Android O Notification Dots: Get on Any Phone

Notification dots are the small badges that appear on app icons when the app has an unread notification. Android Oreo (8.0) introduced them as a native feature, but you can get the same functionality on almost any Android phone, even older versions, using a custom launcher. This guide walks you through the native method and the launcher method, so you can pick what works for your device.

What You’ll Need

An Android phone (any version, though the steps differ slightly)
For the native method: Android 8.0 Oreo or newer
For the launcher method: a launcher app from the Google Play Store (Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, or Action Launcher are good options)
5-10 minutes of time

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Native Notification Dots (Android 8.0+)

Check your Android version. Go to Settings > About Phone and look for “Android version.” If it’s 8.0 or higher, you have native support.
Open Settings. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon, or find the Settings app in your app drawer.
Navigate to Apps & Notifications. The exact name varies by manufacturer (e.g., “Apps,” “Application Manager,” “Notifications”). Look for something with “Apps” and “Notifications” together.
Find “Notifications.” Tap on “Notifications” or “App notifications” to open the notification settings panel.
Enable “Notification dots.” Look for a toggle labeled “Notification dots,” “App icon badges,” or “Badges.” Turn it on. On some phones (like Samsung), this is under Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > App icon badges.
Check individual app settings. Some apps have their own badge settings. Go back to the Apps list, tap a specific app, tap “Notifications,” and ensure “Allow notification dot” or “Badge icon” is enabled for that app.
Test it. Send yourself a message or create a reminder. The app icon should now show a small dot in the corner.

Method 2: Using a Custom Launcher (Any Android Version)

If your phone runs Android 7.0 or older, or if your manufacturer disabled the native dots, a launcher is the most reliable fix. A launcher replaces your home screen and app drawer.

Install a launcher. Open the Google Play Store and search for “Nova Launcher” (free version is fine) or “Lawnchair.” Download and install it.
Open the launcher. Tap “Open” from the Play Store, or press the Home button and select the new launcher as your default. Choose “Always” when prompted.
Access launcher settings. Long-press on an empty area of your home screen. A menu will pop up. Tap “Settings” (or the gear icon).
Find the badge settings. In Nova Launcher, go to Desktop > Badge style. In Lawnchair, go to General > Badges.
Choose “Notification Dots.” You’ll see options like “None,” “Dots,” “Numbers,” or “Icons.” Select “Dots” to get the classic Android Oreo look. If you prefer a count, choose “Numbers” instead.
Grant notification access. The launcher will ask for “Notification access” to read your notifications and display the dots. Tap “Allow” or “Grant” when prompted. If you skipped this, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Special app access > Notification access and enable it for your launcher.
Customize (optional). In the same settings menu, you can adjust the dot size, color, and whether the dot appears on the top-right or bottom-right corner of the icon.
Test it. Receive a notification from any app. The dot should appear on the home screen icon.

Common Mistakes

Looking in the wrong Settings menu. The “Notification dots” toggle is not always under “Display.” It’s almost always under “Apps & Notifications” or “Notifications.”
Forgetting per-app permissions. Even with the global toggle on, some apps (especially messaging apps) have their own badge settings that default to off.
Not granting notification access to the launcher. The launcher cannot show dots without this permission. If you skipped the prompt, the dots will never appear.
Using a launcher that doesn’t support dots. Very old or basic launchers may not have this feature. Stick to well-known ones like Nova, Lawnchair, or Action Launcher.
Confusing dots with numbers. If you want a number count, you need to select “Numbers” in the launcher settings, not “Dots.”

Tips

Long-press to preview. On Android 8.0+, long-pressing an app icon with a dot will show a preview of the notification. You can swipe it away directly from there.
Clear dots quickly. To clear all dots at once, pull down the notification shade and tap “Clear all.” The dots will disappear once the notifications are gone.
Use “Numbers” for productivity. If you get a lot of emails or messages, a numeric badge (like iOS) might be more informative than a simple dot.
Hide sensitive dots. On some launchers, you can set certain apps (like banking apps) to never show a dot, for privacy.
Customize the dot color. In Nova Launcher, you can set the dot to match the app icon color or use a single accent color for all dots.

Troubleshooting

Dots not showing after enabling the toggle. Restart your phone. If that fails, check the per-app notification settings. Some manufacturers (Xiaomi, Huawei) bury the badge setting under the app’s own “App info” page.
Dots appear on the launcher but not the stock launcher. This means your stock launcher doesn’t support them. Stick with the custom launcher.
Dots show but tapping the icon doesn’t show previews. This is a launcher limitation. In Nova Launcher, ensure “Notification previews” is enabled under Desktop > Badge style > Notification previews.
Launcher keeps crashing after enabling notification access. Clear the launcher’s cache: Settings > Apps > [Launcher Name] > Storage > Clear Cache. If it persists, uninstall and reinstall the launcher.
Dots only show for some apps. Check each app’s notification settings. Some apps (like games) simply don’t send notifications, so they won’t have dots.
On Samsung phones, the toggle is missing. Samsung uses “Badges” instead of “Dots.” Go to Settings > Notifications > App icon badges and select “Show with number” or “Show without number” (the latter is the dot).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do notification dots work on Android 7.0 or lower?

No, not natively. You must use a custom launcher like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair to get dots on Android 7.0 and earlier.

Can I get notification dots on a Samsung phone?

Yes. Samsung phones running One UI have a “Badges” feature. Go to Settings > Notifications > App icon badges and choose “Show without number” for a dot, or “Show with number” for a count.

Why do my dots disappear when I clear the notification shade?

That’s normal. The dot reflects unread notifications. Once you clear them from the shade, the dot disappears. To keep the dot, you must leave the notification in the shade.

Can I have a number badge instead of a dot?

Yes. Most launchers (Nova, Lawnchair) offer a “Numbers” badge style. On Samsung, choose “Show with number” in the badge settings.

Will notification dots drain my battery?

No. The dot itself is just a small graphic. The launcher does need to read notification data, but the battery impact is negligible.

Do notification dots work in the app drawer?

Yes, but only on launchers that support it. In Nova Launcher, go to App drawer > Badge style and select “Dots” or “Numbers.” Some launchers only show dots on the home screen, not in the drawer.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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