If Android has stopped alerts from an app you rarely use, review Settings > Apps > Unused apps. To manage alerts yourself while keeping an app active, change its notification settings instead. On iPhone, use Settings > Notifications to turn off an app’s alerts or temporarily mute them from a notification.
Why an unused Android app may stop notifying you
Android can optimize apps it considers unused. That can stop notifications, revoke permissions, delete temporary files and stop background activity. To see which apps have been optimized, open Settings > Apps > Unused apps. Google also describes this review path in its Google Play Help guide.
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If you want an app to keep working normally, open its app information page, go to Unused apps, and turn off Pause app activity if unused. Menu names and locations can vary by Android device and version; if you cannot find the option, open the app’s info page from Settings or long-press its icon and look for App info. See Android Help’s unused-app instructions.
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How to choose which Android apps can send alerts
Unused-app optimization is not the same as notification control. If the app should stay installed and active but you want fewer alerts, adjust its notifications:
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- Open Settings > Notifications > App notifications.
- Select the app you want to quiet.
- Turn off all notifications, or disable only the notification categories you do not want, if categories are available.
You can also long-press an unwanted notification and open its notification settings. Android’s notification guide notes that steps differ across devices, so the exact labels or controls may not match these examples.
How to stop notifications from an unused iPhone app
On iPhone, open Settings > Notifications, tap the app, then switch off Allow Notifications to stop its alerts. For a temporary break, swipe left on one of the app’s notifications, tap Options, and choose to mute notifications for an hour or a day. The available controls are described in Apple’s notification settings guide and its iOS 26 guide to viewing and responding to notifications.
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Should you adjust notifications, archive an app, or uninstall it?
| Choice | What happens to notifications | Does the app remain installed? | What happens to app data? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change notification settings | All alerts or selected categories stop | Yes | The app stays available |
| Archive an Android app | Notifications stop | No; the software is removed | App data and its icon are retained |
| Uninstall an app | Notifications stop | No | Uninstalling removes the app; data-retention behavior can depend on the app and backup settings |
Archiving is for an app you do not currently need, not just for reducing alerts: Android says it removes the software, permissions and temporary files while retaining the app’s icon and data. Read Android Help’s guide to archiving unused apps before choosing it.
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Which setting should you use?
- The app was optimized and you still need it: turn off Pause app activity if unused in its Unused apps settings.
- You want the app but fewer interruptions: disable all notifications or selected categories in notification settings.
- You no longer need the app: consider archiving it on Android or uninstalling it.
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