Manage App Notifications, Banners, Sounds and Lock Screen Alerts in Windows 11 and 10

Decide what a notification setting actually changes​

Before changing settings, separate the four places a notification can appear:

• Banner: The temporary pop-up at the lower-right of the desktop.
• Notification center: The stored list of recent alerts. In Windows 10, this is called Action Center.
• Lock screen: The screen shown before you sign in or unlock the PC.
• Sound: The audible alert that can accompany an incoming notification.

Turning off a banner does not necessarily stop the app from sending notifications. You can, for example, suppress a chat app’s pop-ups and sounds while keeping its messages available in Notification Center.

Open the notification controls​

Windows 11​

1. Select Start.
2. Open Settings.
3. Select System.
4. Select Notifications.

You can also press Windows key + I to open Settings, then select System > Notifications.

Windows 10​

1. Select Start.
2. Open Settings.
3. Select System.
4. Select Notifications & actions.

The page controls system-wide notification behavior first, followed by a list of individual apps and senders.

Keep notifications enabled globally, then remove unwanted senders​

The main Notifications switch in Windows 11, or Get notifications from apps and other senders in Windows 10, is the master control.

1. Open the notification settings page for your Windows version.
2. Make sure the master notification switch is On.
3. Scroll to:
   • Notifications from apps and other senders in Windows 11, or
   • Get notifications from these senders in Windows 10.
4. Find an app you no longer want to hear from.
5. Turn its switch Off.

This completely blocks notifications from that sender, including banners and its entries in Notification Center or Action Center.

Use this option for promotional apps, games, browser alerts you no longer need, or utilities that generate routine status messages. Do not use the master switch unless you want to suppress notifications from every app, including Windows security and system alerts.

If an app is missing from the list​

Windows normally lists apps after they have attempted to send at least one notification. Open the app, confirm that notifications are enabled in the app’s own settings, and trigger or wait for a test notification. Then return to Windows notification settings.

Some apps, especially web browsers and messaging clients, have a second notification permission inside the app. Windows cannot restore alerts that the app itself has been configured not to send.

Configure banners, sounds, lock screen, and notification history per app​

For apps you want to keep, select the app’s name rather than using its On/Off switch. This opens its detailed notification controls.

1. Go to Settings > System > Notifications in Windows 11, or Settings > System > Notifications & actions in Windows 10.
2. Select the name of the app or sender you want to customize.
3. Confirm that its notifications are turned On.
4. Change the available options for that app.

The wording varies slightly by Windows release and by the app’s notification capabilities, but the controls generally work as follows.

Stop pop-up banners but keep the notification​

Turn Show notification banners off.

The app’s alerts should stop interrupting the desktop, while new notifications can still be stored in Notification Center or Action Center. This is a useful setting for mail, collaboration, and social apps when you want to review messages on your schedule.

If you later decide you are missing urgent alerts, return to the same app settings and turn Show notification banners back on.

Keep banners but silence the sound​

Turn Play a sound when a notification arrives off.

The banner and Notification Center entry remain available, but Windows will not play the notification sound for that sender. This is usually preferable to muting all Windows notification sounds, because calls, security notifications, or calendar reminders from other apps can still play a sound.

Keep alerts out of Notification Center or Action Center​

Turn Show notifications in notification center off in Windows 11, or Show notifications in action center off in Windows 10.

Use this carefully. A banner may still appear briefly, but once it disappears you may not have a stored copy to review. This is best reserved for low-value, temporary messages such as a peripheral utility confirming a routine status change.

If you want the reverse behavior—no interruption, but a record you can check later—turn Show notification banners off and leave the notification-center option on.

Protect notification content on the lock screen​

Windows can show notifications while the device is locked. Depending on the Windows version and the app, you may see a global lock-screen option and an app-specific privacy option.

In Windows 11, app settings can include Hide content when notifications are on lock screen. Turn it on to avoid exposing message previews, email subjects, or other sensitive details before you sign in.

In Windows 10, the equivalent per-app setting may appear as Keep notifications private on the lock screen. Turn it on for apps whose content should not be readable by anyone near the PC.

To stop notifications appearing on the lock screen altogether:

Windows 11​

1. Open Settings > System > Notifications.
2. Expand or review the main notification options near the top of the page.
3. Turn off Show notifications on the lock screen.

Windows 10​

1. Open Settings > System > Notifications & actions.
2. Under Notifications, clear Show notifications on the lock screen.
3. If you also do not want reminders and internet-call alerts displayed there, clear Show reminders and incoming VoIP calls on the lock screen.

Warning: Lock-screen notifications can reveal information even when the PC is securely locked. If you use the device in a shared office, classroom, reception area, or household, either hide content or disable lock-screen notifications for mail, chat, calendar, and authentication apps.

Set notification priority for important apps​

Priority changes the order in which notifications appear in Notification Center or Action Center. It does not make an app bypass every notification restriction.

Windows 11​

1. Open Settings > System > Notifications.
2. Select the app.
3. Find Priority of notifications.
4. Choose Top, High, or Normal, where available.

Only one app can be assigned Top priority. High priority notifications appear above Normal ones.

Use priority for apps whose stored alerts you must notice quickly, such as a work communication app, calendar, backup monitor, or security tool. Avoid assigning many apps higher priority; otherwise the notification list becomes noisy again.

