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Windows 11 Notifications: Settings, Do Not Disturb, and Focus

Use Windows 11’s app controls, Do not disturb and Focus sessions to reduce interruptions while keeping important notifications available to review.
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In Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Notifications to control which apps interrupt you, where their alerts appear, and when Windows stays quiet. For ongoing changes, adjust noisy apps individually; for a quiet stretch, use Do not disturb or a timed Focus session. Notifications you silence can still be reviewed in Notification Center.

How do I turn off notifications in Windows?

For Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > System > Notifications. You can turn notifications off for the whole system or manage individual apps under Notifications from apps and other senders. Microsoft’s instructions cover Windows 11 and Windows 10, but Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; the steps below focus on Windows 11. Microsoft Support: Notifications and Do Not Disturb in Windows

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Set a lasting policy for a particular app

  1. Open Start > Settings > System > Notifications.
  2. Under Notifications from apps and other senders, select the app you want to change.
  3. Turn that app’s notifications off, or leave them on and change the delivery options available for it.

Depending on the app, its settings let you control banners, whether alerts remain in Notification Center, notification sounds, lock-screen visibility, and priority. The choices are not necessarily identical for every app. For priority, Windows lists Top, High, and Normal; only one app can be Top, and High notifications appear above Normal in Notification Center. Microsoft Support: Notifications and Do Not Disturb in Windows

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How do I stop notifications from popping up?

Turn off banners for the apps you want to quiet while keeping their notifications available in Notification Center. This changes where alerts appear without necessarily disabling the app’s notifications altogether. You can also mute an app’s sound in its notification settings if the audio, rather than the pop-up, is the main distraction.

To review notifications later in Windows 11, select the clock or notification bell on the taskbar, or press Windows key + N. From Notification Center, you can expand a notification, use an available action, clear an individual notification, clear all notifications from an app, turn off that app’s notifications, or clear all notifications. Microsoft Support: Notifications and Do Not Disturb in Windows

When should I use Do not disturb?

Use Do not disturb when you want Windows to quiet interruptions temporarily without removing notifications you may need to check later. Turn it on from Notification Center using the bell or Do not disturb control, or set it up under Start > Settings > System > Notifications.

With Do not disturb on, alarms, reminders, and apps you choose can still show banners; other notifications go to Notification Center. Microsoft Support puts it this way: “With do not disturb on, you will only receive banners for alarms, reminders, and apps of your choice.” You can configure priority exceptions for calls, reminders, and apps.

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Automate quiet periods

In notification settings, configure Do not disturb to switch on automatically for a scheduled time or under documented conditions such as display duplication, gaming, use of a full-screen app, or the first hour after a Windows feature update. These triggers suit predictable situations; use the manual control when you want quiet only on occasion. Microsoft Support: Notifications and Do Not Disturb in Windows

How does Focus differ from Do not disturb?

Do not disturb is the notification quiet mode. Focus is a timed session that can also hide taskbar badges and flashing. Starting a Focus session turns on Do not disturb, and notifications received during the session can be reviewed in Notification Center afterward.

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Start a session from Start > Settings > System > Focus, the taskbar notification area, or Clock, then set its duration and choose whether to hide taskbar badges or flashing. One behavior matters when you are done: if Do not disturb was already on before the Focus session began, Microsoft says it stays on after the session ends. Microsoft Support: How to use Focus in Windows

Clock focus sessions can optionally connect with Spotify for audio or Microsoft To Do for task lists. Neither integration is required to manage Windows notifications. Microsoft Support: How to use Focus in Windows

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Which notification approach fits your situation?

Approach Scope and duration What you can control Best fit
Per-app settings Ongoing policy for selected apps Banners, Notification Center, sound, lock-screen visibility, and priority, subject to the options each app provides Apps that should stay quiet even outside work or focus periods
Do not disturb Temporary or automatically triggered quiet across notifications Priority exceptions, allowed banners, schedule, and documented activity triggers Quiet periods when selected alerts should still get through
Focus session Timed session Duration, Do not disturb, and optional hiding of taskbar badges or flashing A defined work period with fewer visual interruptions

These controls are built into Windows; Microsoft’s notification and Focus guidance does not call for separate hardware or a separate notification-management product.

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