How to Turn Off iMessage Notifications on Mac

iMessage is one amazing service by Apple, especially the functionality to receive an iMessage on your hand-held device and the ability to reply to that message from your macOS device is an epitome of ease of use and convenience to the user.

However, if you are trying to direct your complete focus on work and do not wish for any distraction, the iMessage notification on your macOS device might be capable enough to break your focus.

Fortunately, you can turn off notifications for iMessage on your macOS device and not let them distract you at all.

Turn Off Message Notifications From System Preferences

You can quickly jump into the System Preferences and change the way iMessage notifications are delivered to you.

First, launch the ‘System Preferences’ app from the dock or from the launchpad of your macOS device.

Next, click on the ‘Notifications’ option present on the ‘System Preferences’ window.

After that, scroll down to locate and select the ‘Messages’ option from the left section of the window. Next, click on the ‘None’ option present under the ‘Message alert style:’ section. Then, also click to untick the checkbox preceding the ‘Play sound for notifications to also disable any audio clue for arriving messages.

Now to completely take the iMessage notifications out of your sight, untick the checkbox preceding the ‘Show in Notification Centre’ option. Then, also untick the checkbox preceding the ‘Show notifications on lock screen’ option to not see the iMessage notifications on the lock screen nor in the Notification Centre of your macOS device.

If case you cannot stand the red circle glaring at you on the ‘Messages’ app icon and wish to turn it off, uncheck the checkbox preceding the ‘Badge app icon’ option.

That’s pretty much it, you will not receive any sort of notification (audio or visual) when a new message arrives.

Turn on Do Not Disturb For an Individual Sender

In case you wish to turn off notifications for an individual sender, the ‘Messages’ app enables you to do that as well. However, you will have to manually disable it to start receiving notifications from them.

First, launch the ‘Messages’ app from the dock or the launchpad of your macOS device.

Then, click to select the conversation head of the contact you wish to turn on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ for. After that, from the right section of the ‘Messages’ window click on the ‘Details’ option. This will reveal an overlay menu.

Now, click on the checkbox preceding the ‘Do Not Disturb’ option to enable it.

When ‘Do Not Disturb’ is active for an individual contact, you will see a small ‘crescent moon’ icon right next to their contact picture or initials in the ‘Messages’ app to signify that.

You will not receive any message notifications from that particular contact henceforth.

Turn Off Audio Chime for Messages

macOS also lets you disable only the audio clues whilst not disturbing the visual elements of notification. You can do that using the ‘Messages’ app if that is what you prefer.

To do so, launch the ‘Messages’ app from the dock or from the launchpad of your macOS device.

Then, click on the ‘Messages’ tab on the menu bar that is located on the top right section of your screen. Then, click to select the ‘Preferences’ option from the overlay menu. Alternatively, you can also press Command+,(comma) a shortcut on your keyboard to access the ‘Preferences’ menu.

After that, click on the ‘General’ tab from the window. Then, click on the checkbox preceding the ‘Play sound effects’ option present in the ‘Application’ section.

If you do not wish to receive a notification even when your name is mentioned in a chat, click to uncheck the checkbox preceding the  ‘Notify me when my name is mentioned’ option to do that. Also, to turn off notifications for messages from unknown senders uncheck the checkbox preceding the ‘Notify me about messages from unknown contacts’ option.

And that’s it arriving messages will not generate any audio clues on your macOS device.

Block an Individual Sender Using Messages App

If turning off notifications doesn’t work for you and you desire to block a contact from messaging you altogether, you can do so using the Messages app. However, to send or receive messages from them, you will need to manually unblock them.

First, launch the ‘Messages’ app from the dock or the launchpad of your macOS device.

Then, click on the ‘Messages’ tab present on the menu bar that is located on the top right section of the screen. Next, click on the ‘Preferences’ option from the overlay menu. This will open a ‘Preferences’ window on your screen.

After that, from the overlay window, click on the ‘iMessage’ tab. Then, click on the ‘Blocked’ option present on the window.

Now, click on the ‘+’ button present on the bottom-left section of the window. This will open your contacts list on an overlay menu. Then, click to select any of your desired contact you wish to block.