How to Turn Off Notifications on Snapchat
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How to Turn Off Notifications on Snapchat

Snapchat is great for staying in touch with friends, sharing moments, and sending fun filters and lenses. But those constant pings and buzzes can quickly become overwhelming—especially if you’re part of a dozen group chats or follow active creators. If you’ve ever wanted just a bit of peace and quiet from Snapchat’s notifications, you’re in the right place.

TL;DR

If Snapchat notifications are driving you up the wall, you can turn them off completely or customize them to fit your preferences. Whether you’re on iPhone or Android, it’s easy to mute notifications either through the app itself or via your device settings. You can also silence alerts for specific friends or group chats. Keep reading to learn how!

Why Turn Off Snapchat Notifications?

Let’s face it—social media burnout is real. Convenience quickly turns into frustration when your phone buzzes every couple of minutes. Here are just a few reasons why you might want to disable or limit Snapchat notifications:

  • Minimize distractions: Notifications can interrupt work, sleep, or relaxation.
  • Extend battery life: Fewer alerts mean less screen-on time and fewer background processes.
  • Focus on what matters: You’ll only check the app when you truly want to, not because your phone tells you to.

Now let’s look at the various ways to shut down or fine-tune those alerts so you can regain control over your digital space.

Method 1: Turn Off Snapchat Notifications From Within the App

This is the easiest way to stop notifications while still using the app freely. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Open the Snapchat app on your phone.
  2. Tap your Bitmoji or profile icon in the top-left corner.
  3. Tap the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner to go to Settings.
  4. Scroll down and tap on Notifications.
  5. You’ll see various types of notifications (Friend Suggestions, Stories from Friends, Mentions, etc.). Simply uncheck all the boxes or toggle off specific settings to mute them.

If you want to pause all alerts without diving into granular settings, you can also use your phone’s notification settings. More on that next.

Method 2: Use Your Phone’s Notification Settings

Both Android and iOS offer ways to block app notifications entirely. This method ensures you won’t get any Snapchat alerts until you decide to turn them back on.

For iPhone Users:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap Snapchat.
  3. Tap Notifications.
  4. Toggle off the switch for Allow Notifications.

For Android Users:

  1. Open your phone’s Settings.
  2. Go to Apps & notifications (or just Apps depending on your device).
  3. Find and tap Snapchat.
  4. Tap Notifications.
  5. Toggle off the switch to block all notifications.

This approach is useful when you need a full detox from the app but don’t want to disable or uninstall it entirely.

Method 3: Mute a Specific Friend or Group

Don’t want to block all notifications but need a break from certain people or chats? Snapchat lets you mute specific conversations so you can manage your mental peace without hurting relationships.

  1. Open the Snapchat app and swipe right to go to the Chat screen.
  2. Tap and hold on the chat or group chat you want to mute.
  3. Select Chat Settings.
  4. Toggle off Message Notifications.

You’ll still receive messages, but you won’t be alerted every time someone sends something in the muted chat. Great for keeping up without being bothered in real time!

Method 4: Use Do Not Disturb for Temporary Relief

If you only want to silence notifications for a short period—while in a meeting, studying, or catching up on sleep—the Do Not Disturb mode on your phone is perfect.

For iPhone Users:

  1. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open the Control Center.
  2. Tap the crescent moon icon to enable Do Not Disturb.
  3. To customize it, go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb.

For Android Users:

  1. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the notifications drawer.
  2. Find and tap Do Not Disturb.
  3. Tap Settings to customize which apps or contacts can break through the silence.

This doesn’t only apply to Snapchat—it mutes all notifications unless you whitelist specific apps or people.

Method 5: Turn Off Notification Sounds Only

Sometimes you still want to see the notifications pop up, but not hear them. In such cases, it makes sense to disable sounds only while keeping visual alerts active.

For iPhone:

  • Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
  • Scroll to the Ringtone and Alert Volume and lower it or set your phone to Silent Mode.
  • Alternatively, use the physical silent switch (located on the side of your iPhone).

For Android:

  • Go to Settings > Sound & vibration.
  • Select Do Not Disturb and adjust sound behavior under exceptions.
  • Or simply lower the Notification Volume slider to mute alert sounds.

Bonus Tip: Use Snapchat’s Silent Mode

Snapchat has a handy feature called Silent Mode that lets you stop receiving sound and vibration for notifications without disabling them completely. You’ll still get the notification in your tray—just without the noise or haptic feedback.

  1. Open Snapchat and go to Settings.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Enable Silent Mode.

Perfect for when you want to be low-key but not completely unplugged.

What Happens When You Turn Off Notifications?

Turning off notifications doesn’t log you out, block friends, or delete messages—Snapchat continues working in the background. Here’s what changes:

  • You won’t see pop-ups or banners when you get a new message.
  • Your phone won’t vibrate or play a sound for new snaps or chats.
  • You’ll need to open the app manually to check for new activity.

It’s a more mindful way to use Snapchat—on your terms, not your phone’s.

Final Thoughts

Snapchat can be a ton of fun, but like any app, it’s easy for it to take over your attention span. Whether you want to fully silence the app or just tone things down a bit, there are lots of flexible options for managing your notifications. From muting specific friends to activating Silent Mode or using Do Not Disturb, you’re in charge of how—and when—you get alerts.

Take a few minutes to adjust your notification settings today, and you’ll be surprised how much calmer your smartphone experience becomes. More control, less distraction—it’s a win-win.