With a constant stream of notifications and alerts on Windows 11 laptops, maintaining focus becomes a challenge. So take control and customize notifications to suit your needs.
8. Manage notifications for each application
One of the best things to do to clean up the notification panel on Windows is to turn off alerts for unnecessary apps and programs. This is especially useful for troublesome applications.
To do this, go to Settings > System > Notifications. Then in the “Notifications from apps and other senders“, look through the list of apps and use the toggles to turn notification permissions on and off for each app.
For essential apps like Outlook and WhatsApp, leave notifications on to ensure you don't miss any important information. However, for apps that constantly send unnecessary alerts – like social networks or shopping apps – turn off notifications completely or mute them.
This app-by-app approach allows you to strike a balance, keeping essential notifications while eliminating distractions.

7. Turn off tips and hints
However, it's not just apps that bombard you with notifications. Windows 11 itself also continuously sends tips and suggestions. While some of these tips and suggestions may be helpful at first, they quickly become more annoying than helpful. To regain peace, turn off these warnings completely.
To easily fix this problem, open Settings > System > Notificationsscroll down and expand Additional settings. Just uncheck the 3 boxes about tips and suggestions related to optimizing your Windows experience.
And so no more tips appearing at the most inconvenient times. Without these unnecessary reminders, you can focus on what's important, with fewer distractions throughout the day.

6. Turn off browser notifications
Even though we intentionally avoid accepting notifications from websites, there are still times when they sneak in. Since most of these sites – whether news sites or online stores – tend to be actively updated, they are difficult to ignore.
To take control, turn off browser notifications completely. For Chrome, enter Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications and choose Don't allow sites to send notifications. The process is similar for browsers like Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox.

5. Stop lock screen notifications
Since many people only lock their Windows PC when they leave their desk, lock screen notifications aren't really useful to them. In fact, they often only make noise when they are away, which many people find annoying.
To stop them, enter Settings > System > Notificationsthen expand the section Notifications. There, just uncheck the option Show notifications on the lock screen.
With this simple change, your lock screen is now clean and silent. No more worrying about random alerts interrupting your quiet time.

4. Customize shutdown time for notification banners
By default, Windows 11 only displays notification banners for 5 seconds. While this works for short alerts with minimal information, it's too short for detailed messages that require a closer look.
To resolve this issue, go to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects. There, use the drop-down menu Dismiss notifications after this amount of time to increase the waiting time.
Choosing a longer time period gives you the flexibility to ensure you have enough time to read and process important notifications without feeling rushed or missing important information.

3. Activate Do Not Disturb mode
Sometimes, you need to focus completely on a task and eliminate all distractions. At those times, use Do Not Disturb on Windows. This feature blocks all notifications – whether from apps, messages or system alerts – allowing you to work uninterrupted and fully immersed in your tasks.
Luckily, Windows makes turning Do Not Disturb on or off quick and simple. Just open the board Notifications with keyboard shortcuts Win + N and click the icon Do Not Disturb at the top. This feature allows you to focus when you need to without having to worry about manually turning off notifications all the time.
The ability to automate this feature should really be appreciated. For example, set Windows to automatically enable Do Not Disturb at specific times, such as while playing a game or using an application in full screen mode. To configure this feature, open Settings > System > Notifications and use the checkbox under “Turn on Do Not Disturb automatically”.

2. Make the most of Focus Sessions
Focus Sessions on Windows 11 works similarly to Do Not Disturb mode, but goes one step further. They are built right into the Windows Clock app and allow for a truly distraction-free environment.
What makes Focus Sessions useful is that it not only blocks notifications but also goes further by preventing apps from displaying notification badges or flashing on the taskbar.
Another great feature is the seamless integration with Spotify. You can choose playlists or background music to help you focus, all under the Focus Sessions tab. Plus, integration with the Microsoft To Do app lets you track tasks and check them off when completed, helping you stay organized and focused.

1. Set priority notifications
Finally, setting priority notifications ensures you don't miss any important alerts when Do Not Disturb is active.
By default, apps like Clock and Snipping Tool are set as priority notifications, but you can add some of your own. To do this, go to Settings > System > Notifications > Set priority notifications. There, click Add apps and choose the apps whose notifications you never want to miss.
This allows you to stay focused during work hours while ensuring that important notifications still reach you.

Overall, the tips above will help you turn your Windows 11 experience into something much more peaceful. You should try them for a more enjoyable Windows 11 experience and increased productivity.