Android · Privacy & Security
Control what notifications show while locked
Determines whether notification content, sender names, and previews appear on the lock screen before the phone is unlocked, or whether they're hidden until authentication.
How to open Lock Screen Notification Privacy
- Open Settings → Notifications
- Tap 'Notifications on lock screen'
- Choose Show all, Hide sensitive content, or Don't show notifications
- Adjust individual app overrides from each app's notification settings if needed
What you should know
- Choose between showing all content, hiding sensitive content, or hiding all notifications
- Sensitive content hiding applies per-app based on app-provided sensitivity flags
- Applies specifically to the lock screen, separate from the notification shade after unlocking
- Configurable globally and overridable per app
Why it matters
Lock screen notifications are visible to anyone who glances at an unattended or resting phone, making this one of the most consequential everyday privacy settings. Message previews, banking alerts, or one-time passcodes displayed openly can expose sensitive information to bystanders or, in worse cases, enable account takeover if a verification code is visible. Choosing to hide sensitive content strikes a balance between still knowing something arrived and protecting its details until the device is unlocked.
Best practices
- Set sensitive content to hidden for banking, email, and messaging apps
- Review this setting anytime you start using a new financial or authentication app
- Use 'Hide all notification content' in high-risk environments like shared offices
- Pair with a strong screen lock method for layered protection
Common problems and fixes
- OTP or verification codes are visible on the lock screen
- Set lock screen notifications to hide sensitive content, or hide notifications entirely for that app.
- Notifications disappear from the lock screen entirely
- Check that the global lock screen notification setting isn't set to 'Don't show notifications at all.'
- Some apps still show full previews despite the global setting
- Check that app's individual notification settings, since per-app overrides can supersede the global choice.
Tips and tricks
- Hide sensitive content specifically for messaging and banking apps rather than disabling all previews
- Recheck this setting after a system update, as new apps can default to showing full previews
Frequently asked questions
Does hiding lock screen content affect notifications after unlocking?
No, once unlocked, notification content displays normally in the shade regardless of this setting.
Can I hide content for just one app?
Yes, per-app notification settings allow overriding the global lock screen privacy behavior.
Is this the same as Do Not Disturb?
No, Do Not Disturb controls whether notifications alert you at all; this controls what's visible once they arrive on a locked screen.
Related settings
- Lock Screen & Always-on DisplayLock screen settings control the clock style, shortcuts, and what information (like notifications and weather) appears before you unlock your phone. Always-on display, on supported devices, keeps a dimmed version of the clock and key notifications visible even while the screen is otherwise off.
- Notification Dot StyleNotification dots place a small colored badge on an app icon when it has an unread notification; this setting controls whether dots appear and how they're styled.
- Security & Screen LockScreen lock is the first line of defense for everything on your phone, letting you choose a PIN, pattern, password, or biometric unlock like a fingerprint or face. It also determines whether your device's backups and stored data are encrypted, since Android ties encryption strength to having a real screen lock set.
More Privacy & Security guides for Android
- App PermissionsApp permissions control what each app is allowed to access — camera, microphone, location, contacts, and more. You can review and change these at any time, per app or per permission type.
- Privacy DashboardThe Privacy Dashboard gives you a timeline of exactly which apps accessed your camera, microphone, and location, and when — so you can spot anything unexpected at a glance.
- LocationLocation settings control the master switch for GPS and location-based features, plus how accurately your device estimates its position using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning. Turning location off device-wide overrides any individual app's permission, cutting off maps, weather, and other location-aware features at once.
- Emergency SOS & SafetyEmergency SOS lets you quickly call for help and automatically share your location with emergency contacts and first responders by pressing the power button rapidly, without needing to unlock the phone first. The broader Personal Safety app builds on this with features like Safety Check, Crisis Alerts, and Car Crash Detection on supported devices.
- Show Passwords ToggleControls whether password characters briefly appear on screen as you type them, instead of being immediately masked as dots, making it easier to verify accurate entry.
- Usage & Diagnostics Data SharingUsage & diagnostics controls whether the device automatically sends crash reports, performance data, and feature usage statistics to Google to help improve Android and pre-installed apps.