Why does the dot not show a number of unread messages?

Android's notification dot is a plain indicator, not a counter. Some launchers add a number badge on top of the dot, but that depends on the launcher, not on the setting under App notifications.

Can I turn off notification dots for every app at once?

There is no single switch for all apps together. You need to open Settings ➔ Notifications ➔ App notifications and disable Allow notification dot for each app individually.

The dot disappeared after I opened the app but comes back later. Why?

This is normal behavior. A new unread notification from the same app regenerates the dot, even if you cleared the previous one and the setting under Allow notification dot remains enabled.

My launcher does not show any dots even though the setting is enabled. What now?

Check the home screen launcher's own notification badge setting. Android's Allow notification dot toggle only permits the dot; the launcher decides how or whether to render it visually.

Android

Android: Turn Notification Dots On or Off for Individual Apps

If a colored dot keeps sitting on an app icon even though you already opened the app and read the message, the per-app notification dot setting is likely still active. Some apps also trigger a dot for updates you do not consider urgent, cluttering your home screen. This behavior is controlled separately for every app and does not follow your global notification settings.

Updated: 07.08.20264 min5 steps

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Android

Notification Dots for Individual Apps auf Android

A notification dot is a small marker on an app icon that signals an unread notification. Android controls this indicator separately for every installed app, so turning off dots globally does not stop a specific app from showing one, and vice versa.

To change the behavior for one app, open Settings ➔ Notifications ➔ App notifications ➔ Choose an app. Inside the app entry, enable or disable Allow notification dot.

This setting only hides the dot on the icon. It does not silence the app, mute alerts, or remove notifications from the notification panel. If you want fewer alerts overall, adjust the notification categories for that app instead of the dot toggle.

Some launchers also need their own setting enabled to display dots at all, even when the system-level toggle is on. If dots never appear for any app, check your launcher settings first before assuming an app-specific issue.

Disabling the dot is useful for apps that trigger it for minor background activity, such as sync confirmations, while keeping it enabled for messaging or mail apps still helps you spot unread content at a glance.

Frequently asked questions

No. The Allow notification dot toggle only hides the small marker on the app icon. The notification still appears in the notification panel and on the lock screen unless you change the app's notification categories separately.

Notifications & Focus

Android: Turn Notification Dots On or Off for Individual Apps

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