Tired of seeing notification bubbles above your app icons on Android? You've probably encountered that little red or orange dot, or even a number, that doesn't disappear even when you open the app, and it can be visually annoying. Understanding how these indicators work and knowing how to use them can be very annoying. how to customize them or eliminating them completely can make a difference in your daily experience with your mobile.
In this article we tell you everything about customizing notifications and balloons on Android.: What exactly are these symbols, what are they for, how you can enable or disable them both generally and per app, and what to do if they persist even though you think you've disabled them. We also explain the differences between classic speech bubbles and the new chat bubbles, how they vary depending on your phone brand, and what errors can make these indicators more annoying than they should be.
What are notification balloons and what are they used for?
Notification balloons—also known as dots, badges, or bubbles—are small visual indicators that appear over an app icon. When you have pending notifications to check, such as messages, emails, or updates. Their main purpose is to let you know when there's something new in the app without you having to open it or pull down the notification bar. Sometimes they display a simple colored dot (red, orange, blue, etc.), other times they display a number indicating the exact number of unread notifications.
The aesthetics and functionality of these balloons vary greatly depending on the brand, Android version, and customization layer.On Samsung phones, for example, you can choose between a colored dot or a number; Xiaomi and Huawei further customize the appearance of these icons depending on the theme and operating system version; on Android alone, the options are generally more basic.
Advantages and disadvantages of notification bubbles on Android
- Advantages: They make it easy to see at a glance if you have pending messages or urgent notifications without having to open each app manually. In many customization layers, if you long-press the globe icon, you can preview the notification.
- Disadvantages: They can accumulate, become visually distracting, and become annoying if they don't automatically disappear after you read the messages. Sometimes they can persist even after you've already seen the notification, which can be frustrating.
Personalizing these balloons is key to find the balance between staying informed and not being overwhelmed by unnecessary alerts.
How notification bubbles work and which Android versions are available
Android offers advanced notification balloon management since version 9.0 PieHowever, starting with Android 11 and especially Android 12, the options for customizing and disabling them have improved significantly and are more accessible to the average user. In previous versions, the customization options were much more limited.
The path to configure or remove these balloons may differ depending on the brand of your mobile and the customization layer., but the system always includes a way to modify these indicators.
General steps to remove or customize notification bubbles on Android
On most current devices, you can Remove or modify notification balloons by following these steps:
- Open the app Settings of your mobile.
- Go to the section Applications and notifications (Or simply Notifications).
- Search and enter Advanced settings or a similar section.
- Locate the option called Show notification icons, Notification balloons o Notification points.
- You can choose to show all, only the most recent, only the number of notifications or select None to deactivate.
- Turn off the switch to stop balloons from appearing over app icons.
The name of the options may vary slightly depending on the brand. (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc.), but there is always a similar section where you can configure it.
Per-app customization: choosing where to see notification bubbles
If you don't want to remove balloons from all apps, You can keep them only on the really important apps and remove the rest.This is especially useful for differentiating between messaging apps, social media apps, and other less important apps.
- Walk into Settings and access Applications.
- Select the specific app you want to customize.
- go to section Notifications and look for the option to show balloons or dots.
- Turn the switch on or off as you prefer.
This way, you can have bubbles active only in WhatsApp or Gmail and remove them from games, stores, or other apps.
Why do notification bubbles keep appearing even though I've disabled them?
One of the most common problems is that Notification bubbles may continue to appear even after following all the steps to disable themThere are several reasons why this happens:
- Unread or pending notifications: Even if you turn off the balloons, if there are unopened archived messages or alerts, they may still generate the dot or number.
- Temporary errors in the appSome apps may have bugs that prevent balloons from updating properly. In these cases, clearing the cache and data from Settings > Apps > Storage may help.
- The app keeps notifications on the bar or lock screen: In some apps, alerts remain in the status bar even if you have already read them within the app, causing the bubble to not disappear.
- Battery saving mode or synchronization disabledPower saving modes may interfere with the updating of notifications and widgets. If automatic syncing is disabled, widgets won't update properly either.
- Pending UpdatesUsing older versions of the system or app can cause balloon sync errors. Keep everything up to date.
- Internal application settings: Sometimes, the app itself has its own badge or points system that is independent of the operating system, as is the case with WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
If you find it impossible to remove the balloons from an app, you can delete all of its notifications as a last resort.
Balloons vs. Chat Bubbles: What's the Difference?
Starting with Android 11, so-called "chat bubbles" appeared., similar to the famous Facebook Messenger bubbles. These aren't the same as speech bubbles: while speech bubbles simply indicate that you have unread notifications, speech bubbles allow you to directly open the conversation or chat in a floating window that you can move around the screen without leaving the app you were using.
