Before you start
- An Android phone
Method 1 Turn off notifications straight from the notification
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Step 1: Press and hold it
When an annoying notification appears, swipe down and press and hold it.
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Step 2: Choose an option
Tap Turn off notifications to stop all of them, or choose Silent so they arrive quietly without sound or pop-ups.
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Step 3: Fine-tune
Tap the gear icon (or Settings) to open that app’s notification page directly.
Method 2 Turn off only some types of notifications
Also check the app’s own settings menu; social and shopping apps often have their own notification switches.
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Step 1: Open the app’s notification settings
Go to Settings > Notifications > App notifications (Samsung: Settings > Notifications > App notifications) and tap the app.
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Step 2: Review the categories
Many apps split notifications into categories, for example “Messages”, “Order updates” and “Promotions”. On Samsung, tap Notification categories.
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Step 3: Switch off the noise
Turn off categories like Promotions, Recommendations or Live videos, and leave important ones on.
Method 3 Stop website notifications from Chrome
“Click Allow to continue” pop-ups on dodgy sites are a common source of spam notifications. Always tap Block on those.
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Step 1: Open Chrome settings
In Chrome, tap ⋮ > Settings > Notifications.
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Step 2: Find the sites
Scroll to the list of websites that are allowed to send notifications.
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Step 3: Block them
Turn off the switch next to each unwanted site, or switch off notifications for all sites.
Method 4 Silence everything for a while
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Step 1: Use Do Not Disturb
Swipe down and tap Do Not Disturb. Notifications still arrive, but silently.
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Step 2: Allow exceptions
In Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb (or Modes on newer Android), choose people and apps allowed to interrupt you, and set a schedule such as nights.
Troubleshooting
Notifications came back after an app update
Some apps add new categories with updates. Open the app’s notification settings again and turn off the new categories.
I can’t turn off a system notification
Some ongoing notifications (charging, USB, running services) are required by Android. You can usually minimise them by long-pressing and choosing Minimize or Silent.
Pop-up ads appear even when no app is open
That points to adware. Open Play Store > profile > Play Protect and scan, then uninstall recently added apps you don’t trust.
Frequently asked questions
Will turning off notifications stop the app working?
No. The app works normally; you just won’t be alerted.
How do I see notifications I swiped away?
Turn on Notification history in Settings > Notifications.
How do I stop notifications on the lock screen only?
Go to Settings > Notifications > Notifications on lock screen (Samsung: Lock screen notifications) and choose what to show.
Summary
Press and hold any annoying notification to turn it off, or turn off just the noisy categories in the app’s notification settings. Block website notifications in Chrome, and use Do Not Disturb for quiet hours.
