Notifications are a crucial part of staying informed about updates, messages, and alerts from your apps. However, sometimes you may find notifications distracting or unnecessary for certain applications. Windows 11 allows you to customize notification banners on a per-app basis, giving you control over what alerts you see and when. This guide walks you through the process of showing or hiding notification banners for individual apps, helping you maintain focus and manage interruptions effectively. Before starting, ensure your Windows 11 system is up to date and you have administrator access, as some settings may require it.
What You’ll Need
- A Windows 11 PC with the latest updates installed
- An administrator or user account with permission to change system settings
Step-by-Step
- Open Windows Settings: Click on the Start menu (Windows icon) and select the gear-shaped Settings icon, or press Windows + I on your keyboard to open Settings directly.
- Navigate to Notifications & actions: In the Settings window, click on System in the sidebar, then select Notifications & actions from the list of options.
- Locate the list of apps: Scroll down to the section titled Notifications from apps and other senders. Here, you’ll see a list of all installed apps capable of sending notifications.
- Find the app you want to customize: Browse through the list or use the search bar to quickly locate the app for which you want to show or hide notification banners.
- Adjust notification banner settings: Click on the toggle next to the app’s name to enable or disable Show notification banners. When enabled, notifications from that app will appear as banners; when disabled, they will be silent and not pop up on your screen.
- Optional – Customize further: For more granular control, click on the app’s name. In the new window, you can toggle options like Allow notifications, Show notifications in action center, and Play a sound when a notification arrives. Adjust these according to your preferences.
- Repeat for other apps: Continue the process for each app you wish to show or hide notification banners for, tailoring your notifications to your needs.
- Close Settings: Once done, simply close the Settings window. Your changes are saved automatically.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to toggle the notification banners: Ensure you toggle the switch for each app; clicking on the app name only adjusts advanced settings, not the main banner toggle.
- Disabling notifications globally instead of per app: To customize individual apps, make sure you’re adjusting settings under Notifications from apps and other senders rather than turning off all notifications in the main toggle.
- Not saving changes: Changes are saved automatically, but double-check toggles to confirm your preferences are set correctly.
- Ignoring app-specific settings: Some apps have their own notification settings within the app itself; check those if notifications aren’t behaving as expected.
Tips
- Use Focus Assist: For more advanced control over notifications during specific times or activities, consider using Windows 11’s Focus Assist feature.
- Group notifications by app: In the Notifications & actions settings, you can choose to group notifications by app for easier management.
- Test your settings: After adjusting, send a test notification from the app to ensure it appears or is hidden as desired.
- Manage notification sounds: Even if banners are hidden, you can choose to keep or mute notification sounds for specific apps in the advanced settings.
Troubleshooting
If your notification banners aren’t showing or hiding as expected, try the following steps:
- Restart your PC: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve notification glitches.
- Check if Focus Assist is enabled: Focus Assist can suppress notifications; disable it temporarily via Settings > System > Focus Assist.
- Verify app permissions: Ensure the app has permission to send notifications. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Notifications, and check app permissions.
- Update Windows and apps: Outdated software can cause notification issues. Keep your system and apps up to date.
- Reset notification settings: If problems persist, reset notification settings in the same menu and reconfigure.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I turn off notifications for specific times?
Yes, using Focus Assist, you can schedule quiet hours during which notifications are suppressed or limited.
2. How do I prevent notifications from showing on the lock screen?
Go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Notifications and customize which app notifications appear or disable notifications on the lock screen entirely.
3. Is it possible to hide notification banners for all apps at once?
Yes, toggle off the main Notifications switch at the top of the Notifications & actions settings page. This disables all banners and notifications temporarily.
4. Can I customize notification banners for specific types of alerts?
While Windows 11 primarily manages notifications per app, some apps allow in-app customization of alert types and styles. Check the app settings for further options.
5. Will disabling notification banners stop notifications from still arriving?
No, disabling banners only prevents visual alerts. Notifications will still arrive silently unless you turn off notifications for the app entirely.
6. How do I restore default notification settings?
In the Notifications & actions settings, toggle all switches back to their default positions or use the Reset button if available, then reconfigure as needed.
Managing notifications on Windows 11 gives you the flexibility to stay informed without unnecessary interruptions. Whether you want to silence certain apps or ensure you never miss important alerts, adjusting notification banners per app is straightforward once you know where to look.
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