How chat bubbles work and how to turn them on or off
Chat bubbles allow you to reply to messages from any app. without having to switch screens. To activate them:
- Opens Settings > Notifications > Bubbles.
- Select whether you want to allow bubbles for all apps, only for some apps, or disable the feature completely.
In many supported messaging apps (Telegram, Google Messages, Skype), a bubble icon will appear when you receive a notification. Tapping it activates the floating window. To close the bubble, simply drag it to the bottom of the screen.
Not all apps support chat bubbles.WhatsApp, for example, uses its own system and in some versions doesn't yet integrate with Android's native bubbles. On certain brands of phones, this feature may be disabled or unavailable if the system isn't updated.
Advanced configuration and specific cases according to the brand
Each manufacturer can modify the settings and behavior of notification balloons and bubbles., that's why it's important to know how it works on your mobile:
- Samsung (One UI): Choose whether you want to see a colored dot or a number. Configure this in Settings > Notifications > App icon indicators.
- Xiaomi (MIUI): On some models, you can customize the style and color of the notifications. The menu is usually located in Settings > Notifications > Notifications.
- Huawei (EMUI): The option appears in Settings > Notifications > Icon Indicators.
- Pure Android: The options are simpler, but Android 12 has incorporated improvements to be able to choose how they are displayed.
Common errors and possible solutions if the balloons do not disappear or do not appear
If after setting everything up correctly, you're still seeing annoying notification balloons or, on the contrary, they do not appear when they should, try the following:
- Clear app cache and data from your mobile settings.
- Uninstall and reinstall the app involved.
- Make sure your system and apps are fully updated..
- Check that the balloons/indicators/bubbles option is checked in the app settingsSome apps allow you to configure this within their own menu.
- Restart the phone, especially if you have recently updated.
- Contact technical support if your mobile model has a heavily modified customization layer. which does not allow you to change these options.
Notable differences between apps and usage recommendations
- WhatsApp: Uses its own point system, which sometimes overlaps with the system's. It's not always compatible with native Android chat bubbles.
- Telegram: Compatible with bubbles from Android 11 onwards. Requires updated app and system.
- Instagram and Facebook: They use the standard system balloons, so they can be enabled or disabled from the general settings.
- gmail: If you have emails archived as unread, the bubble will remain even if you think you've read everything.
Recommendations for managing notification balloons and bubbles:
- Customize the bubbles so they only appear in the really important messaging or email apps., this way you will avoid visual saturation.
- Disable balloons in low-priority apps such as games, shops or utilities that do not require immediate attention.
- Keep the operating system up to date to avoid errors related to notification management.
- Always check your archived messages and unread emails folders.They are a common source of spots that do not disappear.
Minimum requirements for customizing balloons and bubbles
Remember You need to be at least Android 9 to set up notification bubbles and Android 11 to use native chat bubbles.In older versions, you may not be able to change these settings, or the options may be very limited.
What happens if the bubbles or balloons don't appear?
There may be several reasons:
- Your phone is running Android 11 or lower and doesn't support chat bubbles.
- The app you're trying to use doesn't yet support the feature.
- The option is disabled by default in the system settings or in the app itself.
- The mobile manufacturer has modified or removed the feature in its customization layer.
In this case, check for software updates or consult your device's manual..
Balloon Personalization and Styles
Some Android layers allow you to choose the balloon type and design:
- at Samsung you can choose between point or number.
- Xiaomi gives theming options if you use custom themes.
- In pure Android, as of today, the options are still limited but the trend is to improve customization in future versions.
How to create an expanded bubble and advanced behaviors
On newer versions of Android, The notification bubble may be displayed expanded automatically if you choose to do so.. This is typically set up in messaging apps built for Android 11 or higher, using system-specific methods such as setAutoExpandBubble() y setSuppressNotification(). So, when you receive a message, the conversation appears directly in a floating window, making it easy to respond quickly without switching apps. However, if you close or dismiss the bubble, the app may go into the background, but it will always function as a normal notification if the bubble is deactivated.
Errors and practical limitations
As of today, not all messaging and social media apps support native Android chat bubbles., and there are still notable differences between models and manufacturers. Google Messages, Telegram, and Skype are the main supported apps, while WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger still rely on proprietary systems that may not integrate perfectly with the operating system. Additionally, some phones with heavily modified customization layers can completely disable these features, so if you can't find the option, it may be the manufacturer's fault.
Don't forget that even if you do everything right, Some occasional errors or unread messages in the file may keep the balloons active.In this case, check the status of all your notifications and, if necessary, delete the app and reinstall it to reset the points system. Share this guide and more people will know how to hide these notifications..