How to turn off notifications on a Mac

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Banners in the corner of the screen interrupt work and show up in the middle of presentations. You can silence a single app for good, or everything for a while.

These steps are for recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings. The pictures are our own screenshots from macOS Tahoe 26 on a MacBook Pro.

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings and click Notifications

   Click the Apple menu, then System Settings, then Notifications in the sidebar.

   Done

2. 

   Click the app or website

   The list is under the heading Application Notifications. Websites that asked to send notifications in Safari appear in the same list.

   Done

3. Switch off Allow notifications

   You receive nothing more from this app until you switch it on again.

   Done

4. Repeat for other apps

   Go back and do the same for each app that disturbs you.

   Done

5. 

   Hide notifications on the Lock Screen

   At the top of the Notifications page, set Show previews to When Unlocked or Never, and switch off the line when screen is locked.

   Done

Good to know

For presentations, the same page has a setting for when you mirror or share the display. Set it to Notifications Off.

For a short break, use a Focus rather than changing each app: how to use Focus and Do Not Disturb on a Mac.

A website that keeps asking can be stopped in Safari, Settings, Websites, Notifications.

In short: System Settings, Notifications, pick the app, Allow notifications off.