Ding. A chat message. Ding. A website wants to send you notifications. Ding. “Try this new feature!” Constant alerts break your concentration, and most of them aren’t important. Here’s how to take back control.
Where notifications come from
- Apps such as email, chat, calendar and games.
- Websites you’ve allowed to send browser notifications, sometimes without realizing it.
- The operating system itself: tips, suggestions and promotions.
- Unwanted software: adware that shows pop-up ads.
Each one is fixed in a different place.
1. Tame app notifications
Windows
Settings → System → Notifications.
- Scroll to Notifications from apps and other senders and turn off anything you don’t need.
- Click an app to fine-tune: turn off sounds, banners or badges individually.
Mac
System Settings → Notifications.
- Select each app and set alerts to None, Banners (disappear automatically) or Alerts (stay until dismissed), or turn notifications off entirely.
Tip: Ask of each app, “Do I need to know about this immediately?” Most apps fail that test.
2. Stop websites from sending notifications
Many sites ask “Allow notifications?” and one accidental click means pop-ups on your desktop, sometimes spam or scam ads.
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications. Remove unwanted sites, and consider choosing Don’t allow sites to send notifications.
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Notifications.
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Notifications → Settings.
- Safari: Safari → Settings → Websites → Notifications.
3. Turn off operating system tips and suggestions
Windows
- Settings → System → Notifications → Additional settings: untick options like “Get tips and suggestions when using Windows” and “Show the Windows welcome experience.”
- Settings → Personalization → Start: turn off “Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more.”
- Settings → Personalization → Lock screen: turn off fun facts and tips.
4. Use Focus and Do Not Disturb
Rather than turning everything off, schedule quiet time.
- Windows: Settings → System → Notifications → Do not disturb, plus Focus sessions from the Clock app or notification center. You can set priority notifications that still get through.
- Mac: System Settings → Focus. Create modes like “Work” or “Personal” that only allow specific people and apps.
Schedule Do Not Disturb for evenings, meetings or deep work.
5. Batch your email and chat
Instead of instant alerts, check email and chat at set times. Many apps let you get notifications only for direct messages or mentions, not every message in every channel.
6. If pop-up ads appear everywhere
Pop-up ads outside your browser, or ads on sites that never had them, may mean adware. See our guides on browser hijacking and malware to scan and clean up.
The bottom line
Notifications should serve you, not interrupt you. Turn off what you don’t need, block website notifications, disable system tips, and use Focus modes to protect your attention. Fifteen minutes of setup buys back hours of focus.
