How to Turn Off App Notifications on iPhone and Android in Canada

Notifications are useful until they take over your day. A delivery update is helpful. A dozen pings from games, shopping apps and social feeds is not. The good news is that you do not have to silence everything or miss what matters. Both iPhone and Android let you turn off notifications app by app, so you can keep banking alerts and messages from family while quieting the rest.

This guide shows the main controls on each system, plus a few gentler options for apps you want to keep, but hear from less often. Menu names vary slightly by phone model and software version, but the steps below match most recent versions.

Step 1: Decide what you actually want to silence

Before you change settings, take a quick look at what is bothering you. Open your recent notifications and note which apps ping most often. Shopping apps, games and social apps are common culprits. News apps can also be noisy, especially if every breaking story triggers a banner.

Make three short groups in your head. The first group is alerts you need right away, such as calls, messages from close contacts, banking alerts and calendar reminders. The second group is alerts you want, but not instantly, such as parcel updates or social comments. The third group is alerts you never need, such as promotions, game reminders and suggested posts. Your goal is to silence the third group first, then tame the second group with quieter delivery.

Step 2: Turn off notifications for one app on iPhone

On iPhone, open Settings, then tap Notifications. You will see a list of apps that have asked for permission to send alerts. Tap the app you want to quiet. At the top of its screen, turn off Allow Notifications. That stops all banners, sounds and badges for that app.

If you want a softer option, keep Allow Notifications on, but turn off Sounds and Badges, and choose Banners only when you are using the phone, or turn banners off entirely. You can also choose where alerts appear, such as on the Lock Screen, in Notification Centre, or as a banner. Turning off Lock Screen alerts is a good middle step for apps that are useful but private.

For an even faster fix, swipe left on a notification on your Lock Screen or in Notification Centre, tap Options, then choose Turn Off. That silences that app without opening Settings. It is handy when a noisy app interrupts you and you want it gone right away.

Step 3: Turn off notifications for one app on Android

On Android, open Settings, then tap Notifications, then App notifications. You will see a list of apps with a switch beside each one. Turn off the switch for any app you want to silence. That stops its notifications completely.

You can also fine-tune an app instead of silencing it fully. Tap the app name to see its notification categories, which might include promotions, messages, reminders and account alerts. Turn off only the categories you do not want, and leave the useful ones on. For example, you might keep order updates from a shopping app but turn off its sale promotions. Not every app offers categories, but many popular apps do.

Step 4: Use quieter delivery for apps you want to keep

Sometimes you do not want to block an app entirely. You just want it to stop buzzing. On iPhone, you can set an app to deliver quietly by swiping left on its notification, tapping Options, and choosing Deliver Quietly. Those alerts will appear in Notification Centre without a sound or a Lock Screen banner. You can also use Scheduled Summary, under Settings and Notifications, to bundle less urgent alerts into a summary at times you choose, such as morning and evening.

On Android, look for a Gentle or Silent option in the app’s notification settings. Silent notifications appear in the shade without sound or vibration. You can also use Do Not Disturb for set hours, such as overnight or during work, while allowing calls from starred contacts or repeat callers through. That gives you quiet time without cutting off urgent contact.

These gentler options work well for news, social and shopping apps. You still get the information when you choose to check your phone, but it no longer pulls your attention away in the middle of a conversation, a meeting or a drive.

Step 5: Check a few settings that override the rest

A few system settings can bring back noise even after you silence an app. On iPhone, check Focus modes under Settings. A Focus mode such as Do Not Disturb, Work or Sleep can allow or block people and apps, and it can override your normal settings while it is active. Make sure the apps you silenced are not listed as allowed in a Focus mode you use often.

On Android, check Do Not Disturb under Settings, then Sound, and look at its exceptions. You may have allowed certain apps or people to break through. Also check Bedtime mode or Digital Wellbeing settings if your phone has them, since they can change notification behaviour at night. On both systems, check that your phone is not set to announce notifications through a smartwatch or earbuds if you do not want that.

Finally, revisit your choices after a week, and scan for apps that have crept back in after an update.

You do not need perfect settings on the first try. Silence the worst offenders, keep alerts from people and services you trust, and use quiet delivery or a scheduled summary for everything in between. Your phone should serve you, not interrupt you, and these controls put you back in charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off notifications delete the app or its messages?

No. Turning off notifications only stops alerts. You can still open the app and see messages, orders and updates whenever you choose.

Can I silence an app but still get its important alerts?

Often, yes. On Android, turn off only the noisy notification categories and keep useful ones on. On iPhone, use quiet delivery or a Scheduled Summary for less urgent alerts.

Why am I still getting notifications after turning them off?

Check Focus modes on iPhone or Do Not Disturb exceptions on Android, and check whether a watch or earbuds are announcing alerts. Also confirm you silenced the right app, since similar apps can look alike.