As part of its digital health initiative in iOS 12, Apple has introduced some improvements to the way app notifications can be managed, enabling users to more easily reduce the number of daily distractions their iPhone or iPad throws their way.

One of these new features is called Instant Tuning, which allows you to quickly adjust the future behavior of app notifications whenever they appear in the Lock Screen or the Notifications Center. Here's how to make the most of it.

How to Use Instant Tuning in iOS 12

Next time an alert appears in your device's Notifications Center or on the Lock Screen, swipe left on it, then tap Manage. Alternatively, if your device supports 3D Touch, hard press on the alert and then tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the expanded notification.

ios 12 notifications instant tuning 1
A Manage Notifications pop-up will appear on the screen featuring two blue button options. Deliver Quietly ensures future alerts from this app only appear in the Notification Center (accessed by swiping down from the top of your device's screen).

Note that selecting this option means alerts will no longer show in the Lock Screen and you won't see any banner notifications on any other screens. Deliver Quietly also turns off any sound or vibration alerts set for the associated app.

If you tap Deliver Quietly and then decide you'd rather not stick with the setting, open the Manage Notifications pop-up again in the same way and tap the Deliver Prominently button to reinstate the previous settings.

ios 12 fine tuning notifications 2
The second option, Turn Off..., completely disables all notifications for the related app. Tap this button and you will be prompted to confirm it's what you want.

Below the two large blue buttons is a less prominent Settings button that takes you to the individual app's various notification options, usually accessed via the main Settings app.

From here you can adjust where alerts should appear (if at all), enable or disable sounds and badges, select alert preview options (Always, When Unlocked, Never) and choose how notifications should be grouped (Automatic, By App, Off).

Related Forum: iOS 12

Top Rated Comments

mdelvecchio Avatar
86 months ago
Why on earth would you want quiet notifications?

The only difference between quiet notifications and no notifications is that quiet notifications adds them to a hidden app with no proper UI. The only time I ever open notification center is if I saw a banner that I was reading that hid itself too quickly. Without having it appear on the lock screen or as a banner, I'd never even know to open notification center to look for anything.
Is it really so hard to imagine? There are plenty of things that I'd like to know about but are not time sensitive and therefore do not wish to bother me with a chime or alert.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
86 months ago
I'm wondering when they are going to redesign iOS. Look at the DPD buttons. Two blue, two plain at the bottom. So much text. Sometimes it strikes me as odd.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr Lizard Avatar
86 months ago
Why on earth would you want quiet notifications?

The only difference between quiet notifications and no notifications is that quiet notifications adds them to a hidden app with no proper UI. The only time I ever open notification center is if I saw a banner that I was reading that hid itself too quickly. Without having it appear on the lock screen or as a banner, I'd never even know to open notification center to look for anything.
Surprise! Different people use their phones in different ways.

I’m loving this feature in the beta. I’ve changed most of my notifications to Deliver Quietly. I’m definately less distracted as a result, and when I want to catch up on what I’ve missed I just swipe down to reveal Notification Center and everything is there in one place. I can then either tap to open the relevant app or just dismiss the notifications if they’re not worthy of my time.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JohnnyW2K1 Avatar
86 months ago
Nifty feature. Agree about the redesign. I’ve never liked the look of Jony Ive’s iOS, although it’s improved as time has passed.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ignatius345 Avatar
86 months ago
Yes, I get that you don't want to be bombarded with banners and sounds. In that case, you set the app to only display the badge on its icon, which Quiet Notifications disables.

With the badge, you know how many notifications you have waiting for you in the app, plus that little reminder that the app exists and has useful data. And then you launch it and it has a nice UI for showing you whatever it has.

With Notification Center, you don't know what's in there until you open it. You have no reminders that it exists or that it needs to be checked. And should you open it, the UI is garbage. Checking your email from a command line has a better UI than Notification Center.
So... don't use Quiet Notifications. Problem solved. I myself will probably for some things, but you are definitely not being forced to.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NetMage Avatar
86 months ago
The only time I ever open notification center is if I saw a banner that I was reading that hid itself too quickly. Without having it appear on the lock screen or as a banner, I'd never even know to open notification center to look for anything.
A reasonable assumption would be that if a rational person enabled Quiet Notifications for some Apps, they would periodically open Notification Center at a time of their choice when convenient to check for those Notifications, much like I periodically open email to check for mail since I have push/timed pull disabled (or else I would get non-stop email notices).
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
iPhone 17 Roundup Feature 2

iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

Monday February 17, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker. In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

What to Expect From the 'Apple Launch' Next Week

Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week. Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
Apple Maps 2024

Apple Maps Might Start Showing Ads

Sunday February 16, 2025 7:22 am PST by
Apple is "exploring" the idea of showing search ads in the Apple Maps app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Back in 2022, Gurman said software engineering was "already underway" to display ads in the Apple Maps app, but Apple did not move forward with the idea at the time. Today, he said Apple is "giving this notion more thought" again. This time around, he said Apple has yet to...
Tim Cook Apple Park

10+ Announcements Apple Could Have Rolled Into a February Event

Saturday February 15, 2025 8:00 am PST by
Apple appears to have enough upcoming product announcements to justify a full event this month, yet all signs indicate these reveals will be handled through a series of press releases instead. There are a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about specific announcements in the coming weeks, so here's everything that Apple could have feasibly included in a hypothetical February event: ...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro With All-New Camera Bar Design Allegedly Revealed

Thursday February 13, 2025 5:49 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro will feature three rear cameras arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but the cameras will be housed in an all-new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, according to YouTube channel Front Page Tech. iPhone 17 Pro camera design render created by Asher for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser said the camera ...
m2 pro mac mini

Apple is Now Selling a Refurbished Mac Mini for Just $319 (!)

Saturday February 15, 2025 9:58 am PST by
A few days ago, we reported that Apple's refurbished Mac mini pricing had a problem, and it appears that Apple has taken note. Apple was offering a refurbished Mac mini with the M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $559, which was $50 more than a refurbished Mac mini with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. All other key specifications were equal. That's no longer...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

Apple's Next iPhone SE Launching on Wednesday - Here's What We Know

Friday February 14, 2025 4:04 pm PST by
Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an Apple announcement that's coming on Wednesday, February 19, and it's looking like that mystery announcement will be the next-generation iPhone SE. We've been hearing about the iPhone SE 4 for quite some time now, and we essentially know everything to expect. If you want a sneak peek at what's coming, read on. Naming Apple first introduced the iPhone SE in...