To turn off a game’s notifications on iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, tap the game, and switch off Allow Notifications. On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > App notifications, tap the game, and switch it off. The fastest route on either phone is to act on a notification when it arrives: swipe or long-press it and you’ll get a shortcut to that game’s settings. Many games also have a reminder switch in their own settings, which lets you keep useful alerts and drop the rest.
How to turn off game notifications on iPhone #
- Open Settings and tap Notifications.
- Scroll to the game and tap it.
- Switch off Allow Notifications.
That stops every alert from that game. Apple documents the same path in its iPhone notification settings guide, and it’s been the same for years, including in iOS 26.
Faster: from the notification itself #
When a game notification shows up on your Lock Screen or in Notification Center, swipe left on it and tap Options. You can mute that app for an hour or for the rest of the day, or turn its notifications off entirely.
Keep them, but make them quieter #
If you want the alerts without the interruptions, stay in Settings > Notifications > [game] and change how they appear:
- Turn off Banners so alerts go quietly to Notification Center instead of popping up over what you’re doing.
- Add the game to Scheduled Summary, which bundles non-urgent notifications and delivers them at times you pick.
- Turn off Sounds and Badges so the red number on the icon stops nagging you.
Silence everything while you play #
A Focus (Settings > Focus) silences notifications during set times or activities. Do Not Disturb works too. It’s worth switching on before a serious high-score attempt, since a banner sliding in at the wrong moment is a classic way to lose a run. It’s one of our Flappy Bird tips for a reason.
How to turn off game notifications on Android #
- Open Settings and tap Notifications.
- Tap App notifications. Recently active apps are listed first. Use the menu to show All apps if the game isn’t there.
- Tap the game and switch notifications off.
Menu names vary a little by phone maker, but Google’s Android notification help page uses this path, and Samsung phones follow the same Settings > Notifications > App notifications route.
Turn off only some kinds of alerts #
Android lets apps split their notifications into categories, sometimes called channels. Tap the game in App notifications and you’ll often see separate switches for things like events, offers, friend requests or gameplay updates. Turn off the promotional ones and keep, say, “your turn” alerts in a game you play with friends.
Faster: from the notification shade #
Long-press a game’s notification in the shade, then tap the settings shortcut. You can turn off that category or all of the app’s notifications from there.
Say no at the first prompt #
On Android 13 and newer, apps have to ask permission before they can send notifications, the way iPhone apps always have. If a new game asks the moment you open it, you can tap Don’t allow and change your mind later in Settings.
Turn off reminders inside the game #
Most games that send notifications also have their own switch, usually under Settings, Options or Notifications in the game’s menu. That’s the better choice when you want to keep some alerts. For example, you can turn off “event ending” reminders but keep the one that says a friend has taken their turn.
In Flappy Kittens, it’s a single switch: open Settings and turn off Daily reminder. The game sends at most one reminder a day, around 7 pm, and only if you allowed notifications when it asked on first launch. Switching the reminder off cancels it, and the phone-level settings above work as well.
Why do games send so many notifications? #
Because notifications bring players back. A reminder that your energy is full, a daily reward is waiting, or an event ends tonight gives you a reason to open the game right now instead of whenever you feel like it. Some of those alerts are useful. Many are marketing. Countdown alerts are designed to trigger the same fear of missing out we look at in limited-time offers in mobile games.
Which game notifications are worth keeping? #
| Notification | Keep it? |
|---|---|
| A friend took their turn | Yes, in turn-based games you play with people |
| Lives or energy are full | Your call. Useful if you play daily, noise if you don’t |
| Daily reward waiting | Only if the reward matters to you |
| Event or sale ending | Usually off. These exist to rush a decision |
| “We miss you!” | Off. It’s an ad |
If you notice you open a game every time it pings you, even when you didn’t plan to, that’s a good sign to switch its alerts off. Our look at why mobile games are so addictive explains why those pings work so well.
Frequently asked questions #
Will turning off notifications affect my game progress? #
No. Your progress is the same either way. You might miss a timed event or a daily reward you’d have claimed after a reminder, but nothing is taken away.
Why did a game’s notifications come back after an update? #
On Android, an update can add new notification categories, and a new category starts switched on even if you turned others off. Check the game’s App notifications page after big updates. Turning off the app’s main switch avoids the problem.
How do I stop a game from asking for notification permission again? #
On iPhone, the system permission prompt only appears once, so after you decline, the game can’t show it again. Some games show their own “turn on notifications?” screen, which you can dismiss. On Android, if you deny the permission twice, the app stops being allowed to ask.
Can I turn off notifications for all my games at once? #
Neither iPhone nor Android has a single switch for all games. A Focus on iPhone, or Do Not Disturb and Digital Wellbeing’s focus features on Android, can silence several apps at the same time.
Does Flappy Kittens send notifications? #
Only an optional daily reminder, at most once a day around 7 pm. You can turn it off under Settings > Daily reminder in the game, or block it in your phone’s notification settings.