Stop Samsung News Alerts: A Simple Guide

by Jhon Lennon 41 views

Tired of those constant news alerts popping up on your Samsung phone? You're not alone! Those notifications can be super distracting, especially when you're trying to focus on something important. The good news is, turning them off is usually pretty easy. Let's dive into how you can reclaim your notification bar and enjoy a little peace and quiet.

Why are News Alerts Popping Up?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of turning off these alerts, it's helpful to understand why they're showing up in the first place. Usually, these alerts come from a couple of main sources:

  • Samsung Free/Samsung News: Many Samsung phones come with Samsung Free (previously Samsung Daily) pre-installed. This app often pushes news alerts to keep you updated, but it can quickly become overwhelming.
  • Individual News Apps: You might also be getting alerts from news apps you've downloaded, like CNN, BBC News, or Google News. Each of these apps has its own notification settings.
  • Browser Notifications: Sometimes, websites you've visited in your browser might ask to send you notifications. If you accidentally allowed a news site to do this, you'll get alerts through your browser.

Knowing the source of the alerts is the first step in silencing them. Now, let's look at the different methods you can use to stop those pesky notifications.

Method 1: Disabling Samsung Free/Samsung News

If the alerts are coming from Samsung Free (or Samsung News, depending on your phone's software version), this is the most direct way to stop them. Here’s how you do it, guys:

  1. Accessing Samsung Free/News:
    • On most Samsung phones, you can access Samsung Free by swiping left on your home screen. It's usually the screen to the left of your main home screen.
  2. Disabling Notifications Directly (If Available):
    • Once you're in Samsung Free, look for a settings icon (usually a gear or three dots). Tap on it.
    • See if there's a notification setting. If so, toggle it off. This might directly stop the alerts.
  3. Disabling Samsung Free Altogether:
    • If you don't see a notification setting, or if you want to get rid of Samsung Free completely, you can disable it.
    • Long-Press on Home Screen: Tap and hold an empty space on your home screen until the screen zooms out and you see options like "Wallpapers," "Widgets," and "Home screen settings."
    • Swipe to Find Samsung Free: Swipe right until you find the Samsung Free panel (it might also be called Samsung Daily or Samsung News).
    • Toggle it Off: There should be a toggle switch above the panel. Turn it off. This will remove Samsung Free from your home screen and stop the alerts.

Pro Tip: If you're not using Samsung Free at all, disabling it is the best way to go. It not only stops the notifications but also frees up a little bit of system resources.

Method 2: Managing Notifications from Individual News Apps

If you're getting alerts from news apps you've installed, you'll need to manage their notification settings individually. Each app has its own settings, but here's the general process:

  1. Identify the Culprit Apps: Pay attention to which apps are sending you the most annoying notifications. Make a mental note (or a real one!) of the app names.
  2. Accessing App Settings:
    • Long-Press the App Icon: Find the app icon on your home screen or in your app drawer. Tap and hold the icon until a menu pops up.
    • Tap the "i" or "App Info" Option: Look for an option that says "App info" or has a little "i" icon. Tap it.
  3. Navigating to Notifications:
    • In the App Info screen, find the "Notifications" option. It might be listed directly, or you might need to tap on "App settings" first.
  4. Customizing or Disabling Notifications:
    • Here, you'll usually find a master toggle to turn all notifications off for that app. You might also see options to customize the types of notifications you receive (e.g., breaking news only, or specific topics).
    • Turn Off Completely: If you're tired of all the notifications, just turn the main toggle off.
    • Customize: If you want to keep some notifications but reduce the noise, play around with the customization options. For example, you could disable sound and vibration for less important alerts.

Important Note: The exact location of these settings can vary slightly depending on the app and your phone's Android version, but the general process should be similar.

Method 3: Controlling Browser Notifications

Browser notifications can be sneaky. You might have accidentally allowed a website to send you notifications, and now you're bombarded with alerts. Here's how to take back control:

  1. Identify the Browser: Determine which browser is sending you the notifications (e.g., Chrome, Samsung Internet).
  2. Accessing Browser Settings:
    • Open the Browser: Launch the browser app.
    • Tap the Menu Icon: Look for a menu icon, usually represented by three dots or three lines, in the top-right or bottom-right corner of the screen. Tap it.
    • Find "Settings" or "Privacy": Scroll down in the menu and look for "Settings," "Privacy," or "Site settings."
  3. Managing Notifications:
    • Find "Notifications": In the settings menu, look for a "Notifications" option. It might be under "Site settings" or "Permissions."
    • View Allowed Sites: You should see a list of websites that are allowed to send you notifications.
    • Block or Remove Permissions:
      • Block: Tap on the website you want to block and choose the "Block" option. This will prevent the site from sending you any more notifications.
      • Remove Permission: Alternatively, you might see an option to "Clear & reset" or "Remove permission." This will revoke the website's ability to send notifications and clear any stored data.

Chrome Specific Steps:

  • In Chrome, you can also type chrome://settings/content/notifications in the address bar to directly access the notification settings.

Samsung Internet Specific Steps:

  • In Samsung Internet, the settings are usually under "Sites & downloads" then "Notifications."

Tip: It's a good idea to periodically review your browser's notification settings to make sure you haven't accidentally allowed any unwanted sites to send you alerts.

Method 4: System-Wide Notification Settings

Android also has system-wide notification settings that can help you manage alerts from all apps at once. This is a good way to fine-tune your notification experience.

  1. Open the Settings App: Find the Settings app on your phone (usually a gear icon) and tap it.
  2. Navigate to "Notifications": Scroll down and look for the "Notifications" option. It might be under "Sounds and vibration" or "Apps."
  3. Managing App Notifications:
    • You'll see a list of all the apps installed on your phone. You can tap on each app to customize its notification settings.
    • Total Control: Here, you can completely block all notifications from an app, allow only certain types of notifications, customize the notification sound, and more.

Advanced Settings:

  • Notification Categories: Some apps use notification categories to group different types of alerts. You can customize each category individually. For example, you might want to allow notifications for direct messages but disable notifications for general updates.
  • Notification History: Android also has a notification history feature that lets you see notifications you might have missed. This can be helpful if you accidentally dismissed a notification and want to find it again.

Method 5: Using Bedtime Mode or Do Not Disturb

If you want to silence all notifications temporarily, you can use Bedtime Mode or Do Not Disturb. These modes can be scheduled or manually activated.

  1. Accessing Bedtime Mode/Do Not Disturb:
    • Quick Settings: Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel. Look for the "Do Not Disturb" or "Bedtime Mode" icon.
    • Settings App: You can also find these modes in the Settings app, usually under "Digital Wellbeing and parental controls" or "Sounds and vibration."
  2. Customizing the Modes:
    • Do Not Disturb: Allows you to silence all notifications, calls, and alarms, or customize which ones are allowed to get through.
    • Bedtime Mode: Can dim the screen, change the color tone, and silence notifications during your set sleep schedule. It can also integrate with the Clock app to set alarms.

Scheduling:

  • You can schedule these modes to turn on and off automatically at certain times of the day. This is great for silencing notifications while you're sleeping or during work hours.

Conclusion: Peace and Quiet Achieved!

So, there you have it! Several ways to turn off those annoying news alerts on your Samsung phone. Whether you're dealing with Samsung Free, individual news apps, or browser notifications, you now have the tools to reclaim your notification bar and enjoy a more peaceful mobile experience. Experiment with these methods to find the combination that works best for you, and say goodbye to notification overload! Remember to check back periodically, as app updates and system changes can sometimes reset your notification preferences. Good luck, folks, and enjoy the silence!