iOS 15: What's New With Notifications

Apple in iOS 15 made some updates to notifications, improving how they look, how they're delivered to you, and the control that you have over them.

General iOS 15 Notifications Feature
This guide covers all of the changes that Apple made to notifications in the iOS and iPadOS 15 updates.

New Look for Notifications

Notifications from apps now display larger app icons so it's easier to see what's what at a glance. When you get a text from someone from an app like Messages, it will include their contact photo to make it easier to identify who is messaging you.

ios 15 notification new look
This feature works with built-in Apple apps and third-party apps thanks to a notification API, so third-party apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, and others will also be able to show contact photos in notifications.

Notification Summary

The Notification Summary is an opt-in feature that lets you control when notifications from unimportant apps are delivered. In the Notifications section of the Settings app, tapping on Notification Summary walks you through the initial setup process.

ios 15 notification summary
For Notification Summary, you can select specific times for notifications to be delivered, and decide which app notifications will be relegated to the Notification Summary. You can choose just a handful of apps or all of your apps.

Apps need to be selected one by one, but the iPhone will suggest the apps that send the most notifications. You can set the Notification Summary to be delivered multiple times per day.

notification summary 2
By default, the summaries will be set at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., but the times can be changed and additional delivery times can be added. The Notification Summary also shows up on the ‌iPhone‌ in a dedicated section ahead of those times, so you're never really missing out on any of your notifications, even the unimportant ones.

Muting Notifications

Apps sending notifications or Messages threads can be muted temporarily, either for the next hour or for the entire day.

If you're part of a messaging thread that's particularly active but you aren't participating, your ‌iPhone‌ will send you a notification that suggests muting it so you're not bothered.

Time Sensitive Notifications

With Notification Summary, notifications that are time sensitive are still delivered right away. So if you're waiting on food delivery, a ride, or get a fraud alert from your bank, you'll know immediately and won't miss it in the Notification Summary.

Apple developed a Time Sensitive notification API for developers for apps that need to deliver notifications as soon as possible, so as of this fall, apps will be able to use the Time Sensitive notification feature.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about Notifications in iOS 15, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Related Forum: iOS 15

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
Prime Day 25 Feature Warm Triad

The Best Early Prime Day Deals on Apple Products

Saturday July 5, 2025 7:22 am PDT by
Amazon is soon to be back with its annual summertime Prime Day event, lasting for four days from July 8-11, the longest Prime Day yet. As it does every year, Prime Day offers shoppers a huge selection of deals across Amazon's storefront, and there are already many deals you can get on sale ahead of the event. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
airpods pro 2

AirPods Pro 3 to Help Maintain Apple's Place in Earbud Market Amid Increasing Low-Cost Competition

Thursday July 3, 2025 7:25 am PDT by
Apple's position as the dominant force in the global true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud market is expected to continue through 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. The forecast outlines a 3% year-over-year increase in global TWS unit shipments for 2025, signaling a transition from rapid growth to a more mature phase for the category. While Apple is set to remain the leading brand by...

Top Rated Comments

DaPizzaMan Avatar
52 months ago
My biggest problem with notifications is how difficult it is to dismiss them - especially with a case. I shouldn't have to make such a large swiping motion just to clear a notification. And the "Clear All" should not require two taps. Everything needs to be made a little bit quicker, more refined, and easier. It's a bit clunky, and it's been that way since iOS 7(?) I believe.

On Android (from what I've seen - I don't own a device myself), it's a VERY simple swipe to dismiss a bunch of notifications at once.

Edit: And yes, I have most notifications off, but that doesn't change the fact that swiping should not be as difficult as it is.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rychiar Avatar
52 months ago
I still miss notifications being a tiny black bar at the top of the screen like when they were new… the last thing I want it bigger icons and peoples faces in the text ones
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mansplains Avatar
52 months ago
I've really enjoyed the new view for notifications. Most complaints I've heard about iOS notifications versus android is the view, but I think if people turned off notifications entirely for things they don't interact with, it would solve those problems for them. It's definitely nice to have options either way!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
52 months ago
Love the changes. It looks so rich.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
danny1305 Avatar
52 months ago

How about taking the obnoxious red dot off trying to force me to use Apple Pay and 2 factor auth?
There’s always gotta be one of these guys….always
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DaPizzaMan Avatar
50 months ago

Did iOS 15 remove the functionality to open a notification (specifically messages) by swiping right on them?
Yes. Long press (hold) the notification instead.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)