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macOS⏱ 2 min

How to Turn Off Notifications on macOS

Silence noisy apps while keeping important alerts active.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

macOS notification control lives in System Settings > Notifications, where each app's permission covers banners (appear briefly and disappear), alerts (stay until dismissed), and the notification centre (accessible by clicking the top-right corner). The Focus system on macOS, which syncs with iPhone and iPad, lets you create custom modes (Work, Personal, Sleep) that have app-specific allow-lists — so high-priority apps like Calendar or Messages can still send notifications during deep work focus while everything else is silenced. System-level sounds from notifications are separate from app notification permissions and controlled by the Alerts and Notifications slider in Sound settings.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Open System Settings > Notifications. Click each app and set its alert style to None to stop all banners.
  2. 2Enable Focus Mode or Do Not Disturb on a schedule for automatic quiet periods during work or sleep hours.
  3. 3Keep notifications active for Phone, Messages, and Security apps — these are critical alerts.

Still Not Working?

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn off all notifications on macOS?
Go to System Settings > Focus and create a Do Not Disturb focus. Or go to Notifications and set all apps to Alerts off. The menu bar's Control Center has a quick Do Not Disturb toggle.
How do I stop notification sounds on macOS without disabling alerts?
In System Settings > Notifications > click an app > change Alert sound to None. The notification still appears, just silently.
Can I schedule quiet hours on macOS?
Yes. Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb > Add Schedule to set recurring time-based quiet periods.
Why are notifications still appearing after I turned them off on macOS?
Some apps have their own in-app notification system that bypasses the OS notification permission. Check the app's own Settings > Notifications section. Also check whether the app has a separate background refresh setting that is serving pop-ups without going through standard OS channels.

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