How I Tamed Windows 11 Notifications

With a constant stream of notifications and alerts on my Windows 11 laptop, staying focused has become a challenge. So, I decided to take control and customize the notifications to suit my needs.

8

Manage Notifications by App

One of the best things I did to declutter the notification panel in Windows was to turn off alerts for unnecessary apps and programs. This was particularly useful for applications that were significantly noisier.

To do this, I went Settings > System > Notifications. Then, under the “Notifications from applications and other senders” section, I went through the list of applications and used the toggles to enable and disable the notification permission for each of them.

For essential apps like Outlook and WhatsApp, I left notifications on to make sure I didn’t miss anything important. However, for apps that constantly ping me with unnecessary alerts, like social media or shopping apps, I either turn off notifications completely or mute their sounds.

This per-app approach allowed me to strike a balance, keeping the notifications I needed while eliminating distractions.

7

Turn off Suggestions and Suggestion Alerts

It’s not just apps that bombard me with notifications, though. Windows 11 itself also constantly sends recommendations and suggestions. While some of these may be useful at first, they quickly become more annoying than useful. To regain some peace, I decided to disable these alerts entirely.

To easily solve this, open it Settings > System > Notifications and scroll down and expand Additional parameters. I simply unchecked the three boxes about tips and suggestions related to optimizing my Windows experience.

And voila, no more pop-up tips that seem to appear at the most inconvenient times. Without these useless reminders, I could focus on what mattered, with fewer distractions throughout my day.

6

Disable Browser Notifications

Although I consciously avoid accepting website notifications, there are still times when they slip by. Since most of these websites – whether news sites or online shops – tend to be aggressive with updates, they are difficult to ignore.

To take control, I decided to turn off all browser notifications. For Chrome, I went to Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > Notifications and chosen Do not allow sites to send notifications. U The process is similar for browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox.

5

Stop Lock Screen Notifications

Since only it closes my windows pc when i walk away from my deskthe lock screen notifications are not really useful for me. In fact, they often just make noise while I’m away, which I find annoying.

To stop them, I went to Settings > System > Notificationsthen expand the Notifications section. Here, I simply unchecked the Show notifications on the lock screen option.

With this simple change, my lock screen now stays clean and silent, and I no longer have to worry about random notifications interrupting my quiet time.

4

Customize the Timeout for Notification Banners

By default, Windows 11 displays notification banners for only 5 seconds. While this works well for short alerts with minimal information, I find it too short for detailed notifications that require a closer look.

To address this, I went to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects. Here, I used Dismiss notifications after this time pull down the curtain to increase the timeout.

Selecting a longer duration gives me the flexibility to make sure I have enough time to read and process important notifications without feeling rushed or missing crucial information.

3

Activate Do Not Disturb Mode

Sometimes, I need to focus entirely on a task and eliminate all distractions. For those moments, I use Do Not Disturb in Windows. This blocks all notifications – whether from apps, messages, or system alerts – allowing me to work without interruption and stay fully immersed in my tasks.

Fortunately, Windows makes turning Do Not Disturb on or off quick and simple. You just need to open the Notifications panel with the Win + N shortcut and click Do not disturb icon at the top This feature allows me to stay focused when I need to without having to worry about manually silencing notifications every time.

I really appreciate the ability to automate. For example, I set Windows to turn on Do Not Disturb automatically at specific times, like when I’m playing a game or using apps in full-screen mode. To configure this, open Settings > System > Notifications and use the checkboxes under the “Enable Do Not Disturb automatically” section.

2

Do the Focus Sessions Mast

Focus sessions on Windows 11 works similarly to Do Not Disturb mode, but goes one step further. They are integrated directly into the Windows Clock app and allow me to create an environment that is truly distraction-free.

What makes Focus Sessions useful is that it not only blocks notifications, but goes a step further by preventing apps from showing notification badges or flashing in the taskbar.

Another great feature is its seamless integration with Spotify. I can select a playlist or background music to help me concentrateall in the Focus Sessions tab. Additionally, the integration with the Microsoft To Do app allows me to track tasks and check them as completed, keeping me organized and focused.

1

Establish Priority Notifications

Finally, setting priority notifications ensures that I don’t miss any important alerts while Do Not Disturb is active. Even with Do Not Disturb enabled, I can still receive an urgent Slack message from my editor or a reminder I set.

By default, apps like Clock and Snipping Tool are set as priority notifications, but I added a few more of my own. To do this, I went Settings> System> Notifications> Set priority notifications. There, I clicked Add app and select the applications that I never want to miss the notifications.

This allows me to stay focused during work hours while ensuring that important notifications always reach me.

All in all, the tips above helped me turn my Windows 11 experience into something more peaceful. They also suggest you try to make your Windows 11 experience more enjoyable and increase productivity.