How to Stop Annoying Game Notifications on Android (Without Missing What Matters)
Silence spammy game notifications on Android. Turn off specific notification types, use Do Not Disturb while gaming, and keep the alerts you actually want.
Free games love notifications. “Your energy is full!” “Limited offer ends soon!” “We miss you!” A few are useful, but most are designed to pull you back into the game. Android gives you precise control, so you can silence the noise without missing alerts you care about.
The fastest way: long-press the notification
The next time an annoying game notification appears:
- Long-press the notification (or swipe it slightly sideways and tap the gear icon).
- Choose Turn off notifications, or select Silent to keep it but remove the sound and pop-up.
Android also shows which category the notification belongs to, which lets you turn off just that type.
Turn off notification categories
Many games use notification categories (also called channels). For example, a game might have separate categories for “Events,” “Offers,” “Energy refills,” and “Friend requests.”
- Go to Settings → Notifications → App notifications (on some phones, Settings → Apps → [game] → Notifications).
- Select the game.
- Turn off the categories you don’t want, like promotions or offers.
- Leave on the categories you value, like friend invites or match ready alerts.
Tip: Not every game uses categories well. If a game only has one switch, you’ll have to choose all or nothing — or check the game’s own settings menu.
Check the game’s own settings
Many games have notification options inside the game itself, often under Settings → Notifications or Push notifications. These options can be more detailed than Android’s, letting you keep alerts for your clan or guild while turning off sales.
Silence everything while you play
When you’re in a match, even useful notifications can be distracting — or cause you to tap a pop-up by accident.
- Do Not Disturb: Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Do Not Disturb. You can allow calls from starred contacts while blocking everything else.
- Game mode features: Many phones include gaming tools that block notifications automatically while you play. Pixel phones have a Game Dashboard, and Samsung phones have Game Booster in the Gaming Hub. Our guide to Android game mode explains how to set them up.
- Modes and schedules: Newer Android versions let you create custom modes, like a “Gaming” mode that silences notifications on a schedule.
Clear the backlog with notification history
If you dismissed something important by accident, Android’s notification history can help. Turn it on in Settings → Notifications → Notification history. Once it’s on, you can see notifications from the last 24 hours.
Stop notifications at night
Games sending notifications at midnight? Use Bedtime mode (part of Digital Wellbeing) or schedule Do Not Disturb overnight. Your phone stays quiet while you sleep, and alarms still work.
Stop new apps from spamming you
On Android 13 and newer, apps must ask permission before sending notifications. When a new game asks, think about whether you actually want its alerts. You can say Don’t allow and change your mind later in Settings.
Which game notifications are worth keeping?
| Keep | Probably turn off |
|---|---|
| Friend and party invites | Limited-time offers and sales |
| Match or turn ready (turn-based games) | “We miss you” reminders |
| Guild or clan war reminders you rely on | Energy or lives refilled |
| Account security alerts | Daily login reminders |
The bottom line
You’re in control of your phone’s attention, not the game. Spend five minutes trimming notifications today, and your phone will feel calmer — and your gaming time will feel more like your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Will turning off notifications affect my game progress?
No. Notifications are only reminders. Your progress, rewards, and events continue normally — you just won’t be pinged about them.
Why does a game keep sending notifications after I turned them off?
Check whether the game has its own notification settings inside the app, and confirm every notification category is off in Android settings. Some games re-enable alerts after updates, so check again if they come back.
Can I silence notifications only while I’m playing?
Yes. Use your phone’s game mode or Game Dashboard to block notifications automatically while a game is open, or turn on Do Not Disturb before you start.
Spotted something out of date? Apps change fast. Let us know and we’ll review the guide.
