How to Turn Off Notifications in Windows 10

Notifications in Windows 10 can be helpful, but sometimes they become a distraction, especially if there are too many of them or they appear at inconvenient times. In this guide, we’ll go through how to turn off notifications entirely or adjust them to make your work experience smoother.

1. Disabling Notifications via the "Action Center"

The simplest way to disable notifications in Windows 10 is by adjusting settings through the "Action Center." Here’s how:

  1. Click on the "Action Center" icon in the lower right corner of the screen (the speech bubble icon).
  2. Select "Manage notifications" at the top of the window.
  3. The "Notifications & actions" section in Windows settings will open.

2. Turning Off All Notifications in Settings

If you’d like to turn off all notifications, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Notifications & actions.
  2. In the "Notifications" section, toggle off the switch for "Get notifications from apps and other senders".

This method will disable all notifications, including messages from apps, system alerts, and other types of notifications.

3. Customizing Notifications for Individual Apps

If you want to turn off notifications for specific apps only, here’s how to customize notifications per app:

  1. Open Start > Settings > System > Notifications & actions.
  2. Scroll down to the "Get notifications from these senders" section.
  3. Find the app you want to disable notifications for and switch it off.

4. Using "Focus Assist" for Temporary Notification Blocking

For temporary notification blocking, such as during presentations or gaming sessions, use the "Focus Assist" feature. It hides notifications temporarily to minimize distractions.

  1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Focus Assist.
  2. Select one of the modes: "Priority only" or "Alarms only".
  3. You can set a priority list by choosing specific apps and contacts to allow notifications even when Focus Assist is on.

5. Disabling Notifications on the Lock Screen

If you’d prefer not to see notifications on your lock screen, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to Start > Settings > System > Notifications & actions.
  2. Uncheck the box for "Show notifications on the lock screen".