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Windows 11 Notifications: Turn Alerts On, Off, or Quiet Them

Use Windows 11’s notification settings to stop all alerts, customize one app, or quiet banners temporarily with Do not disturb.
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To turn Windows 11 notifications on or off, open Start > Settings > System > Notifications and switch Notifications on or off. To change alerts from just one app, select it under Notifications from apps and other senders. For a temporary quiet period that still lets you review missed alerts, use Do not disturb.

Turn all Windows 11 notifications on or off

  1. Open Start > Settings > System > Notifications.
  2. Switch Notifications on to receive system notifications or off to stop them.

This is the broadest control. Turning it off is different from hiding banners or enabling Do not disturb, which can leave notifications available in Notification Center. Microsoft’s instructions cover Windows 11 and Windows 10; these steps use the Windows 11 Settings path. Microsoft’s notification instructions.

Change notifications for one app

Keep system notifications on, then open Start > Settings > System > Notifications. Under Notifications from apps and other senders, select the app you want to adjust.

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Depending on the app, you can turn its notifications on or off, show or hide notification banners, show or hide its notifications in Notification Center, hide notification content on the lock screen, allow notification sounds, and set its priority. Windows offers Top, High, and Normal priority. Only one app can have Top priority; High-priority notifications appear above Normal ones in Notification Center. Microsoft documents these app controls.

Quiet alerts without losing access to them

Turn on Do not disturb manually

Open Notification Center from the taskbar and select the bell marked zZ to turn on Do not disturb. Select it again to turn the mode off. Most notifications are sent to Notification Center instead of appearing as banners while the mode is on. Alarms, reminders, and apps you have allowed may still show banners.

Schedule quiet periods

Go to Start > Settings > System > Notifications, expand Turn on do not disturb automatically, and enable the conditions that suit you. Microsoft lists time-of-day scheduling, display duplication, gaming, use of a full-screen app, and the first hour after a feature update as available conditions. The available settings can depend on the Windows version and configuration. See Microsoft’s Do not disturb guidance.

Let selected alerts through

Open Do not disturb’s priority settings to allow calls or reminders and choose apps that may notify you during quiet periods. Use this when you want fewer interruptions but still need particular alerts to appear.

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Find notifications that did not appear as banners

Open Notification Center with Windows key + N, or select its taskbar area. You can review missed notifications, expand some alerts, dismiss one notification, clear all notifications from an app, or clear everything. Some banners also include actions—for example, dismissing a reminder or snoozing an alarm. Microsoft’s guide explains Notification Center actions.

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Check Focus if notifications suddenly go quiet

A Focus session turns on Do not disturb by default. Focus can also hide taskbar app badges and flashing, and notifications received during the session remain reviewable in Notification Center. If Do not disturb was already on before Focus began, it stays on after the session ends. Check the mode manually if you expect alerts to resume. Microsoft’s Focus instructions.

Quick Recap

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Bestseller No. 2
Dell Latitude 5420 14' FHD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i5-1145G7, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Camera, HDMI, Windows 11 Pro (Renewed)
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256 GB SSD of storage.; Multitasking is easy with 16GB of RAM; Equipped with a blazing fast Core i5 2.00 GHz processor.
$285.00
Bestseller No. 3
HP 14' HD Laptop, Windows 11, Intel Celeron Dual-Core Processor Up to 2.60GHz, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, Webcam, Dale Pink (Renewed)
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14" diagonal, 1366x768 resolution, HD BrightView LED, Glossy NON-TOUCH Display
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Rank #4
Windows 11 Laptop with i3 Processor 15.6" Work Laptop for College Students
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Rank #3
Rank #2
Dell Latitude 5420 14" FHD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i5-1145G7, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Camera, HDMI, Windows 11 Pro (Renewed)
  • 256 GB SSD of storage.
  • Multitasking is easy with 16GB of RAM
  • Equipped with a blazing fast Core i5 2.00 GHz processor.

If a notification setting is missing or does not work

  • Look for a different Settings layout: Windows updates can change labels and placement. Search Settings for “Notifications” and check your Windows version and build before following version-specific steps.
  • Check whether the device is managed: A work- or school-managed PC may have settings controlled by an administrator, making some controls unavailable.
  • Distinguish Windows Security alerts: Windows Security has its own notification settings for security information and alerts, including firewall notifications. Those controls are separate from the general Windows notifications switch. Microsoft explains Windows Security app settings.
  • Check Do not disturb and Focus: Either may be diverting or suppressing banners while notifications remain in Notification Center.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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