Here's How to Disable the Whatsapp Notifications That Annoy You - But Keep the Others

Feeling overwhelmed by constant WhatsApp notifications from specific chats? You can mute the most annoying ones without blocking the rest.

WhatsApp is a useful messaging app for staying in touch with friends and family. However, the number of notifications that it sends out each day can quickly become overwhelming, between messages and reactions to message. This is amplified if you are active in a number of group chats. Your smartphone keeps alerting you to new messages, severely affecting your concentration levels.

Fortunately, there are several ways to curb this annoyance without turning off your smartphone or enabling airplane mode or Do Not Disturb. You can take precise actions to stop notifications from a specific contact or group, or take a heavier-handed approach and completely silence WhatsApp for a while.

To mute notifications from a specific contact, simply open the ongoing conversation with them. On Android, tap the three vertical dots at the top right of the screen and choose Silent mode. Then, specify how long you want to mute it. On iPhone, the process is almost identical. Tap the contact's name at the top of the screen, then tap Notifications, and finally Silent mode. Your contact can still send you messages, but you won't be notified.

To end notifications from a group, the steps are exactly the same as those mentioned above. Just open the group chat and repeat them. But you can also act more subtly by targeting messages only from one or more individuals in the group without muting all notifications from others. Tap on a group member's avatar in the chat, then tap "i" (on Android), then Notifications, and Silent mode.

Want to completely disconnect from WhatsApp while finishing a task or simply take a break? In that case, the most suitable method is to turn off notifications from the app. You'll still receive messages but won't be notified of their arrival. To do this, on Android, press and hold the app icon, then tap on the "i". Choose Notifications, then turn off the switch at the top of the screen. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > WhatsApp, and turn off the switch at the top of the screen.