Tired of those pesky little red circles that seem to multiply on your iPhone 12’s app icons? You know, the ones that tell you how many unread emails or messages you have. They’re called badges, and while they can be helpful, they can also be overwhelming. But don’t worry—I’ve got the scoop on how to turn them off in just a few simple steps.
Step by Step Tutorial to Turn off Badges on iPhone 12
Before we jump into the nitty-gritty, it’s important to know that turning off badges means you won’t see the count of notifications for each app on your home screen. This can help reduce distractions and make your phone screen look cleaner.
Step 1: Open Settings
Open the Settings app on your iPhone 12.
The Settings app is your gateway to making all kinds of adjustments to your iPhone, from changing your wallpaper to managing privacy options.
Step 2: Tap Notifications
Scroll down and tap on Notifications.
Notifications are alerts that pop up on your phone to tell you about something that needs your attention. This section controls all of those alerts.
Step 3: Select the App
Choose the app for which you want to turn off badges.
Each app has its own settings for notifications, so you’ll need to repeat these steps for each one as needed.
Step 4: Toggle off Badges
Find the switch next to Badges and toggle it off.
The switch will go from green to gray, indicating that badges are now turned off for that specific app.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll no longer see the badge notifications on your iPhone 12 for the apps you’ve selected. This means a cleaner look for your home screen and less of those red circles drawing your attention every time you pick up your phone.
Tips for Managing Badges on iPhone 12
- Consider turning off badges for apps that frequently have a high number of notifications, like email or social media.
- Remember, turning off badges doesn’t disable the notifications themselves—you’ll still receive them in the Notification Center.
- Use the Notification Center to quickly scan through all of your notifications without the distraction of badges.
- If you’re expecting an important message or email, consider leaving badges on for those specific apps.
- Periodically review which apps have badges turned on to keep your home screen organized and manageable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn badges back on?
To turn badges back on, simply go back into the Notifications settings for the app and toggle the Badges switch to the on position.
Turning badges back on can be helpful if you find you’re missing important notifications without the visual reminder on your app icons.
Do badges affect battery life?
Having badges turned on does not have a significant impact on battery life.
Since badges are just a visual indicator and not an active process, they don’t drain your battery like some other features might.
Can I customize the appearance of badges?
No, the appearance of badges cannot be customized in the current version of iOS.
Apple has kept the design of badges consistent across all apps for a uniform look.
Is there a way to turn off badges for all apps at once?
No, you have to manually turn off badges for each app individually.
While it might take a bit of time to do it for each app, it allows you to customize which apps you want to receive badge notifications from.
What’s the difference between badges and notifications?
Badges are the red circles with numbers that appear on app icons, while notifications are the alerts that appear in the Notification Center.
You can have notifications turned on for an app without the badges and vice versa.
Summary
- Open Settings.
- Tap Notifications.
- Select the App.
- Toggle off Badges.
Conclusion
Turning off badges on your iPhone 12 can be a breath of fresh air for anyone feeling bogged down by the constant reminder of unread messages and updates. By following the simple steps outlined above, you’ll have a cleaner, more organized home screen in no time. Plus, with the added tips and answers to common questions, you’re now equipped to manage your notifications like a pro. So go ahead, take control of your iPhone 12, and say goodbye to those distracting little red badges. And remember, if you ever need a reminder, just swing back to your Notification Center—it’s always there when you need it.
Matthew Burleigh has been a freelance writer since the early 2000s. You can find his writing all over the Web, where his content has collectively been read millions of times.
Matthew received his Master’s degree in Computer Science, then spent over a decade as an IT consultant for small businesses before focusing on writing and website creation.
The topics he covers for MasterYourTech.com include iPhones, Microsoft Office, and Google Apps.
You can read his full bio here.