Constant notifications can be a significant distraction, especially when you need to focus on your work or enjoy some quiet time. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to silence notifications on your Mac, helping you regain control over your digital environment.
How to Silence All Notifications Using Focus Mode
Focus Mode is a powerful feature in macOS that allows you to mute all notifications temporarily or according to a schedule.
- Open System Settings: Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- Navigate to Focus: In the System Settings, go to the Focus section.
- Select Do Not Disturb: Click on Do Not Disturb to activate it. You can also schedule it to run automatically each day by clicking Add Schedule.
How to Turn Off Notification Sounds for Specific Apps
If you only want to silence notifications for certain apps, you can do so individually.
- Open System Settings: Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- Go to Notifications: In the System Settings, navigate to the Notifications section.
- Select the App: Find the app for which you want to turn off notification sounds and click on it.
- Turn Off Play Sound: Toggle off the Play sound option for that app. This will ensure you receive notifications as banners or alerts without the sound.
How to Temporarily Mute Notifications for Individual Apps
Sometimes, you might need a few hours of peace and quiet to concentrate.
- Expand the Notification: Click to expand the notification you want to mute.
- Access Notification Options: Click on the ellipses (…) in the notification.
- Mute for a Period: Select Mute for 1 hour or Mute for today to temporarily silence notifications from that app.
How to Manage Notifications for Websites
Notifications from websites can also be intrusive. Here’s how to manage them:
- Open Safari: Launch the Safari browser.
- Go to Settings: Navigate to Safari > Settings.
- Select Websites Tab: Click on the Websites tab.
- Manage Notifications: Select Notifications on the left side and review the list of websites that have requested permission to show notifications.
- Deny Permissions: Ensure each website is set to Deny. If not, click on the drop-down menu and choose Deny. Also, deselect the box that says Allow websites to ask for permission to send push notifications.
How to Use the Sound Settings to Reduce Notification Noise
If you prefer a more universal approach to reducing notification sounds, you can adjust the alert volume.
- Open System Settings: Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- Go to Sound: In the System Settings, navigate to the Sound section.
- Adjust Alert Volume: Lower the alert volume all the way to zero. This will mute all system notification sounds, although it is not the most targeted approach.
By following these steps, you can effectively silence notifications on your Mac, creating a more peaceful and focused working environment.