To turn off gift notifications in Pokémon GO on an iPhone, the most reliable method is iOS’s own notification settings: open Settings > Notifications > Pokémon GO and turn off Allow Notifications, or uncheck Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners to keep them silent. Inside the game, tap the Poké Ball > Settings and look for the notification options; depending on your game version, you can turn off specific push notification types there, such as friend and gift alerts, while keeping others like raid or event reminders.
This guide covers both methods, the in-game pop-ups you can and can’t turn off, how to stay on top of gifts without constant alerts, and what to do if notifications keep coming back.
Types of gift notifications
- Push notifications – alerts from iOS when a friend sends you a gift or opens yours, even when the game is closed.
- In-game banners – messages at the top of the screen while you’re playing.
- Notification tab – a list inside the game (on your profile or the Friends screen) that collects recent activity.
The iPhone settings control push notifications. In-game banners and the activity list are part of the game and can only be changed with in-game options, if the game offers them.
Method 1: Turn off notifications in iPhone Settings
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Notifications, scroll down, and tap Pokémon GO. (In newer iOS versions, you can also go to Settings > Apps > Pokémon GO > Notifications.)
- Turn off Allow Notifications to stop all Pokémon GO push alerts.
- Or keep notifications allowed but uncheck Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners, and turn off Sounds, so they don’t interrupt you.
This affects every kind of Pokémon GO push notification, including buddy, raid, and event alerts, not just gifts.
Method 2: Use the in-game notification settings
- Open Pokémon GO and tap the Poké Ball at the bottom of the map.
- Tap Settings (gear icon in the top right).
- Scroll to the notifications section. Depending on your version, you’ll see a master Push Notifications option and, in some versions, toggles for specific notification types.
- Turn off the gift or friend-related options you don’t want, if listed, and leave on the ones you do.
Niantic changes the game’s settings menus from time to time, so the exact labels and available toggles may differ from what you see here.
Method 3: Use a Focus to silence the game at certain times
- Go to Settings > Focus and choose Do Not Disturb, Work, Sleep, or a custom Focus.
- Under Allowed Notifications, set the apps list so Pokémon GO isn’t allowed (or silence it specifically).
- Schedule the Focus for the times you don’t want interruptions.
Or use Scheduled Summary in Settings > Notifications to bundle Pokémon GO alerts into a summary delivered a few times a day.
Keep up with gifts without notifications
- Check the Friends tab when you open the game; friends with a gift for you show a gift icon.
- Open and send gifts in one session each day to keep friendship levels growing.
- Remember the game limits how many gifts you can hold, open, and send, so a daily routine works better than reacting to every alert.
Troubleshooting
- Notifications still appear – they may be in-game banners, which iOS settings can’t turn off. Check the in-game settings.
- Pokémon GO isn’t listed under Notifications – it appears after the app has asked for notification permission. Open the game once and check again.
- Notifications on your Apple Watch – open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Notifications, and turn off Pokémon GO or set it to not mirror your iPhone.
- Settings reset after an update – recheck both the iOS and in-game settings after major updates.
Frequently asked questions
Will turning off notifications stop friends from sending me gifts?
No. Friends can still send gifts; you just won’t be alerted.
Can I turn off gift notifications for one friend?
No. Notification settings apply to all friends. You can remove a friend if you want to stop receiving their gifts.
Do these steps work on iPad?
Yes. The iOS and iPadOS notification settings work the same way.
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.