iPads and iPhones

Keeping You Informed

Getting Your Attention

Your device is designed to try to alert you about important information that requires your attention. In this lesson, we'll learn:

  1. How notifications work and how to make them helpful.

  2. To manage device interruptions.

What are Notifications?

Your device is trying to get your attention! It does this through a variety of methods. These ways may include making various sounds, vibrating, popping messages on the screen, and putting red badges on your Apps. In addition, a summary of notifications is visible at any time in the Notification Center.

You can conveniently access the Notification Center by swiping down from the top edge of your device. It's an important habit to check your notifications as one of the first tasks whenever you use your phone. It's like asking your phone, "What's happened since we last met?" Your device can let you know if you missed a call, if someone changed an appointment, if you have new messages, and more.

Handling Notifications

Usually, you will deal with urgent notifications, like an incoming phone call, when your phone alerts you. Other notifications, such as a new email message, can be dealt with when you have time. Still, others are more of a nuisance and need to be turned off altogether.

You can decide how to handle non-urgent interruptions by using the Notification Center:

  • Read the message and observe the icon that indicates which App is alerting you.

  • Tap on an important message to access the App

  • Swipe left to manage annoying messages. Choose the option to turn off these notifications or adjust how you get alerted.

Manage the Nag!

Your device gives you complete control of how it alerts you. From Settings, tap Notifications and select an App. Here you can choose things like:

  • Turning off all notifications

  • Choosing if you would like a pop-up alert on your screen in addition to a copy in the Notification Center

  • Deciding if you want an alert sound

  • Getting a badge on the App icon when there is an alert

Not every App sends notifications. We recommend that you only adjust settings or turn off notifications as they become a problem.

Be Quiet!

It can be very embarrassing when your device rings or beeps in the middle of a movie theatre or church service. Thankfully, you can avoid this situation by practicing a simple habit. Just put your phone or iPad on silent beforehand.

The easiest way to do this is to use the side switch on the device. This silences all sound from your device. Don't forget to turn it back on afterward so that you don't miss that important call!

Try out the Do Not Disturb or Focus features on your device for even more control and automation. This capability lets you set up schedules and rules for urgent calls to still get through.