How to Turn Off Samsung Galaxy Notifications You Don’t Need

Constant notifications from apps you rarely use can clutter your status bar and drain your battery. This guide shows you how to silence or completely turn off notifications for individual apps on your Samsung Galaxy phone, so you only see what matters. You can do this entirely in the Settings app—no third-party tools required.

What You’ll Need

A Samsung Galaxy phone (running Android 13 or later, though steps are similar on older versions)
Your phone unlocked and the Settings app accessible

Step-by-Step

Open Settings. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the notification shade, then tap the gear icon in the top-right corner. Alternatively, find and tap the Settings app in your app drawer.
Go to Notifications. Scroll down and tap Notifications. This is where you manage all notification-related settings.
Tap “App notifications.� You’ll see a list of all your installed apps, each with a toggle switch. Apps that are currently sending notifications will have their toggle turned on.
Find the app you want to silence. Scroll through the list or use the search bar at the top to quickly locate the app. For example, if you want to stop getting game alerts, search for the game’s name.
Turn off the toggle. Tap the toggle next to the app’s name so it turns gray. This immediately blocks all notifications from that app. You can turn it back on anytime by tapping again.
For more control, tap the app’s name. If you want to keep some notifications but not others, tap the app name (not the toggle) to open its notification settings. Here you can:
Choose “Notification categories.� Many apps have subcategories like “Messages,� “Promotions,� or “Alerts.� Turn off only the categories you don’t want. For example, you can keep “Direct messages� on but turn off “Promotional� notifications.
Set “Alert� vs. “Silent.� If you still want to see the notification in your shade but don’t want a sound or vibration, tap the category, then select Silent instead of Alert. This is great for apps that send frequent but non-urgent updates.
Use “Do Not Disturb� for temporary quiet. If you want to silence everything for a period, swipe down twice to open the quick settings panel, then tap Do Not Disturb. You can set a schedule or turn it on manually.
Check “Notification history.� If you’re not sure which app is sending a particular notification, swipe down to see the notification, then long-press it. This will take you directly to that app’s notification settings.

Common Mistakes

Turning off the toggle for “Settings� or “System UI.� These are system apps; disabling them can cause issues. Only disable notifications for third-party apps or apps you don’t rely on.
Turning off all notifications for a messaging app. You might miss important texts or calls. Instead, use notification categories to keep essential alerts on.
Forgetting that some apps re-enable notifications after updates. After an app update, check its notification settings again, as some apps may reset them.
Using “Do Not Disturb� as a permanent solution. DND blocks everything by default. If you want to keep some notifications, you’ll need to allow exceptions in DND settings.

Tips

Use “Notification history.� Go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > Notification history. This shows you all notifications you’ve received in the past 24 hours, even if you dismissed them. It’s useful for identifying apps you want to mute.
Set “Do Not Disturb� schedules. You can set DND to turn on automatically at night or during meetings. Go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > Schedules to set it up.
Use “Bixby Routines.� If you want notifications silenced only in certain situations (e.g., when you’re at work), you can create a Bixby Routine. Go to Settings > Advanced features > Bixby Routines and set a condition like “Location = Work� and an action like “Turn on Do Not Disturb.�
Check “App notifications� periodically. New apps you install will default to allowing notifications. Review this list every few weeks to keep things tidy.
Use “Silent� instead of “Off� for important apps. For apps like email or banking, you might want to see the notification but not hear a sound. Set the category to “Silent� to avoid interruptions.

Troubleshooting

Notifications still appear after turning off the toggle. Some apps have multiple notification channels. Tap the app name and ensure all categories are turned off. Also, check if the app has its own in-app notification settings that override system settings.
You can’t find the app in “App notifications.� Make sure the app is installed and not disabled. If it’s a system app, it might be under “System apps� – tap the three-dot menu in the top-right and select “Show system apps.�
Turning off notifications didn’t stop the sound. If the sound persists, it might be coming from a different app or a system alert. Check your media volume and also look at “Notification sound� in Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings.
Notifications come back after a phone restart. This is rare, but some apps may re-enable notifications on boot. Check the app’s notification settings again. If it keeps happening, consider force-stopping the app or clearing its cache.
You accidentally turned off notifications for a critical app. Go back to Settings > Notifications > App notifications, find the app, and turn the toggle back on. If you can’t remember which app, check “Notification history� to see what you’re missing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off notifications save battery?

Yes, it can. Each notification wakes your phone’s screen, vibrates, and plays a sound, all of which use battery. Blocking unnecessary notifications reduces this activity and can extend battery life.

Can I turn off notifications for a specific conversation in a messaging app?

Yes. Open the messaging app, go to the conversation, tap the three-dot menu, and select “Mute� or “Notifications.� This is separate from the system settings and gives you per-conversation control.

How do I stop notifications from a specific website?

Open the Samsung Internet browser (or Chrome), go to the website, tap the menu (three dots), select “Settings� or “Site settings,� and then “Notifications.� Turn off the permission for that site.

What is the difference between “Alert� and “Silent� notifications?

“Alert� means the notification makes a sound, vibrates, and appears in the status bar. “Silent� means it appears in the notification shade but does not make a sound or vibrate. You can set this per category.

Can I set a schedule for Do Not Disturb?

Yes. Go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > Schedules, then tap “Add� to create a schedule with specific days and times. You can also set exceptions for calls, messages, or specific apps.

Why do some apps have a “Notification categories� option and others don’t?

Apps that are updated to support Android’s notification channels will have categories. Older apps may only have a single toggle. If an app doesn’t have categories, you can only turn all its notifications on or off.

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

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