How to hide notification previews on a Mac
2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 4 October 2026
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.
- Device
- Mac
- Shown on
- macOS Tahoe 26
- App
- System Settings
- Path
- System Settings › Notifications › Show previews: Never
- Real screenshots
- 4 of 4 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
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.
Step by step
Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Click Notifications in the sidebar
Notifications is in the group with Sound and Focus.
Set Show previews
It is the first row under Notification Center. In the picture it is set to When Unlocked.
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.
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.
Links checked on 3 October 2026. Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.