howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-hide-notification-previews-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

In this guide

Open System Settings
Click Notifications in the sidebar
Set Show previews
Decide about the locked and sleeping screen
If you do not see this option
If this does not work
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

Open System Settings, click Notifications, and set Show previews to Never, or to When Unlocked. The menu decides when previews are shown: Always, When Unlocked or Never.

4 of 4 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device: Mac
Shown on: macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)
App: System Settings
Path: System Settings › Notifications › Show previews: Never
Real screenshots: 4 of 4 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

Step by step

Tap the picture to see it full size
Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Done
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size
Click Notifications in the sidebar
Notifications is in the group with Sound and Focus.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Set Show previews
It is the first row under Notification Center. In the picture it is set to When Unlocked.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Decide about the locked and sleeping screen
Two switches below it allow or stop notifications when the display is sleeping and when the screen is locked. Both are on in the picture.
Done

If you do not see this option

There is a Summarize notifications switch Apple says this switch appears only when Apple Intelligence is turned on. Source: Change Notifications settings on Mac
Show previews already reads When Unlocked That is how it was set on our Mac. Choose Never to hide previews all the time.

If this does not work

Notifications still show on the locked screen Apple says to switch off when screen is locked under Notification Center. Source: Change Notifications settings on Mac
Notifications appear while you present Apple says to choose Notifications Off for when mirroring or sharing the display. It was already set that way on our Mac. Source: Change Notifications settings on Mac

About this guide

Notification previews can be read by anyone who looks at your screen. The Show previews menu decides when they are shown at all.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.

Good to know

During a presentation: the last row of the group, when mirroring or sharing the display, is set to Notifications Off in the picture. Apple explains that others then cannot see your notifications while you present.

To switch notifications off for single apps: how to turn off notifications on a Mac.

In short: System Settings, Notifications, Show previews: Never.

Sources