Notifications on your iPhone 7 can be helpful, but sometimes you want privacy and don’t want messages, emails, or app alerts showing up on your lock screen. Hiding notifications ensures that sensitive information stays private while still letting you receive updates.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to hide notifications on the lock screen on an iPhone 7, with step-by-step instructions and additional privacy tips.
Why Hide Lock Screen Notifications?
Hiding notifications on your iPhone lock screen offers several advantages:
-
Protect your privacy – Prevent others from seeing personal messages or emails.
-
Reduce distractions – Keep your lock screen clean and organized.
-
Control what’s visible – Decide which apps can show notifications.
Step 1: Open the Settings App
-
Unlock your iPhone 7.
-
Tap the Settings app from your Home Screen.
Step 2: Go to Notifications
-
Scroll down and select Notifications.
-
You will see a list of all apps that send notifications.
Step 3: Select the App You Want to Hide
-
Tap the app whose notifications you want to hide from the lock screen.
-
Example: Messages, Mail, WhatsApp, or any social media app.
-
Step 4: Adjust Lock Screen Notification Settings
-
In the app’s notification settings, look for the Alerts section.
-
Toggle Lock Screen off.
This will prevent notifications from appearing on the lock screen, but they will still show in the Notification Center and as banners (if enabled).
Step 5: Hide Notification Previews (Optional)
If you want notifications to appear but hide the content:
-
Go to Settings → Notifications → Show Previews.
-
Choose one of the following options:
-
Always – Content always visible (default).
-
When Unlocked – Content only visible when your iPhone is unlocked.
-
Never – Content never visible on lock screen.
-
Selecting When Unlocked or Never ensures private content is hidden while still showing that a notification arrived.
Step 6: Repeat for Other Apps
Repeat the steps for each app you want to hide notifications from. This gives you full control over your lock screen’s privacy.
Tips for Managing Lock Screen Privacy
-
Use Do Not Disturb mode: Temporarily silences notifications during meetings or sleep.
-
Enable Face ID or Touch ID: Ensures notifications only reveal content to you.
-
Group notifications: Go to Settings → Notifications → Notification Grouping for cleaner display.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will hiding lock screen notifications delete them?
No. They still appear in Notification Center or within the app. Only the lock screen display is affected.
2. Can I hide notifications for multiple apps at once?
You must adjust settings for each app individually; iOS does not allow bulk lock screen notification control.
3. Can I hide sensitive content but still get alerts?
Yes. Use Show Previews → When Unlocked to hide content while still receiving notifications.
Final Thoughts
Hiding notifications on the lock screen of an iPhone 7 is a quick way to protect your privacy and reduce distractions. By adjusting app-specific settings and controlling notification previews, you can maintain a clean lock screen while staying updated with important alerts.
Taking control of your lock screen notifications ensures that your iPhone remains both secure and user-friendly, whether at work, home, or on the go.