Learn how to manage alerts for individual conversations in your iPhone’s Messages app with this step-by-step guide. This tutorial will walk you through enabling and disabling the bell icon to hide or unhide alerts for specific chats.
How to Get the Bell Icon on iPhone
- Open the Messages App: Begin by launching the Messages application on your iPhone.
- Select a Conversation: Choose and open the conversation for which you wish to manage alerts.
- Access Contact Details: Tap on the contact’s name or number located at the top of the screen to open the conversation details.
- Enable Hide Alerts: Within the details, locate the Hide Alerts option. Tap the toggle switch next to it to activate it.
- Return to Message List: Exit to the main message list, where you will see a crossed-out bell icon next to the conversation. This indicates that alerts are hidden.
- Unhide Alerts: To revert the setting, swipe left on the conversation and tap the bell icon. The mute icon will disappear, signaling alerts are active again.
- Mute Alerts Again: Swipe left on the conversation once more to tap the bell icon. The mute icon will reappear, confirming alerts are hidden.
Following these steps, you can easily manage the bell icon on your iPhone for individual conversations.
Watch the video version: How to Get the Bell Icon on iPhone 2026 (Step-By-Step Tutorial)
Understanding Alerts Management on iPhone
Managing alerts in the Messages app is an essential feature for enhancing privacy and reducing distractions. By using the Hide Alerts option, you gain control over which conversations can interrupt you with notifications. This is particularly useful if you’re engaged in a group conversation or a chat that generates frequent notifications, allowing you to temporarily silence them without ending the conversation or deleting the thread.
The ease of toggling the bell icon on and off means you can quickly adapt to different situations. Whether you’re in a meeting or simply need a moment of peace, handling alerts silently enhances the iPhone user experience. Furthermore, it assures you remain available for essential communications without the disruption of non-urgent alerts.