Google Pixel runs the cleanest version of Android, and its notification controls are the template every other manufacturer copies. Here is how to bend alerts to your will on a Pixel — and how to keep a backup you can search.
Per-app channels
- Long-press any notification → tap the gear icon, or open Settings → Notifications → App notifications.
- Tap an app, then Categories.
- Set each channel to Alerting (sound + pop-up), Silent, or off, and adjust its importance.
This is the precise way to keep a banking app loud while muting a shopping app's promos.
Adaptive notifications
Pixel has a feature called Adaptive notifications that quietly lowers the importance of alerts you tend to ignore. If an app's pings keep getting quieter for no obvious reason, that is the culprit.
- Go to Settings → Notifications → Adaptive notifications.
- Toggle it off if you want full manual control.
Lock screen & floating
- Settings → Notifications → Lock screen — show all content, hide sensitive content, or hide completely.
- Floating (heads-up) banners appear for high-importance channels; lower the importance to stop them popping up. See floating notifications explained.
Cooldown (Android 15+)
On Android 15 and later, repeated pings from one app ramp the volume down automatically. Turn it off at Settings → Notifications → Notification cooldown (see the general cooldown guide).
A longer history
Pixel keeps a Notification history (Settings → Notifications) for roughly 24 hours — handy, but short. To recover notifications on Pixel from further back, or search full text, that buffer is not enough.
Dingpin captures every alert on-device into a searchable log with no account and no server uploads — a longer memory than stock Android provides, and it lets you pin the few alerts that really matter.
FAQ
How do I customize notifications per app on Pixel?
Long-press a notification and tap the gear, or go to Settings → Notifications → App notifications → [app] → Categories. There you can set each channel to Alerting (sound + pop-up), Silent, or off, and change its importance.
What are Adaptive notifications on Pixel?
Adaptive notifications is a Pixel feature that learns which alerts you ignore and automatically lowers their importance over time. If an app's alerts keep getting quieter, that is likely why — you can disable it under Settings → Notifications → Adaptive notifications.
Does Pixel keep a notification history?
Yes — Settings → Notifications → Notification history stores recent alerts (roughly 24 hours). For a longer, searchable, full-text log you control, a local app like Dingpin captures everything on-device and lets you scroll back further.