Silencing notifications for one person on your iPhone is a simple process that can be completed in a few steps. Once you’ve done this, you won’t receive alerts or banners for messages from that specific contact, but you’ll still receive their messages silently in your inbox.
After completing this action, you won’t be distracted by notifications from the person you’ve silenced. Their messages will still come through, and you can check them at any time, but your phone won’t buzz, ding, or display banners when they text you.
Introduction
We’ve all been there – our phones buzzing incessantly with notifications that disrupt our focus, our relaxation, or even our sleep. Whether it’s a chatty friend, an overzealous group chat, or a coworker who doesn’t respect boundaries outside of work hours, sometimes we need a break from the constant pings. Enter the iPhone’s feature that lets you silence notifications for just one person.
It’s a godsend for maintaining peace and quiet without missing out on important messages. It’s relevant to anyone who wants to minimize distractions without completely cutting off communication. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to use this feature so you can regain control over your notification settings and your sanity.
Step by Step Tutorial to Silence Notifications for One Person on iPhone
Before we dive into the steps, let’s clarify what we’re aiming to achieve. You want to silence notifications from a specific contact without affecting the rest of your notification settings. This is useful when you don’t want to be disturbed by a particular person but still want to stay connected.
Step 1: Open the Messages app and select the conversation with the person you want to silence
Opening the Messages app will allow you to access your conversation list and select the specific conversation you want to modify.
Once you have the conversation open, you can proceed to the next step. The conversation will typically be listed in chronological order, so the most recent ones will be at the top.
Step 2: Tap on the contact’s name at the top of the conversation
Tapping on the contact’s name will bring up the contact’s details and additional options related to the conversation.
This step is important because it gives you access to the settings that will allow you to silence notifications for that specific contact.
Step 3: Tap on ‘Info’
Tapping on ‘Info’ will open a screen with more details and settings for the contact and the conversation.
The ‘Info’ screen is where you can find various options such as audio and video call buttons, the ability to share your location, and the notification settings we’re looking for.
Step 4: Toggle on ‘Hide Alerts’
Switching on ‘Hide Alerts’ will silence notifications for the conversation with that contact.
This setting will ensure that you won’t receive any alerts or banners for messages from the contact you’ve selected. However, their messages will still be received and stored in the conversation thread.
Pros
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Minimized Distractions | By silencing notifications, you reduce the chances of being interrupted by non-urgent messages. |
| Better Control | You can manage your attention and time better because you choose when to check messages from that specific person. |
| Maintains Privacy | If you’re in a meeting or with others, silencing notifications can help keep your conversations private. |
Cons
| Drawback | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Potential to Miss Important Messages | If you’re not regularly checking your messages, you might miss something important from the silenced contact. |
| Could Affect Relationships | The person you’ve silenced might feel ignored if they notice you’re not responding to their messages as promptly. |
| Needs Manual Reversal | If you want to start receiving notifications again, you’ll need to remember to manually switch off ‘Hide Alerts’. |
Additional Information
Silencing notifications for one person on your iPhone is a wonderful feature for maintaining your focus and privacy. But did you know that you can schedule Do Not Disturb mode to automatically silence notifications during certain times of the day? This is particularly useful during sleep hours or busy work periods. Additionally, with iOS 15 and later, you can set up Focus modes that allow you to customize which contacts and apps can send you notifications.
This gives you even more control over your attention and time. Remember, while silencing notifications can help you minimize distractions, it’s also crucial to communicate your boundaries to contacts who may wonder why you’re not responding right away.
Summary
- Open the Messages app and select the conversation
- Tap on the contact’s name
- Tap on ‘Info’
- Toggle on ‘Hide Alerts’
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to the messages from a silenced contact?
The messages will still be delivered to your inbox, but you won’t receive any audible or visual alerts.
Can the silenced contact tell that their notifications are being silenced?
No, the contact will not receive any notification or indication that you have silenced them.
How do I know if I have a new message from a silenced contact?
A small moon icon will appear next to the conversation in your Messages list, indicating there are unread messages from a silenced conversation.
Can I silence notifications for a group chat?
Yes, the same process applies to group chats. You can silence notifications for an entire group conversation.
Will the silenced notifications affect my other notification settings?
No, this action will only silence notifications for the specific conversation you’ve chosen.
Conclusion
Mastering how to silence notifications for one person on your iPhone is a valuable skill in our hyper-connected world. It empowers you to take charge of your digital wellbeing, maintain your focus, and ensure that your time is spent on what truly matters to you. Remember, technology is here to serve us, not the other way around.
So make use of these features to enhance your life, not add to the noise. If you haven’t already, give this feature a try and notice how much more peaceful your days can be when you’re not at the mercy of every ding and buzz.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.