[Archived] By and large, you’re better off without email notifications disrupting you aimlessly. Find out here how to turn off Mail app email notifications on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
First, Flames in Glass Tubes
Any flame vibrates, and the air around vibrates with it. Channel that chaotic action into carefully measured glass tubes, and you get—a kind of flute.
When Frédéric Kastner built an entire instrument around the concept in the 1870s, he called his invention, uniquely impressive in sound and sight, the pyrophone.
Now, like the idea of a pyrophone but don’t want one to go off every time an email arrives in the Windows Mail app? Let’s put dampers on that:
How to Turn Off Windows Mail Email Notifications
This is an archived article.
Time needed: 3 minutes
To turn off email notifications from the Mail app on Windows:
- Open Mail.
- Click the Settings gear icon in the sidebar.
- Select Notifications from the menu that has appeared.
- Check Apply to all accounts to turn off all email notifications from the Mail app.
Per account: You can also turn off notifications only for specific accounts: disable Apple to all accounts and select an account, then continue with individual settings.
- Turn Off the Show notifications in the action center setting.
Disable sound: You can also leave Show a notification banner enabled but turn off Play a sound.
Turn Off Mail Notifications on the Windows Lock Screen
You can disable notifications appearing on the Windows Lock Screen—not for Mail but in general:
- Open Windows Settings.
Here’s how: Click the Start menu button and select Settings.
Windows keyboard shortcut: You can also press Windows I to open Settings. - Go to the System category.
- Choose Notifications.
Windows 10: Select Notifications & actions. - Turn off Show notifications on the lock screen.
Windows 11: Expand Notifications to see the setting.
Turn Off Mail Status on the Windows Lock Screen
To disable the mail count and icon on the Windows Lock Screen:
- Open Windows Settings.
- Go to Personalization.
- Now go to the Lock screen category.
- Choose None or a different app in place of Mail for Lock screen status (or Choose one app to show detailed status on the lock screen and Choose which apps show quick status on the lock screen for Windows 10).
How to Turn Off Windows Mail Email Notifications: FAQ
Can I disable background processing for Windows?
Yes.
To turn off email notifications while the Mail app is not running:
Notifications are enabled in Mail, but I still get no alerts; why?
Probably, either notifications are disabled for Windows in general or Mail is banned from sending them.
To check both settings:
- Open Windows settings.
- Go to the System | Notifications & actions category.
- Turn On the setting to Get notifications from apps and other senders.
- Check Mail is On under Get notifications from these senders.
(How to turn off Mail email notifications tested with Windows 11 Version 22H2 and Windows 10 Version 21H1; first published September 2021, last updated April 2024)