down to "Permissions."
3. Here, you'll find a "Notifications" option. Click "Settings…" next to it.
4. Check off "Block new requests asking to allow notifications." This will stop future websites from trying to send you notifications.
5. If you have any websites that you've asked for notifications from, they'll appear in the list above the checkbox. Click one of these websites and click "Remove Website," or click "Remove All Websites" to get rid of all of them at once.
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Swamped by Facebook notifications? Here's how to turn off or limit them from your desktop or mobile device
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