Windows 11 Lock Screen Notifications: On or Off?

Updated 4 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

You can enable or disable notifications on the Windows 11 lock screen in about 30 seconds through Settings > System > Notifications. The exact toggle is labeled “Notifications on lock screen” and it controls whether apps can show alerts, banners, and sounds while your PC is locked. This article explains what that setting actually does, how to fine-tune it per app, and what to do when notifications still appear after you turn them off.

Where the Lock Screen Notification Setting Lives

Windows 11 groups all notification controls in one place. Open Settings (Win + I), go to System, then Notifications. Near the top of that page you’ll see a section called “Notifications” with a master toggle for all notifications, and below it a sub-section specifically for the lock screen:

Notifications on lock screen – Turn this off to block all notification banners and sounds while the PC is locked.
Show reminders and incoming VoIP calls on lock screen – A separate toggle that lets alarms and calls through even when the main lock screen setting is off.

The master toggle at the top (“Notifications”) disables everything system-wide. If you only want to stop lock screen alerts, leave the master on and flip just the lock screen option.

How the Lock Screen Notification Setting Works

When your PC locks (after inactivity, when you press Win + L, or when you sign out), Windows moves to the lock screen. Apps still run in the background and can generate notifications. The “Notifications on lock screen” setting decides whether those notifications appear as banners on the lock screen and whether they play a sound.

If the setting is on, you’ll see a banner at the bottom of the lock screen with the app name and message. You can click it to go straight to the app after signing in, or dismiss it. If the setting is off, the notification is still delivered to the notification center (Win + N) after you sign in – it’s not deleted, just not shown while locked.

The “reminders and VoIP calls” toggle is a deliberate exception. Even with the main lock screen setting off, you can allow calendar reminders and incoming calls (like Skype or Teams) to break through. This is useful if you want privacy from general app spam but still need to see an alarm or answer a call.

How to Turn Lock Screen Notifications On or Off

Here are the exact steps for both directions:

Press Win + I to open Settings.
Go to System > Notifications.
Find the “Notifications” section (the first block).
Toggle Notifications on lock screen to On or Off.
Optionally, toggle Show reminders and incoming VoIP calls on lock screen to your preference.

That’s it – the change applies immediately. You don’t need to restart or sign out.

Per-App Lock Screen Notification Control

The global lock screen toggle affects every app. If you want some apps to show notifications on the lock screen and others not, you need to use per-app settings. Scroll down the same Notifications page to the “Notifications from apps and other senders” list. Click any app name to expand its options, and you’ll see a checkbox labeled Show notification banners on lock screen.

This per-app checkbox works independently of the global lock screen toggle. If the global toggle is off, no app can show banners on the lock screen, even if its individual checkbox is checked. If the global toggle is on, only apps with their individual checkbox checked will appear. The per-app setting is useful when you want, say, your messaging app to show alerts while locked, but not your email client.

Common Problems and Fixes

Users often report that notifications still appear on the lock screen after turning the setting off. Here are the usual causes and solutions:

You turned off the wrong toggle. Make sure you flipped “Notifications on lock screen,” not the master “Notifications” toggle (which would silence everything).
Focus assist is interfering. Focus assist (Settings > System > Focus) can suppress notifications during certain hours. If it’s on, it may override your lock screen preference. Check its settings and turn it off or configure exceptions.
An app has its own notification settings. Some apps (like Telegram or Discord) have in-app settings that control whether they show alerts on the lock screen. Those can override Windows settings. Check the app’s own notification options.
You’re seeing the sign-in screen, not the lock screen. The sign-in screen (where you enter your password) is technically different from the lock screen. Windows 11 doesn’t show notification banners on the sign-in screen by default, but if you’re seeing them there, it’s usually due to a third-party app or a group policy setting.

Privacy and Security Implications

Leaving lock screen notifications on means anyone who can see your screen can read message previews, calendar details, or email subjects without signing in. If you work in a shared space or leave your PC unattended, turning them off is a simple privacy win. The trade-off is convenience – you won’t see if you got an important message until you unlock.

For maximum privacy, you can also turn off Show notification banners on lock screen for specific sensitive apps (like banking or email) while leaving it on for others. There’s no way to hide only the message content but show the app name – Windows 11 doesn’t offer that granularity.

Alternatives to the Built-In Setting

If the built-in controls aren’t enough, Windows 11 offers a few related options:

Focus assist – Set it to “Alarms only” to block all notifications except alarms and calls, either always or during set hours.
Do not disturb – A quick toggle in the notification center (Win + N) that silences all notifications for a set period (1 hour, 3 hours, etc.). It doesn’t affect the lock screen setting directly but can suppress alerts while you’re away.
Group Policy (Windows Pro and Enterprise) – There’s a policy called “Turn off notifications on the lock screen” under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar. This enforces the setting for all users on a device, which is useful for IT admins.
Registry edit (all editions) – A registry key under HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer can disable lock screen notifications, but the Settings toggle is simpler and safer for most users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off lock screen notifications stop all notification sounds?

No. The lock screen toggle only affects notifications that appear while the PC is locked. If you’re actively using the PC, notifications will still show banners and play sounds according to each app’s settings. To silence all sounds, turn off the master “Notifications” toggle or use Do not disturb.

Why do I still see notifications on the lock screen after turning them off?

Check that you turned off the correct toggle (“Notifications on lock screen”) and that Focus assist isn’t overriding it. Also verify that the specific app doesn’t have its own lock screen notification setting. If you’re on a work PC, a group policy may be forcing the setting on.

Can I allow only calls and reminders on the lock screen?

Yes. Turn off “Notifications on lock screen” but leave “Show reminders and incoming VoIP calls on lock screen” on. This allows calendar reminders and incoming calls (like Skype or Teams) to appear while locked, while blocking all other app notifications.

Does the lock screen notification setting affect the sign-in screen?

No. The sign-in screen (where you type your password) is a separate screen. Windows 11 does not show notification banners on the sign-in screen by default, regardless of the lock screen setting. If you see notifications there, it’s likely a third-party app or a custom theme.

Will turning off lock screen notifications delete my notifications?

No. Notifications are still delivered to the notification center (Win + N) after you sign in. The setting only controls whether they appear on the lock screen, not whether they’re stored.

Is there a way to hide notification content but still show the app name?

No. Windows 11 doesn’t offer that level of granularity. Your options are: show the full banner, hide the banner entirely, or use per-app controls to block specific apps. For sensitive apps, the best approach is to turn off their lock screen banners individually.

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