In the world of Android smartphones, notification badges —also called dots, bubbles, or alert icons—have become as commonplace as the apps themselves. We've all experienced it: we install a new app and suddenly see a circle, usually red or orange, appear over the icon, displaying a number or simply a dot. Some consider this feature essential for not missing messages, but for many others, these icons are a constant nuisance, and it's not always obvious how to activate or remove them.
If you prefer to keep your phone free of visual alerts, or if you need to know at all times if you have any pending messages on WhatsApp, Telegram, or Instagram, this article clearly and comprehensively explains how to activate, deactivate, and customize notification badges on any Android phone . We'll also cover variations depending on the brand, troubleshooting tips, and details you should keep in mind to ensure the best possible experience.
What are notification balloons or dots and what do they do?
Notification badges — also known as dots, bubbles, or simply badges—are visual indicators that appear above app icons on your phone's home screen. Their main purpose is to alert you to pending notifications, such as unread messages, incoming emails, or important updates.
Typically, these bubbles appear as a small red, orange, or blue dot, or as a circle showing the number of pending alerts. Their appearance may vary depending on your phone model, the Android version you're using, and the brand's customization layer (e.g., Samsung One UI, Xiaomi MIUI, or Huawei EMUI).
These notifications let you know at a glance if you have something new in an app without having to pull down the notification bar . While some users find them useful, others may find them unnecessary or annoying, especially when the dot doesn't disappear even after checking all the alerts.
Advantages and disadvantages of notification balloons
Before getting into how to configure or remove these balloons, it's worth reviewing who they might be useful for and in what situations it's best to disable them :
- Advantages: These allow you to quickly identify pending messages or notifications without opening the app; in some cases, long-pressing the icon lets you see a preview of the content.
- Disadvantages: They can accumulate and become annoying to the eye; sometimes they persist even after you open all your messages; and they can be a constant distraction.
Not all users have the same needs, so customization is key.
How do balloons work depending on the Android version?
Over the years, Android has incorporated advanced features for managing these balloons . Since Android 9.0 (Pie) and especially from Android 11 and 12 onwards, many of these options have been standardized in the system settings.
Functions can vary significantly depending on the Android version and the brand's customization layer. We'll detail step-by-step how to manage them, both generally and for each specific app:
General steps to add or remove notification balloons
On most newer Android phones, here are the steps to turn notification bubbles on or off for all apps:
- Enter the app Settings of your mobile.
- Accede to Applications and notifications or directly to Notifications (may vary by brand).
- Look for the section Advanced settings or a similar option.
- Locate the function Show notification icons, Notification balloons o Notification points.
- On many phones, you can choose from options like all notifications, Three most recent, Only the number of notifications y None. Select the one you prefer, or select 'None' to remove them completely.
- Turn off the switch related to 'notification bubbles in apps'.
Depending on the version and brand, the names may vary , but you will always find a similar option in the notifications menu.
Configure balloons for individual applications
Many users don't want to delete all the bubble stickers, but rather keep only those for important apps (e.g., Messages or Mail, and remove those for games or stores). You can configure this feature for individual apps by following these steps:
- Opens Settings and go to Applications.
- Choose the application you want to modify.
- Sign in Notifications and look for the option to show notification balloons or dots.
- Activate or deactivate it according to your preferences.
This is especially useful for apps that are more annoying than informative, such as shopping apps or games.
Chat bubbles: what they are and how they differ from balloons
Since Android 11, the system has included chat bubbles for some messaging apps. Unlike badges (which are simple indicators above the app icon), bubbles allow you to open a conversation in a floating window and move it around the screen , very similar to the familiar feature in Facebook Messenger.
Only a few apps (Telegram, Google Messages, Skype) are fully compatible. WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, for example, use their own native bubbles and don't always appear as an option in these settings.
How to turn chat bubbles on or off
The method may vary depending on the Android version, but in most recent cases, do the following:
- Sign in Settings and click on Notifications.
- Select option Bubbles.
- Here you can choose whether you want to allow bubbles for all supported conversations, only for some, or disable them completely.
You can also manage it from each app:
- Open the app settings.
- Go to Notifications and look for the bubble section.
- Activate or deactivate according to your preferences.
Troubleshooting common issues with notification balloons
Sometimes, even if you've disabled the balloons, they still appear, or conversely, they don't appear even if you have enabled them. Here are some common reasons and solutions:
- Unread notificationsEven if you turn off bubble notifications, if there's an unopened notification, the dot may still be there. Check all messages, even archived ones.
