Hide Alerts on an iPhone mutes notifications for one text conversation. Messages from that person or group still arrive in the Messages app, but your iPhone won’t play a sound, vibrate, or show a notification for them. A small bell with a line through it appears next to the conversation. The other person isn’t told that you’ve hidden alerts.
It’s useful for busy group chats or conversations you want to read later without interruptions.
How to hide alerts for a conversation
Swipe method
- Open Messages.
- Swipe left on the conversation.
- Tap the purple bell button (Hide Alerts).
From the conversation
- Open the conversation.
- Tap the person’s name or the group icons at the top.
- Turn on Hide Alerts.
What Hide Alerts does and doesn’t do
| With Hide Alerts on | Still happens |
|---|---|
| No sound, vibration, or banner for new messages | Messages are delivered and saved |
| No Lock Screen notification | The unread badge count can still update |
| Bell with a line appears next to the chat | The sender sees messages as delivered (and read, if read receipts are on) |
Hide Alerts is different from blocking. Blocked contacts can’t text or call you at all. It’s also different from Focus or Do Not Disturb, which silence many notifications at once.
Turn alerts back on
Swipe left on the conversation and tap the bell again, or open the conversation, tap the name at the top, and turn off Hide Alerts.
Why am I not getting text notifications?
If you’re missing alerts from someone, check for the crossed-out bell next to their conversation. Also check:
- Focus modes in Control Center.
- Settings > Notifications > Messages to make sure notifications are allowed.
- Filter Unknown Senders in Messages settings, which silences texts from people not in your contacts.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone tell if I hid alerts?
No. Hide Alerts is private. The other person isn’t notified.
Does Hide Alerts work for group chats?
Yes. Many people use it to mute busy group texts. In group iMessages, you can also get notified only when someone mentions you, by turning on Notify Me in Settings > Messages > Mentions.
Why do I see a moon instead of a bell?
Older iOS versions used a moon icon for Hide Alerts. Newer versions use a bell with a line through it.
Does Hide Alerts affect phone calls?
No. It only affects text messages in the Messages app.
Matthew Burleigh is the head writer at solveyourtech.com, where he covers topics like the iPhone, Microsoft Office, and Google apps. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has over 15 years of IT experience.
He has been writing online since 2008 and has published thousands of articles that have been read millions of times.