Turn Off Message Previews on Google Pixel (Pixel XL)

This guide shows you how to stop text message content from appearing on your Google Pixel or Pixel XL lock screen and notification shade. Turning off previews keeps private conversations hidden from anyone who picks up your phone, while still letting you know a new message has arrived. You only need your phone itself; no apps or extra tools are required.

Step-by-Step

1. Unlock your Pixel and open the Settings app. The icon looks like a gear and is usually on the home screen or in the app drawer.
2. Scroll down and tap “Apps & notifications.” This menu manages all app-related settings on your device.
3. Tap “Notifications.” This is located near the top of the Apps & notifications menu.
4. Tap “Notifications on lock screen.” This option controls what appears on the lock screen. You will see three choices:
   • Show all notification content: This is the default setting, showing the sender and the full message text on the lock screen.
   • Hide sensitive notification content: This shows the sender’s name but replaces the message text with “Contents hidden.” This is the recommended option for privacy.
   • Don’t show notifications at all: This removes all notification alerts from the lock screen entirely.

   Tap “Hide sensitive notification content” to turn off message previews while still seeing who messaged you.

5. Go back and tap “App notifications.” This is a separate list that lets you customize settings for each individual app.
6. Find and tap “Messages.” This is Google’s default SMS app. If you use a different texting app (like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger), find that app in the list instead.
7. Look for the “Notifications” category section. You will see options like “Messages,” “Conversations,” or “Other notifications.” Tap on the main category, usually labeled “Messages” or “Conversations.”
8. Tap “Advanced” to expand more options. This might already be visible depending on your Android version.
9. Find and tap “On lock screen.” This is a separate setting from the global one you changed earlier. It will have the same three options: Show all content, Hide sensitive content, or Don’t show notifications. Select “Hide sensitive notification content” here as well to ensure previews are off for your primary texting app.
10. Repeat steps 6-9 for any other messaging apps you use. Apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram each have their own notification settings that override the global one in some cases.

After completing these steps, your lock screen will show “Contents hidden” instead of the message text. The notification shade (what appears when you swipe down from the top) will still show the full message preview. If you want to hide previews there too, continue to the next section.

Hiding Previews in the Notification Shade

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Tap “Notifications.”
5. Tap “Notifications” again (the first option in the list).
6. Tap “Categories.”
7. Tap “Conversations.”
8. Toggle off the switch next to “Show previews.” This will stop message content from appearing in the notification shade and on the lock screen for this app.

Common Mistakes

• Only changing the global lock screen setting: Many people change the global “Notifications on lock screen” option but forget that individual apps have their own settings. Some apps, especially third-party ones, will still show previews if their own setting is set to “Show all content.”
• Confusing “Hide sensitive content” with “Don’t show notifications”: The first option hides the message text but still shows the sender’s name and app icon. The second option removes the notification completely. If you pick the wrong one, you might miss important alerts entirely.
• Turning off previews for the wrong app: If you use WhatsApp for most of your texting, changing settings only in the default Messages app won’t help. You must change the settings in each messaging app you use.
• Forgetting about the notification shade: The lock screen setting does not affect the notification shade. If you swipe down and see full message text there, you need to change the in-app preview setting as described above.

Tips

• Use “Hide sensitive content” rather than turning off notifications entirely. You still get the alert that a message arrived, and you can see who it’s from, but the actual content stays private.
• Set up Smart Lock for trusted places. If you have a trusted device (like a smartwatch) or location (like home), the phone will stay unlocked and show full previews. This is convenient at home but means previews will be visible. You can adjust this in Settings > Security > Smart Lock.
• Consider using a secure lock screen. If you use a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint, previews will only show when the phone is locked. If you use “Swipe” or no lock screen, anyone can see your notifications.
• Check app-specific settings regularly after updates. App updates sometimes reset notification preferences. After a major update to your messaging app, quickly check that your preview setting is still correct.
• Use “Do Not Disturb” for quiet hours. This silences notifications but doesn’t hide previews. Combine it with the preview settings for full control.

Troubleshooting

Message previews still appear on the lock screen. First, double-check that you changed the setting for the specific app you’re using, not just the global setting. Then, restart your phone. If that doesn’t work, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications > Notifications on lock screen and make sure it’s set to “Hide sensitive notification content.” Some launchers or third-party lock screen apps can override this, so if you use one, check its settings too.

Previews are hidden on the lock screen but still show in the notification shade. As mentioned, these are two separate settings. The lock screen setting is in the system Settings menu, while the notification shade preview is controlled by the app itself. Open the Messages app, go to Settings > Notifications > Categories > Conversations, and toggle off “Show previews.”

The “Hide sensitive notification content” option is grayed out. This happens when you don’t have a secure lock screen method (PIN, pattern, or fingerprint) enabled. The phone needs to know that the screen is locked to determine what is “sensitive.” Go to Settings > Security > Screen lock and set up a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint.

Previews still show after changing all settings. Try clearing the app’s cache. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Messages > Storage & cache > Clear cache. This will not delete your messages. If that fails, check if you have a second messaging app (like “Messages” and “Carrier Services”) that might be generating the notification. Disable or update Carrier Services if you see it in your app list.

I want previews back but they won’t reappear. Go back to each setting you changed and revert it. For the lock screen, select “Show all notification content.” For the app-specific setting, toggle “Show previews” back on. If it still doesn’t work, restart the phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will turning off previews stop me from receiving message notifications?
A: No. You will still get the notification sound, vibration, and a banner showing the sender’s name. Only the message text is hidden.

Q: Does this affect all messaging apps or just the default one?
A: The global lock screen setting affects all apps. However, individual apps can override it. You need to change the preview setting in each app you use (Messages, WhatsApp, etc.) to be fully covered.

Q: Can I hide previews for just one contact?
A: Not directly through the system settings. However, in the Messages app, you can open a conversation, tap the three-dot menu, and select “Details,” then “Notifications” to mute or customize that specific conversation’s notifications. This still shows previews unless you also change the global preview setting.

Q: Will this save battery life?
A: No. Turning off message previews has no effect on battery life. It only changes what is displayed on the screen.

Q: I have a Pixel XL on an old Android version. Are these steps the same?
A: The steps are broadly similar on Android 8.0 (Oreo) through Android 12. The menu names may be slightly different (e.g., “Sound & notification” instead of “Apps & notifications”), but the core options are the same. If you are on Android 7 or earlier, look for “Sound & notification” > “When device is locked” and set it to “Hide sensitive notification content.”

Q: What’s the difference between “Hide sensitive content” and “Don’t show notifications”?
A: “Hide sensitive content” shows the app icon and sender name but replaces the message with “Contents hidden.” “Don’t show notifications” removes the notification from the lock screen entirely, so you won’t see any indication that a message arrived until you unlock the phone.

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