You do not have to turn off every notification to make your phone quieter. Start with the alert that bothers you, then silence only that type. You can keep useful alerts—like direct messages or delivery updates—turned on.
Step 1: Change a Android notifications when it appears
When the notification shows up:
1. Touch and hold it.
2. Tap the settings icon or Settings.
3. Choose what to change.
Depending on your phone and the app, you may be able to silence that type of alert, change how it appears, or turn off notifications from the app altogether. If you do not see these options, use the Settings method below.
Step 2: Turn off only the type you do not want
Open Settings > Notifications > App notifications, then choose the app. Find the category that matches the alert you want to stop. For example, a shopping app may separate promotions from delivery updates.
Turn off the unwanted category and leave the useful ones on. Not every app offers categories, and names vary by app and Android version. If the app has its own notification settings, check there too.
On Samsung Galaxy phones
Some Galaxy phones hide category controls until you enable them. Open Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings, then turn on Manage notification categories for each app. Go back to App notifications*, choose the app, and tap Notification categories.
The switch and menu names can differ by Galaxy model and One UI version. Samsung also notes that category options depend on the app.
Step 3: Make an alert quiet instead of turning it off
If you still want to see an alert but do not want a sound or vibration, set it to Silent if that option is available. Silent notifications still appear in the notification shade, so you can check them when you choose.
On a Pixel, touch and hold the notification and choose Silent. Other Android phones may use different labels or may not offer this control for every alert.
Step 4: Choose what appears on the lock screen
You can keep notifications enabled and hide their details when the phone is locked. In Settings, look under Notifications > Notifications on lock screen or Lock screen notifications. Choose an option such as hiding sensitive content, or turn off lock-screen notifications if you do not want them shown there.
This changes what you see on the lock screen; it does not necessarily stop the app from sending notifications. Menu wording varies by phone.
Step 5: Check that important alerts still arrive
After changing a category, wait for the next alert or ask someone to send a test message. Check both the lock screen and the notification shade. If you silenced too much, return to the app’s notification settings and turn the relevant category back on.
If an app stops notifying you entirely, check that its main notification switch is on. Then check its categories and the app’s own settings. Do Not Disturb can also silence alerts temporarily; it is separate from an app’s notification settings.
A simple rule
Turn off the types of alerts you don’t want, but keep the app’s other notification categories enabled. This way, you can get rid of annoying alerts without missing something important. If you still want to receive certain notifications but don’t need them to make a sound or vibrate, switch them to Silent instead.
Also, remember that not every notification needs to appear on your lock screen. If privacy is your main concern, you can hide sensitive details while still receiving alerts. It’s a simple way to keep your phone quieter, cleaner, and more personal without installing extra apps.
