Ads serve as a way for companies to increase user engagement and promote their apps and services on Android. While ads are acceptable up to a point, some apps take advantage of the OS’s nature to send spam notifications and pop-up ads. We have already explained how to block popup ads on Android and in this article you will learn how to block spam notifications on your Android phone.
Block Spam Notifications on Android
Spam notifications primarily come from two sources: first-party/third-party apps and web browsers. Today, we will detail how to block unwanted notifications from both of these categories.
Disable Spamming Push Notifications from Apps
1. When you see a notification that you don’t find really helpful, long press and select ‘Turn off notifications’. You’ll find a direct button to stop notifications (as seen below) or an App Info button that takes you to the app’s settings page based on your phone’s Android version.
2. If you manage to successfully disable the notification, you will see a prompt that says ‘You will no longer see these notifications’. In case you change your mind or accidentally disable an important notification, you can tap the Undo button to undo it.
3. If you plan to disable notifications for multiple apps, go to: Settings -> Apps & Notifications (path may be slightly different depending on OEM) on your phone. Here you can see the apps that send you notifications and choose to disable them.
Disable Spam Notifications from Browser
1. The procedure for disabling spam notifications from websites is similar to that for other apps. When you see a spam notification from your browser, long press it and disable it.
2. Alternatively, visit your browser’s Site Settings Settings -> Site settings -> Notifications to manage notifications separately. You have the option of blocking browser notifications altogether or asking websites to ask your permission before sending notifications.
Status of Push Notifications on Android
Android to help users manage notifications efficiently Notification Channels, starting with Android Oreo. With notification channels, you get categories to fine-tune the type of notifications you receive. For example, if you don’t want promotions from a food delivery app, you can choose to block that particular channel while receiving important delivery alerts.
While Android requires modern apps to implement Notification Channels, some apps include: First-party ones like Google Pay do not support notification channels it’s still unfortunate and disappointing. As a result, if the spammy app sends all notifications (important notifications and promotions) through the same channel, you should uninstall the app, disable notifications entirely, including important ones, or tolerate such notifications.
Disable Spam Notifications on Your Android Phone
This was our quick guide to help you disable annoying push notifications on your phone. If you found this helpful, let us know in the comments the app that spammed you the most. While you’re at it, I highly recommend checking out our article on removing bloatware from your phone for a better overall user experience.