How to Configure Notifications Priority Per App on Windows 11

Windows 11 sends notifications from dozens of apps every day, but not all alerts deserve the same attention. You may want critical emails from Outlook to pop up immediately while muting social media updates. Windows 11 includes a built-in feature called notification priority that lets you set each app to show banners, show only in the notification center, or stay silent. This article explains how to configure notification priority per app on Windows 11 and which settings to use for different scenarios.

Notification Priority in Windows 11: How the Feature Works

Notification priority per app controls how each application delivers alerts to you. Windows 11 offers three tiers of notification behavior per app: banners and notification center, notification center only, and no notifications at all. Banners are the pop-up toasts that appear in the lower-right corner of the screen for a few seconds. The notification center is the pane you open by clicking the date and time in the taskbar or pressing the Windows logo key + N.

When you set an app to “Notification center only,” its alerts still appear in the notification center but never interrupt your workflow with a banner. This is useful for apps that generate many low-priority updates, such as weather widgets or news aggregators. The “No notifications” option completely blocks that app from sending any alert, including sounds and badges on the taskbar.

Windows 11 also supports notification priority in the context of Do not disturb mode. When Do not disturb is active, only apps you mark as “Priority” can show banners and play sounds. All other apps are automatically set to notification center only. You can configure which apps are in the priority list from the same Notifications settings page.

No third-party tools are required. All settings are available in the built-in Windows 11 Settings app. The changes apply immediately after you toggle any option.

Steps to Configure Notification Priority Per App on Windows 11

Follow these steps to change notification priority for any app on Windows 11.

1. Open Settings
   Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app. Alternatively, click the Start button and select the gear icon.
2. Go to System > Notifications
   In the left sidebar, click System. Then click Notifications in the main pane. This page lists all notification settings for the entire system.
3. Locate the target app
   Scroll down to the section labeled “Notifications from apps and other senders.” This list shows every app that can send notifications on your PC. Apps are sorted alphabetically. If you have many apps installed, use the search box at the top of the Settings window to find the app quickly.
4. Toggle notifications on for the app
   Click the toggle switch next to the app name to turn it on if it is currently off. Notifications must be enabled at the app level before you can change priority.
5. Click the app name to open its notification settings
   Click the app name, not the toggle. A new page opens with detailed notification options for that specific app.
6. Set the notification priority
   Under the “Notification priority” section, choose one of the three options:
   – Banners and notification center: Shows pop-up banners and adds the alert to the notification center. This is the default and highest priority.
   – Notification center only: No banner appears. The alert goes directly to the notification center. This is medium priority.
   – No notifications: Blocks all alerts from this app entirely. This is the lowest priority.
7. Configure additional notification options
   Below the priority setting, you can also control whether the app can play a sound when a notification arrives, show notification badges on the taskbar, and show alerts on the lock screen. Adjust these as needed for each app.
8. Repeat for other apps
   Click the back arrow at the top of the Settings window, then select the next app you want to configure. Repeat steps 4 through 7 for each app.

Configuring Priority Apps for Do Not Disturb Mode

Do not disturb mode respects a separate priority list. To configure which apps can bypass Do not disturb:

1. Open Settings > System > Notifications
   Navigate back to the main Notifications page.
2. Click Set priority notifications
   This link is located near the top of the page, below the Do not disturb toggle. A new window opens.
3. Add apps to the priority list
   Under the “Apps” section, click the Add apps button. A list of installed apps appears. Select the apps that should always show banners and play sounds, even when Do not disturb is active. Click Add to confirm.
4. Configure automatic rules for Do not disturb
   On the same page, you can set automatic rules. Click Turn on Do not disturb automatically. Choose triggers such as during specific hours, when duplicating your display, or when playing a full-screen game. During these times, only priority apps will interrupt you.

Common Issues and Things to Avoid When Configuring Notification Priority

Notification Settings Grayed Out or Unavailable

If the notification toggle for an app is grayed out, the app may not support notifications or may have been blocked at a higher system level. Some legacy Win32 apps do not integrate with the Windows notification system. For these apps, you cannot change notification priority. Check if the app has its own in-app notification settings. If the app is a Microsoft Store app, try reinstalling it to restore notification capabilities.

Notifications Still Appear After Setting to Notification Center Only

This can happen if the app is listed in the priority apps list for Do not disturb. Go to Settings > System > Notifications > Set priority notifications and remove the app from the priority list. Also verify that Do not disturb is not active. If Do not disturb is on and the app is in the priority list, it will bypass the “Notification center only” setting.

Do Not Disturb Blocks All Notifications Including Priority Apps

Check the automatic rules. If you set Do not disturb to turn on during specific hours, it blocks all non-priority apps. Ensure the app you want to hear from is added to the priority list. Also verify that the Do not disturb toggle in the taskbar quick settings is not set to “Alarms only,” which blocks all notifications except alarms. Click the speaker icon in the taskbar, then click the bell icon to change the Do not disturb mode.

App Not Listed in Notifications from Apps and Other Senders

Some apps, particularly desktop programs that do not use the Windows notification API, will not appear in this list. For those apps, you must adjust notification settings inside the app itself. Look for settings labeled “Notifications,” “Alerts,” or “Pop-ups” within the application. If the app sends notifications through the browser, configure browser notification permissions instead.

Item	Banners and Notification Center	Notification Center Only
Description	Pop-up on screen plus entry in notification center	No pop-up, only entry in notification center
Best for	Email, calendar, messaging, alarms	Weather, news, app updates, social media
Sound behavior	Can play sound (configurable)	Can play sound (configurable)
Do not disturb behavior	Blocked unless app is in priority list	Blocked unless app is in priority list
Lock screen visibility	Configurable per app	Configurable per app
Taskbar badge	Shows badge count	Shows badge count

You can now control exactly how each app notifies you on Windows 11. Start by setting your most important communication apps to banners and notification center. Move news and social apps to notification center only. Configure Do not disturb with a priority list for uninterrupted focus time. For quick access to notification settings in the future, right-click the clock in the taskbar and select Notification settings.