Windows 10​

1. Open Settings > System > Notifications & actions.
2. Select an app under Get notifications from these senders.
3. Set its priority in Action Center where that control is available.

The exact priority choices can differ by Windows 10 release and by the app. If you do not see a priority setting, leave the app enabled and use Focus assist’s priority list for alerts that must break through quiet periods.

Reduce interruptions without losing important notifications​

Windows provides a temporary quiet mode rather than requiring you to disable individual apps. In Windows 11 it is called Do not disturb. In Windows 10 it is called Focus assist.

Muted alerts are generally sent to Notification Center or Action Center rather than being discarded, so you can review them later.

Windows 11: Use Do not disturb​

To turn it on immediately:

1. Select the date and time area at the far right of the taskbar to open Notification Center.
2. Select the Do not disturb bell control, shown with a small zZ symbol.
3. Confirm the control shows that Do not disturb is enabled.

While Do not disturb is on, Windows suppresses ordinary notification banners. Alarms, reminders, and apps you specifically allow can still notify you.

To create a more controlled setup:

1. Open Settings > System > Notifications.
2. Turn on Do not disturb if you want it active now.
3. Select Set priority notifications.
4. Under Calls and reminders, choose whether incoming calls and reminders are allowed during Do not disturb.
5. Under Apps, select Add apps.
6. Add only the apps whose notifications should be allowed through.

For example, you might allow your calendar and a work chat app, while leaving email, browser alerts, and social applications muted.

To schedule quiet time:

1. Stay in Settings > System > Notifications.
2. Expand Turn on do not disturb automatically.
3. Turn on During these times.
4. Set the start time, end time, and repeat schedule.
5. Review the other automatic conditions, such as when duplicating the display, playing a game, using a full-screen app, or after a feature update.

Windows 10: Use Focus assist​

To change Focus assist quickly:

1. Select the Action Center icon at the far right of the taskbar.
2. If needed, select Expand to display all quick actions.
3. Select Focus assist repeatedly to cycle through:
   • Off — receive notifications normally.
   • Priority only — allow only notifications on your priority list.
   • Alarms only — suppress everything except alarms.

To configure its rules:

1. Open Settings > System > Focus assist.
2. Under Automatic rules, select a rule such as During these times.
3. Turn the rule on.
4. Set the applicable time, days, and Focus assist level.
5. Select Priority only and then select Customize your priority list to decide which calls, reminders, people, and apps can interrupt you.

Consider enabling the option to see a summary of what you missed while Focus assist was on. This provides a useful reminder after a quiet period ends, without allowing repeated banners during the period itself.

Verify that your changes worked​

After configuring an app, test the behavior rather than assuming every setting has applied.

1. Make sure you are signed in and the PC is unlocked.
2. Trigger a harmless alert from the app, such as sending yourself a test message or creating a short calendar reminder.
3. Check whether a desktop banner appears.
4. Open Notification Center:
   • In Windows 11, select the date and time on the taskbar or press Windows key + N.
   • In Windows 10, select the Action Center icon or press Windows key + A.
5. Confirm whether the notification was retained there.
6. If you changed sound behavior, trigger another test while speakers or headphones are connected.
7. If you changed lock-screen privacy, lock the PC with Windows key + L and verify that sensitive content is hidden or absent.

When testing Do not disturb or Focus assist, enable it first, send a test notification from a non-priority app, and then open Notification Center or Action Center. The alert should be waiting there without having displayed a banner.

Troubleshoot notifications that still appear, do not appear, or cannot be changed​

Notifications appear even though Windows settings are off​

• Check the app’s own settings. Many apps can display alerts through their internal settings or through a browser.
• For website alerts, open your browser’s site-notification permissions and remove or block the site.
• Check whether the alert is actually from a different sender. For example, a calendar alert may come from Outlook, a browser, or a separate calendar app.
• Review Windows notification settings again and turn off the correct sender.

An app sends no notifications at all​

• Confirm the app is enabled under Notifications from apps and other senders or Get notifications from these senders.
• Select the app and make sure its individual notification switch is on.
• Turn off Do not disturb or set Focus assist to Off while testing.
• Confirm the app is signed in, connected, and allowed to send notifications in its own settings.
• Check Notification Center or Action Center. The alert may have arrived silently because banners are disabled.

Banners are missing but notifications are stored​

This usually means Show notification banners is off for that app, or Do not disturb/Focus assist is active. Enable banners for the app if you want immediate pop-ups, or leave them off if stored alerts are the desired result.

Notifications are silent​

Select the app in Windows notification settings and turn on Play a sound when a notification arrives. Then check Windows volume, the selected output device, and whether the app has an independent mute setting.

The lock screen still reveals private information​

Turn off the global Show notifications on the lock screen option, then review individual mail, chat, and calendar apps for Hide content when notifications are on lock screen or Keep notifications private on the lock screen. Lock the PC and test again after each change.

Settings are unavailable or keep reverting​

On a work or school PC, notification behavior can be managed by an organization. Look for a message in Settings indicating that some settings are managed by your organization. In that situation, do not attempt registry edits or policy workarounds; contact the organization’s IT administrator and describe the specific app and notification behavior you need changed.