How to turn off unwanted push notifications on your desktop

If browser push notifications from websites are not for you, this quick guide is.

If this constant buzz from website push notifications overwhelms you, or you didn’t even want these updates in the first place — this guide is for you! I will methodically go through the UX of blocking push sending on your desktop to make sure you’re tuned and receive only what you want.

Since the first push notifications sent to the BlackBerry smartphones (let’s give Research In Motion some credit for that), these instant updates became a part of our lives. Starting with mobile apps, a few years ago they came to the web, and today every second tech or design blog (not to mention eCommerce websites) ask you to allow push notifications via browser to stay in touch.

Google Chrome

The main problem when you’re subscribed accidentally, you don’t even know where to set or turn off these notifications from websites. It’s not a part of your OS, so you should go to your browser settings.

If you’re on Chrome (which is quite probably, since Chrome’s share is about 60% give or take):

Google Chrome

Here is how you allow or block notifications from all sites:

1. Choose Chrome > Preferences (Mac)/ Settings (Windows) *
2. At the bottom, click Advanced.
3. Under Privacy and security, click Content settings.
4. Click Notifications.
5. Choose to block or allow notifications:

• Block all: Turn off Ask before sending.
• Block a site: Next to “Block,” click Add. Enter the site and click Add.
• Allow a site: Next to “Allow,” click Add. Enter the site and click Add.

* — The path may vary depending on your operating system, but the idea is the same, get to the browser settings 😉

Apple Safari

When you have it done in one browser, you’re ready to face any other settings page. Here’s how it goes in Safari:

Apple Safari

1. Choose Safari > Preferences (Mac)/ Settings (Windows).
2. Сlick Websites.
3. Then click Notifications.
4. Find the website on the list, and select Deny.

Firefox

It’s just as easy for Firefox:

Mozilla Firefox

1. Choose Firefox > Preferences (Mac)/ Settings (Windows).
2. Select the Privacy & Security panel and go down to the Permissions section.
3. Click the Settings button next to Notifications.
4. Select the website.
5. Select Block option or hit Remove website

Microsoft Edge

Of course, let’s not forget about Edge for Microsoft Windows 10!

Microsoft Edge

1. Click More button in the top-right corner of the window and pick Settings.
2. Choose Advanced settings.
3. Find Website Permissions setting and click Manage button beneath it.
4. Now, just turn off unwanted notifications from the websites you don’t want to hear from.

Opera

Finally, we get to the Opera browser:

Opera

1. Choose Preferences (Mac)/ Settings (Windows).
2. Open Websites tab and scroll to the Notifications section.
3. Click on the Manage Exceptions button to see the websites whose notification are already Allowed or Denied.
4. Select an unwanted source and select Block (or click the X) next to Allow (or click the X to remove it from the list completely).
5. Finish by hitting Done.

Feels Better, Right?

I hope this little how-to article was useful to you, and you managed to set website notifications in your browser exactly how you want them. Or disable them permanently. Whatever keeps you happy and focused! And hey, feel free to let me know your thoughts on the whole thing with browser push notifications, and managing them for better productivity.