Android · Personalization
Control the small badges on app icons
Notification 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.
How to open Notification Dot Style
- Open Settings → Notifications
- Tap 'Notification dot on app icon' (or similar wording)
- Toggle dots on or off system-wide
- Adjust per-app dot behavior from each app's notification settings page
What you should know
- Toggle notification dots on or off system-wide
- Long-pressing an icon with a dot previews the notification without opening the app
- Per-app notification settings can suppress dots for specific apps
- Available under Notifications settings
Why it matters
Notification dots give a quiet, at-a-glance signal that something needs attention without the noise of a banner or sound, which is especially useful for apps set to silent notification channels. They help users triage what to check first while scanning the home screen. Turning them off can reduce visual clutter and anxiety-inducing 'red dot' pressure for users who prefer to check apps on their own schedule rather than being cued by badges.
Best practices
- Disable dots for apps that generate frequent low-priority notifications
- Use long-press previews instead of opening apps to quickly clear a dot
- Keep dots enabled for messaging and calendar apps where timely awareness matters
Common problems and fixes
- Dots don't show up for a specific app
- Check that app's individual notification permissions and confirm 'Allow notification dot' is enabled for it.
- Dot doesn't clear after reading a notification
- Open the notification shade directly and dismiss it there, since some apps don't sync dot state instantly.
- Numbers instead of dots appear
- This is normal on some launchers that show a notification count badge rather than a plain dot.
Tips and tricks
- Long-press an app icon with a dot to preview and clear notifications without fully opening the app
- Combine with per-app notification categories to fine-tune which alerts trigger a dot
Frequently asked questions
Are notification dots the same as app badges on other platforms?
Yes, they serve the same purpose as unread badges found on other mobile operating systems.
Can I change the dot color?
Dot color generally follows system theming and isn't independently customizable per app.
Do dots work with notification-silenced apps?
Yes, a dot can still appear even if sound and vibration are muted for that app.
Related settings
- Quick Settings Tile CustomizationLets you add, remove, and reorder the toggle tiles shown in the Quick Settings panel accessed by swiping down from the top of the screen.
- Status Bar Icon ManagerControls which system icons — such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, alarm, or hotspot — are shown in the status bar at the top of the screen, and how notification icons are displayed there.
- Home Screen & LauncherHome screen settings control which apps, shortcuts, and widgets appear on your Home screens, how many screens you have, and the overall grid layout. If you've installed a third-party launcher, this is also where you switch your default Home app.
More Personalization guides for Android
- Wallpaper & StyleWallpaper & Style settings let you set separate images for your Home and lock screens, and on many devices, generate a matching system-wide color palette, icon shapes, and fonts based on your wallpaper's colors. Theme packs can bundle wallpapers, icons, and sounds together for a coordinated look.
- 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.
- Themed Icons & Material You ColorsThemed icons use Material You to extract a color palette from your current wallpaper and apply matching tints to supported app icons, widgets, and system menus.
- App Icon Shape & Grid SizeControls the outline shape used for app icons (circle, squircle, square, teardrop) and the number of rows and columns shown on the home screen grid.
- Always-on Display CustomizationAlways-on Display (AOD) keeps a low-power version of the clock, notification icons, and optional 'At a Glance' info visible on the lock screen even when the phone is idle.
- Screen Saver (Daydream)Screen saver, also called Daydream, displays a rotating photo gallery, clock, or colors on screen while the phone is docked, charging, or idle, instead of turning the display off.