Decide which notifications deserve your attention
Your phone buzzes all day and most of it could wait, but what should you switch off?
This page cannot see or change your phone. It makes a list for you to apply in your phone’s notification settings.
This tool helps you decide which phone alerts deserve your attention. You choose a setting for each kind of app, and it gives you a short list to apply in your phone’s settings.
What does the tool do?
It lists common kinds of apps, such as messages from family and friends, work chat, email, social media, news, shopping, games, banking, deliveries and calendar reminders. For each, you choose one of four settings: keep with sound, silent with a badge, check at set times, or turn off. Starting suggestions are filled in, and you can change any of them.
You can add other apps of your own. The tool then groups everything by setting into a list you can copy or print.
Does it need access to my phone?
No. The page cannot see your phone and asks for no permission. It only makes the list. You apply it yourself, in your phone’s notification settings, one app at a time.
How do I use it?
- Look at each kind of app and choose a setting.
- If you chose check at set times for some apps, write when you will check them.
- Add any other apps that interrupt you often.
- Press Make my list.
- Open your phone’s notification settings and change each app as listed.
Tips for real days
Keep alerts from the people you live with or care for. Payments and deliveries you are waiting for can stay on too. Group chats and shopping apps are often the noisiest and the easiest to quiet. Try the new settings for a week, then adjust what does not work.
Your privacy
Nothing you enter is sent anywhere. The list is made in your browser and forgotten when you close the page.
What next?
Our focus and attention guides have more on protecting your attention. The guide to a phone notification audit walks through the idea in more depth, and stopping scrolling gently helps with the habit side. At the end of work, the workday shutdown closes the day.
Common questions
Does this page read my phone's notifications?
No. It cannot see or change anything on your phone, and it asks for no permission. You choose the settings here, and then you change them yourself in your phone's notification settings.
What do the four choices mean?
Keep with sound is for alerts you want to notice at once. Silent, badge only means the app shows a count without a sound. Check at set times means you open the app at times you choose instead of being called by it. Turn off means no alerts from that app.
Will I miss something important?
Keep messages from the people you live with and care for on, and anything where timing matters, such as payments or a delivery you are waiting for. Most other alerts can wait until you check.
Is my list saved or sent anywhere?
No. The list is made in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere. Copy or print it and keep it next to you while you change your settings.
Read next
With fewer alerts, a few quiet minutes are easier to find, and Sadhguru's free seven-minute guided meditation is one way to use them.