How to Turn On or Off Show Notifications in Notification Center in Windows 11
You can control whether apps show notifications in the Notification Center in Windows 11 by changing a setting in the Settings app.
The Notification Center is a central place for all your alerts from apps and Windows itself. It helps you stay informed without feeling overwhelmed by constant pings.
Windows 11 shows these notifications in three main places: on your lock screen, inside the Notification Center (you can open it with ⊞ Win+N), and as banners in the lower-right corner of your screen.
Windows 11 notification settings manage app alerts. Users select which apps send alerts, offering detailed control over incoming information. This personalization helps users filter out distracting pop-up messages to improve their computing experience.
Go to Settings > System > Notifications. Under “Notifications from apps and other senders,” click an app. Check “Show notifications in notification center” to enable it, or uncheck it to disable.
Option 1Use Settings
You can easily turn on or off Windows 11 notifications from apps using the Settings app. This lets you choose exactly which apps are allowed to send you alerts so you don’t miss important updates or get overwhelmed.
- Open Settings by pressing ⊞ Win+I.
- Click System on the left side. Then click Notifications on the right side. (see screenshot below)
- Under Notifications from apps and other senders, click on the app you want to change. For example: “Messages (via Phone Link)”. (see screenshot below)
- Check the box next to Show notifications in notification center to turn it on. Uncheck the box to turn it off. (see screenshot below)
- When you’re done, you can close Settings.
Option 2Use Registry Editor
For more control, you can manage Windows 11 notifications using the Registry Editor. This advanced method lets you fine-tune how alerts appear or are hidden from your Notification Center, going beyond the basic Settings options.
- Open Registry Editor by typing
regedit.exeinto the search box and pressing Enter. - Navigate to this location in the left pane of Registry Editor:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Notifications\Settings- Under the Settings key in the left pane, click on the app you want to change. For example: “Microsoft.YourPhone_8wekyb3d8bbwe!YourPhoneMessages“.
Turn On Show Notifications from an App
Turning on ‘Show notifications from an app’ in Windows 11 means you’ll see its alerts pop up in your Notification Center. This ensures you stay updated on app activity, and it’s usually the default setting.
This is the default setting.
- In the right pane of the app’s key, right-click on the ShowInActionCenter DWORD value and click Delete.
If you don’t see a ShowInActionCenter DWORD, the app is already set to show notifications.
- Click Yes to confirm.
Turn Off Show Notifications from an App
Turning off ‘Show notifications from an app’ in Windows 11 stops that app’s alerts from appearing in your Notification Center. This helps reduce distractions and keeps your notification feed cleaner.
- In the right pane of the app’s key, double-click on the ShowInActionCenter DWORD value to edit it.
If you don’t see a ShowInActionCenter DWORD:
- Right-click on an empty area in the right pane.
- Click New, then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Type
ShowInActionCenterfor the name. - Press Enter.
- Type
0for the Value data and click OK.
- Go to step 7 when finished.
- When you’re done, you can close Registry Editor.
That’s it!
Summary
You’ve learned how to manage your Windows 11 notifications using both the easy Settings app and the more powerful Registry Editor, giving you full control over app alerts.
Why are my notifications not popping up on 🪟 Windows 11?
If your Windows 11 notifications aren’t popping up, first check that notification banners are turned on for each app in Settings, and then make sure Focus Assist isn’t active.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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