How to Calm Down Your Phone’s Notifications

One of the most common things people ask me is: “How do I stop my phone from buzzing all day?” Phones are helpful, but the constant noise can get tiring. We’ve talked about “Do Not Disturb” mode in the past, but what if you want to make certain apps quiet all day long?

Let’s walk through how to quiet things down on both types of phones, iPhone and Android.

For iPhone Users

(iPhone screens use the word “Settings” often, so I’ll guide you step by step.)

What’s Going On

Your iPhone lets each app decide how it talks to you. Some apps send small banners at the top of the screen. Some pop up boxes. Others vibrate or ding. You get to choose which ones matter and which ones don’t.

Step-by-Step: How to Turn Off Notifications on iPhone

1. Open Settings

Look for the gray gear icon. One tap opens it.

2. Scroll to Notifications

It’s usually near the top, right above “Sounds & Haptics.”

3. You’ll see a long list of apps

This shows every app that has permission to send you alerts.
Important tip: the list might be long if you have many apps. That’s normal.

4. Tap the name of an app

Start with one you know — like Mail, Facebook, or News.

5. Look for the switch labeled Allow Notifications

It will be green if alerts are on.

• To silence the app completely: Tap the switch so it turns gray.

• To keep alerts but make them calmer:

  • Turn off Sounds

  • Turn off Badges (the red dots)

  • Turn off Banners if you don’t want interruptions

6. Repeat for other apps

Go through a few each day. Your phone will grow quieter over time.

Extra iPhone Tools That Help

Scheduled Summary

This gathers non-important alerts and delivers them only at certain times.
You’ll find it at the top of the Notifications screen.

Good for: store apps, coupons, news, game apps.

Do Not Disturb

Find it under Settings → Focus.
This quiets your whole phone except for people you choose.

Good for: sleeping, reading, or calm afternoons.

Turning Off Notification Previews

Go to Settings → Notifications → Show Previews.
Choose When Unlocked to avoid pop-ups on your lock screen.

Good for: privacy and fewer surprises.

For Android Users

(Android phones look a little different depending on the brand, but these steps work for most Samsung, Google Pixel, and Motorola phones.)

What’s Going On

Android gives you very fine control over alerts. Each app can have different types of notifications — sounds, pop-ups, badges, and quiet alerts. Once you learn the menu, you can shape your phone exactly how you like it.

Step-by-Step: How to Turn Off Notifications on Android

1. Open Settings app

Look for the gray gear. Tap once.

2. Scroll to Notifications or Apps & Notifications

Different phones use slightly different labels. Both lead to the same controls.

3. Tap App Notifications

This shows a list of all the apps installed on your phone.

4. Pick an app to adjust

Start with something chatty — like Weather, Email, or a store app.

5. You’ll see a switch next to the app name

• Turn the switch off to silence the app fully.

• If you want to keep some alerts but not all, tap the app name again to open more detailed options.

6. Fine-tune the alert types

Android often breaks notifications into “categories,” such as:

• Promotions

• Updates

• Messages

• Recommendations

You can turn each category on or off separately.

This helps you keep important alerts and silence the clutter.

7. Repeat for other apps

Like the iPhone, you can take this slowly. A few apps per day is plenty.

Extra Android Tools That Help

Do Not Disturb

Found under Settings → Notifications → Do Not Disturb.
You can set quiet hours, choose who can reach you, and allow alarms to pass through.

Notification Shade (Pull-Down Menu)

If an unwanted alert appears, pull down from the top of the screen.
Press and hold the notification.
You’ll see options like:

• Turn Off Notifications

• Minimize Notifications

• Silent

This is the quickest way to deal with noisy apps.

A Quick Recap

• iPhone: Settings → Notifications → App → Allow Notifications (off).

• Android: Settings → Notifications (or Apps & Notifications) → App → Notification Switch (off).

Take your time. Turn off what you don’t need. Keep the helpful things on.
A calm phone helps you focus, rest, and enjoy your day.

Did You Know?

Here are a few fun little facts about notifications that surprise a lot of people:

• Most apps turn on alerts by default. They do it to get your attention, not because you need them.

• Your phone remembers your choices. Once you silence an app, it usually stays quiet until you change it.

• Too many alerts drain your battery. Every buzz or pop-up wakes the phone for a moment. Fewer alerts can mean longer battery life.

• You don’t have to check everything right away. Many alerts are just suggestions, not real emergencies.

• You can silence an app without deleting it. This is great for apps you want to keep but don’t want to hear from.

Little adjustments can make a big difference in how peaceful your phone feels.

Tech Term Explained: “Badge Icons”

Badge icons are the tiny red circles that appear on an app’s corner. They usually show a number, like 3, 12, or 50.
That number means “you have this many new items.” It might be messages, emails, or updates.

Badges can be helpful, but sometimes they cause stress. Big numbers make people feel like they’re behind, even when nothing urgent is going on.

Here’s the good news:
You can turn off badges without turning off the whole app’s alerts.

• On iPhone:
  Go to Settings → Notifications → (App) → Badges and switch it off.

• On Android:
  Go to Settings → Notifications → App Notifications → (App) and look for Badges or App Icon Badges. Turn it off.

No more red dots. No more nagging numbers. Just a calmer home screen.

Nice work taking control of your phone! Let me know in the comments if you have any apps that you found were notifying you too much… Remember: silence is golden!

Wishing you a distraction-free weekend,

Steve