How to quickly disable notifications on Windows 11

If you are getting annoyed by notifications on Windows 11, here's how to disable them.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
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Windows 11 disable notifications
Windows 11 disable notifications
  • To disable Windows 11 notifications, open Settings > System > Notifications and turn off the “Notifications” toggle switch.
  • You can also disable notifications through the Registry by setting the “ToastEnabled” key to “0” on “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PushNotifications.”

On Windows 11, you can disable notifications entirely or disable the feature per application, and in this guide, we’ll show you how.

The “Notifications” feature is a system that permits apps, websites, and Windows to show pop-ups on the desktops to alert you about new messages, articles, alarms, and system actions you may need to take. However, if you are overwhelmed with toast pop-ups and sounds, Windows 11 lets you disable notifications in several ways.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to enable and disable notifications on Windows 11.

Turn off all notifications on Windows 11

To disable all system and app notifications on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the Notifications tab.

  4. Turn off the Notifications toggle switch to disable all notifications.

    Windows 11 disable notifications

Once you complete the steps, apps and the system will stop showing notifications on the desktop.

Although this option disables notifications for the entire system, some applications have their own notifications system. If this is the case, you must change the app’s settings.

Windows 11 also shows badge notifications to alert you about the related information and actions they may need to take on their Microsoft account. You can disable these notifications from the “Start” settings page.

Turn off notifications per app on Windows 11

To turn off notifications for a specific app, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the Notifications tab.

  4. Under the “Notifications from apps and other senders” section, turn off the app notification toggle switch.

    Windows 11 disable app notification

After you complete the steps, the app will stop showing notifications, but notifications will remain available for system alerts and other apps.

Alternatively, you can disable notifications for a specific app using the “Windows key + N” keyboard shortcut or clicking the time and date icon in the notification area. In the Notification Center, click the menu (three-dots) button on the top-right and select the “Turn off all notifications for” option.

If you see a toast pop-up, you can click the menu (three-dotted) button on the top-right and select the “Turn off all notifications for” option.

Turn off notifications with Registry on Windows 11

Warning: It’s crucial to note that modifying the Registry can cause severe problems if improperly used. It’s assumed you know what you’re doing and have created a full backup of your system before proceeding.

To disable the Windows 11 notifications with the Registry, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

  3. Navigate to the following path:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PushNotifications

  4. Double-click the ToastEnabled DWORD and change the volume from 1 to 0.

    Disable ToastEnabled

  5. Click the OK button.

  6. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the notifications feature on Windows 11 will turn off.

Turn off Start menu badge notifications on Windows 11 (preview)

To stop the Start menu from showing badge notifications, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Personalization.

  3. Click the Start tab.

  4. Turn off the “Show account-related notifications” toggle switch.

    Start disable notifications

After you complete the steps, the Start menu will no longer show notifications for related information about your Microsoft account.

These notifications are available starting with the drop feature update (Moment 3), but the option to disable the feature is still in preview.

Turn off Windows Update badge notifications on Windows 11

To disable badge notifications in the Taskbar and Start menu for Windows Update, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Windows Update.

  3. Click the Advanced options setting.

    Advanced options

  4. Turn off the “Notify me when a restart is required to finish updating” toggle switch.

    Windows Update disable notifications

Once you complete the steps, you will no longer receive amber badge notifications in the System Tray or in the Start menu for Windows Update.

Turn on all notifications on Windows 11

To enable notifications on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the Notifications tab.

  4. Turn off the Notifications toggle switch.

    Windows 11 enable notifications

After you complete the steps, toast notifications will resume on the desktop.

Turn on notifications per app on Windows 11

To turn on notifications per application, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the Notifications tab.

  4. Under the “Notifications from apps and other senders” section, turn on the app notification toggle switch.

    Windows 11 enable app notification

Once you complete the steps, the app will send toast notifications and sounds again.

Turn on notifications with Registry on Windows 11

To use the Registry to enable system and app notifications on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

  3. Navigate to the following path:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PushNotifications

  4. Double-click the ToastTurn ond DWORD and change the volume from 0 to 1.

    Enable ToastEnabled

  5. (Optional) Right-click the ToastEnabled DWORD and select the Delete option.

  6. Click the OK button.

  7. Restart the computer.

After you complete the steps, the Registry setting will apply, and notifications will start working again.

Turn on Start menu badge notifications on Windows 11 (preview)

To allow the Start menu to show notifications, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Personalization.

  3. Click the Start tab.

  4. Turn on the “Show account-related notifications” toggle switch.

    Start enable notifications

After you complete the steps, the Start menu will show notifications for account-related information or nag local users to switch to a Microsoft account.

Turn on Windows Update badge notifications on Windows 11

To enable Windows Update notifications, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Windows Update.

  3. Click the Advanced options setting.

    Advanced options

  4. Turn on the “Notify me when a restart is required to finish updating” toggle switch.

    Windows Update disable notifications

Once you complete the steps, you will no longer receive amber badge notifications in the System Tray or in the Start menu for Windows Update.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].