The default setting on iPhone is to provide Notifications from all apps; which ensures that whenever you receive a notification from any app, it will appear on the Lock Screen, Notification Center or as Banner, depending on the Settings for Notifications on your iPhone.
In addition to providing the option to customize notification to suit your own individual requirements, iPhone provides multiple ways to Mute or Silence Notifications.
Mute/Silence Notifications on iPhone
If you are looking for an uninterrupted distraction free period in order to get some work done or engaged in an important meeting, you can Mute or Silence notifications on iPhone using any of the following methods.
1. Silence Notification Sound Using Volume Button
The simplest way to silence all types of notification sounds on iPhone is by lowering down the sound by using the Volume-down button.
1. Keep pressing the Volume down button on your iPhone.
2. When the volume goes all the way down, you will see the Mute icon appearing on the screen of your device.
Note: You can end up missing important calls and messages, if you forget to unmute.
2. Use Silent/Ring Switch to Silence Notification Sound
Another way to quickly silence all types of notification sounds on iPhone is by using the Ring/Silent switch, which is located above the volume buttons; at upper left-side of your device.
1. Locate the Ring/Silent switch (just above the volume up button).
2. Flip the switch towards the back of your iPhone; until you see a small orange stripe
This will result in all notification sounds and ringtones being muted on your iPhone.
As indicated by its name, the Mute or Silence Switch can only silence calls, text alerts and notifications sounds. It does not hide or prevent notifications from appearing on the screen of your iPhone.
While this method is ideal for quickly silencing all types of notifications before a meeting or an occasion, it can lead to important calls and messages being missed, if you forget to move the silent mode switch to Ring position, after the meeting ends.
3. Disable Text Alert Tone on iPhone
If you do not want to hear notification sound from Messages and other apps on iPhone, you can set the Notification Tone on your device to None.
1. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Text Tone.
2. On the next screen, select the None option.
This method Silences Notifications from all Apps (including Messages), while allowing Calls to ring on your device.
4. Silence Notifications Using Do Not Disturb Mode
A proper way to Silence Notifications on iPhone is by using Do Not Disturb Mode, which silences Notifications from all Apps and diverts Incoming Calls to Voicemail.
The advantage of using “Do Not Disturb” to silence notifications and calls is that it can be set to start and stop automatically and configured to allow call and message notifications from important Contacts, while silencing notifications from everyone else.
For the steps to enable Do Not Disturb Mode, you can refer to this guide: How to Enable “Do Not Disturb” Mode On iPhone.
5. Silence Notifications from Specific Apps on iPhone
If you are mainly concerned about notifications from social media and other non-essential Apps, you can selectively silence Notifications from these particular Apps on your iPhone.
1. Go to Settings > Notifications > select the App for which you want to Disable Notifications.
2. On the next screen, move the toggle next to Allow Notifications to OFF position.
You can repeat the above steps to Disable or Silence Notifications from other apps on your iPhone.