Updated on November 11, 2026.
Open Settings > Notifications > App notifications to choose which apps can alert you. To give one type of alert its own sound or silence it, first turn on Manage notification categories for each app in Advanced settings.
Find the setting you need
| What you want to change | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Turn all alerts from one app on or off | Settings > Notifications > App notifications |
| Change the sound for one type of alert | Enable notification categories, then open the category in the app’s notification settings. |
| Keep messages private on the lock screen | Search Settings for Lock screen notifications or Show content on Lock screen. |
| Find an alert you dismissed | Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > Notification history |
Set a different notification sound for an app
- Open Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings. Turn on Manage notification categories for each app if your phone shows that switch.
- Go back to Notifications, open App notifications, and tap the app you want to change.
- Open Notification categories. Tap the category name, such as messages or reminders. Tapping the switch beside the name turns the entire category on or off.
- Make sure Allow notifications is on, choose Alert, then tap Sound and choose a tone. Select Silent if you want the alert to arrive quietly.
The categories come from the app, so the names and options vary. Some apps handle sounds in their own settings. See Samsung’s instructions for app notifications.
Hide previews or make alerts easier to see
Use Lock screen notifications to choose what appears while the phone is locked. Look for Hide content if you want an alert without the message text. On some One UI versions, you’ll find the controls under Lock screen and AOD or in an individual app’s notification settings.
To change how alerts appear while you use the phone, check Notification pop-up style. Some Galaxy models offer Edge lighting with the brief pop-up style. For a screen or camera flash, look under Settings > Accessibility > Advanced settings > Flash notification. See Samsung’s Galaxy notification guide.
Find missed alerts and check silent ones
Turn on Notification history in Notifications > Advanced settings. It can help you find recent alerts received after you enabled it. If new alerts arrive quietly, check the category, volume, and whether Do Not Disturb or a mode is active. See our guide to controlling nighttime notifications.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Notification categories missing on my Samsung phone?
Check Manage notification categories for each app in Notifications > Advanced settings. If it’s enabled and the app still has no categories, check that app’s own notification settings.
Can I hide a message on the lock screen and still get its alert?
Yes. Keep the app’s notifications on and hide their content on the lock screen. The phone can show that a message arrived while keeping the text private until you unlock it.
Can I see alerts that I dismissed before turning on Notification history?
History starts when you enable it. If the alert arrived earlier, open the app that sent it and check for the message or event there.