How to turn off annoying Windows notifications for individual apps

The notifications at the bottom right of the Windows desktop screen can be practical. If you’re waiting for an important e-mail, for example, you don’t need to keep opening the mail program to look for it–instead you’ll be informed via a notification. That said, constant notifications can be really annoying. This applies, for example, to routine tasks like when the printer is printing a document. For such cases, Windows offers the option of deactivating the notifications for each application on an individual basis.

In Windows 10, click on System – Notifications & actions in the Settings app.

At the top, you can switch off all notifications. Below this is the list of individual apps, starting by default with the apps that last drew attention to themselves with notifications. Use the sliders to switch off what is bothering you and then close the Settings window.

It works in a similar way in Windows 11, where you can find the Notifications under Settings – System directly on the right without clicking the mouse. The newer operating system also offers additional Do not disturb options at the top. For example, you can define exceptions in Set prioritization notifications if you actually want to be left alone.

Below this, as in Windows 10, is the app list for switching off program-specific notifications. Settings for Microsoft’s own notifications such as Windows tips can be found at the bottom of Windows 11 in Additional settings. Another important difference to the previous system is that Windows 11 offers more setting options for each app via the small arrow pointing to the right.