- Errors in the application itselfSometimes the app is at fault, preventing the balloons from updating correctly. Try clearing the cache and data from Settings > Apps > Storage.
- Alert settings: In some apps you can set the notification to stay on the lock screen or in the status bar, which makes the dot stay.
- Pending UpdatesAn outdated operating system or an outdated app can cause problems. Always make sure you have the latest version.
- Battery saving modeSome power saving modes may prevent balloons from displaying or updating properly. Disable this mode and try again.
- Sync off: If auto-sync is turned off, notifications may pile up and widgets may not update properly.
- Complete deactivation of notificationsAs a drastic last resort, disable all notifications for the problematic app.
Differences depending on the mobile brand and the customization layer
Not all Android phones handle balloons the same way, especially if your phone has a customization layer like MIUI (Xiaomi), EMUI (Huawei), One UI (Samsung), among others. Let's review some of the peculiarities:
- Samsung (One UI): : It usually allows you to choose between displaying a colored dot or a number, giving you more control over how you want to view alerts.
- Xiaomi (MIUI)You may encounter different names (notification icons, badges). You can even choose the style and color, but this depends greatly on the version and model.
- Huawei (EMUI): : It usually keeps the option in Settings > Notifications > Icon Indicators or similar, allowing you to activate/deactivate globally or per app.
- Other brands: On Oppo, Realme, Vivo, or other phones running pure Android, the menus may vary slightly, but the option is almost always found in notification settings.
Minimum requirements: supported Android versions
You need Android 9 (Pie) or higher to manage notification balloons in an advanced way and Android 11 or higher to access native chat bubbles.
If you have an older version, you may only be able to change some general notification settings, but you can't customize notifications by app or access chat bubbles.
Why do balloons keep appearing after turning them off?
This is one of the most frustrating issues for many. If you continue to see the balloons after disabling the option, check these points:
- Unread conversations: Make sure you've read or deleted all notifications, even archived ones. Some apps, like Gmail, continue to display the bubble until you open all unread emails, for example by checking how Troubleshoot notifications in Gmail.
- App malfunction: Clearing the cache or reinstalling the app may resolve the issue.
- Configuring the app itself: Some apps have their own built-in visual notification option.
- System bugs: A software update may fix this.
Case studies: WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, and more
The most used apps usually come with their own notification systems. For example:
- WhatsApp: It uses its own dot system on the icon. You can configure notifications within the app and in system settings. Please note that WhatsApp does not yet fully support standard Android chat bubbles.
- Telegram: Since Android 11, it supports the system chat bubblesIf you don't see the option, update both the app and your operating system.
- Instagram y Facebook: They use standard Android balloonsYou can remove them from your notification settings.
- gmail: You can remove the badges from your notification settings, but the badge often persists if you have unread emails, even if they are archived promotions or spam.
Balloon Personalization and Styles
Some layers allow you to change the style of the balloons or badges. For example, on Samsung, you can choose between a colored dot or a number; on Xiaomi, you can modify the design if you have themes installed; on others, you can only activate or deactivate them.
On pure Android, customization is more limited, but recent versions add more options.
What to do if notification bubbles or balloons don't appear
- Update the operating system: Modern bubbles and balloons require Android 11 or later.
- Check that the app is compatible: Not all of them support native bubbles yet.
- Look in the notification settings: Sometimes the option is disabled by default or under another name.
- Check brand support If after following all the steps the option does not appear.
Notes for developers and advanced users
If you're a developer or work with advanced settings, there are specific methods like setAutoExpandBubble() and setSuppressNotification() to manage bubble behavior in your apps. Keep in mind the activity lifecycle and that the user can disable this feature at any time.
How to restore bubbles or balloons if you have disabled them by mistake
Simply follow the same steps to disable them, but activate the option in the corresponding menu. You can do this either globally or for specific applications.
Recommendations for better managing notification balloons
- Customize notifications for only important apps: This way you avoid visual overload and only see what's crucial.
- Disable balloons in low-priority apps: Stores, games, or deal apps often send irrelevant notifications.
- Always update the system and apps: This will prevent you from having badge-related errors.
- If a bubble doesn't disappear, check archived messages, unread emails, or update the app..
With this guide, you can now remove the notification bubbles that appear on your phone's screen. Prevent others from seeing the messages you receive because this feature is enabled. Share this information and help others manage this option.
