What is a notification?
A notification is the message you get on your home screen or while using an app that alerts you to something, such as a reminder, a communication from an app, or a text from a friend. For instance, when you receive a text message, a pop-up appears with a preview. That pop up is a notification.
Notifications can be a useful tool, but they can also be overwhelming. Customizing your notifications allows you to see only the messages that you deem important.
If you don’t have a smartphone, visit our “Upgrade Your Phone” blog for information about how to make the switch.
Customize on iPhone
iPhones use the iOS operating system, which allows you to opt in or out of notifications when you download an app. However, if you change your mind, it takes just a few steps to change your notification settings.
From your home screen, open “Settings.” Scroll down and open “Notifications.” From there, you can set unique alerts for every app you have on your iPhone. For some, you may want to turn off notifications altogether, while for others you may want to be notified in a specific way.
For more details about customizing your iPhone notification experience, click here.
Customize on Android
The Android operating system asks for notification permissions the first time you use a downloaded app. If you know you’d prefer not to receive notifications, you can set it up immediately. If you’re not sure, it’s always possible to change notification settings later.
From your home screen, simply open “Settings.” Next, select “Applications” or “Applications Manager.” Tap the specific app, then tap “Notifications” or “App Notifications.” Within each apps notification settings, you can select whether you’d like to turn them “on” or “off.” There are sometimes additional options, such as sound settings, that can be customized, too.
For more details about customizing notifications on an Android device, click here.
Your customized phone!
Voila! Your smartphone notifications are customized to you! And remember, it’s never too late to go in and change your settings. Experiment to find what works best, and be relieved when your phone only beeps or buzzes when you want it to!