How do I see notification history?

Being able to view your notification history can be useful for several reasons. Notifications let you know about new messages, app updates, calendar events and more. If you missed a notification or dismissed it too quickly, having a notification history allows you to go back and see what it was about. Additionally, a notification history can help you identify patterns and trends in the notifications you receive, so you can adjust settings or take other actions accordingly.

On most Android devices, accessing your notification history is simple. Here are the steps:

Checking Notification History on Android

Android keeps a record of your recent notifications that you can easily access. Here is how to view notification history on Android devices:

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the Notification Shade.
2. Scroll all the way down and tap on “Notification history”.
3. You will see a list of your recent notifications. Tap on any notification to expand it and see more details.
4. To clear your notification history, tap the “Clear” button at the bottom of the screen.

This will show you notifications for at least the past 24 hours. Some Android versions may allow you to go back further into your notification history.

Third-party Apps

There are also several third-party apps on the Google Play Store that offer expanded capabilities for managing notification history on Android devices:

• Notification History Log: Saves a complete log of all notifications received, even past ones that have been dismissed. Allows you to search, filter and export notification data.
• Notification Log: Keeps a timeline of notifications and lets you filter by app or contact. Includes analytics such as how many notifications you get per hour.
• NotifyBar: Stores notifications in an expandable timeline so you can easily go back and view details.

Checking Notification History on iPhone

On iPhone devices, the process is slightly different but still straightforward. Here is how to see your notification history on an iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app and select “Notifications”.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Notification Log History”.
3. You will see a list of your recent notifications. Tap any notification to view more details.
4. To clear the log, tap “Clear Notifications” at the bottom.

This will show your notification history for the past 24 hours. There is no built-in way to go further back, but some third-party apps may offer this functionality.

Third-party Apps

Some third-party apps for managing notification history on iOS devices include:

• Previous Notifications: Saves your notification history in a searchable timeline with customizable filters.
• NotificationsX: Stores notifications indefinitely so you can access long-term history. Lets you export data.
• Memo: Keeps a timeline of all notifications with details like app, time, and content. Syncs between devices.

Checking Notification History on Windows

Windows 10 and 11 also include built-in options for accessing notification history. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Settings app and go to “System”> “Notifications & actions”.
2. Scroll down and toggle “Show notification history” to On.
3. Under each app, you will now see a notification history with summaries of recent alerts.
4. Click “Clear all” at the bottom to erase the notification history.

This shows notifications from the past 24 hours. Some third-party apps may provide more customizable history views and longer data retention.

Third-party Apps

If you want expanded capabilities for managing notification history in Windows, some apps to check out include:

• History of Notifications: Creates an interactive timeline of all notifications with filtering and export options.
• Notification Log+: Allows notifications to be saved indefinitely so you can access long-term history.
• Notice: Stores every notification in a searchable archive so you never lose track of an alert.

Checking Notification History on Mac

MacOS has somewhat limited built-in options for notification history compared to other platforms. Here is how to view recent notifications on a Mac:

1. Click the Notification Center icon in the top right corner of your screen.
2. Your recent notifications will appear in a list on the right side.
3. Click the “Manage” button at the bottom to clear notifications.

This will only show notifications from the past few hours. For a more robust history, you will need a third-party utility.

Third-party Apps

Some top options for more detailed notification history on Mac include:

• Notification History: Tracks all notifications in a timeline and lets you search, filter and export data.
• Notice: Logs every notification in an easily accessible archive so you can look back.
• Noti: Provides analytics on your notifications and stores an unlimited history for analysis.

Web Browser Notification History

In addition to mobile and desktop operating systems, modern web browsers also give you access to notification history:

Chrome

1. Click the settings icon and go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications.
2. You will see a history of recent notifications from websites with options to block or allow future notifications.

Firefox

1. Click the settings icon and select Options > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notification.
2. You will see a list of websites that have sent you notifications recently.

Safari

1. Go to Safari > Preferences > Websites > Notifications.
2. You will see a history of notifications received along with options to allow or deny permissions.

Microsoft Edge

1. Click the settings icon and go to Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Notifications.
2. You will see a list of sites that have recently sent notifications with options to block or allow.

This allows you to monitor and control notifications from websites in your browser. Most will keep a history of recent notifications received while using that browser.

Using Notification History

Once you know how to access your notification history on your devices, here are some ways you can put it to use:

• Identify unimportant notifications: Review your history to find apps or sites sending too many alerts and adjust their settings.
• See reminders/updates you missed: Check if you accidentally ignored or swiped away any key notifications and take appropriate action.
• Find lost information: If you dismiss a notification without reading it fully, look it up in your history to retrieve the details.
• Track interests/habits: Analyze notification data to see patterns in your own app usage, news interests, messaging habits, etc.
• Debug issues: If a device is not alerting you properly, check the notification history to confirm if alerts are being sent.

These are just a few examples of ways a notification history can provide useful insights and solve real problems for users.

Turning Off Notification History

If having your notification history saved makes you uncomfortable, most operating systems allow you to disable this feature entirely:

Android

1. Open Settings and go to Apps & notifications > Notifications.
2. Turn off “Notification history”.

iPhone

1. Open Settings and go to Notifications > Notification Log History.
2. Toggle off “Notification Log History”.

Windows

1. Open Settings > Notifications & actions.
2. Turn “Show notification history” off.

Mac

1. Open System Preferences > Notifications & Focus.
2. Uncheck “Notification Logs”.

You can also disable notification history in specific browsers via their permission settings. Just be aware turning off the history means you lose access to those notifications entirely once dismissed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about reviewing notification history:

How far back does notification history go?

The built-in history typically covers around 24-48 hours. Some third-party apps will store longer histories.

Do cleared notifications disappear from history?

Yes, dismissed notifications are removed from the history view on most platforms.

Can I export my notification history?

Some third-party apps allow exporting notification data to a file for analysis and records.

Is my notification history private?

Generally yes, notification histories are only stored locally on your device and are not accessible to anyone else.

Can I select which apps to include?

A few advanced notification managers let you filter history by app, but most show notifications from all sources.

Conclusion

Having easy access to your notification history can be extremely beneficial. You can catch missed information, identify useless notifications, spot behavioral patterns, debug issues and more. All modern platforms make viewing notification histories simple – just dive into your device settings to find the logs. For more advanced management, third-party apps open up even richer capabilities.

So next time you want to review a missed notification or study your digital habits, be sure to tap into this valuable data source. Your notification history can reveal useful insights and help you control your alerts better.

Platform	Built-in History	Third-party Apps
Android	Last 24-48 hours	Notification History Log, Notification Log, NotifyBar
iPhone	Last 24 hours	Previous Notifications, NotificationsX, Memo
Windows	Last 24 hours	History of Notifications, Notification Log+, Notice
Mac	Last few hours	Notification History, Notice, Noti
Chrome	Recent	N/A
Firefox	Recent	N/A
Safari	Recent	N/A
Edge	Recent	N/A