- Notification bubbles can be easily customized or disabled from Android settings.
- Options and styles vary between manufacturers and customization layers, with advanced features starting with Android 11.
- Common issues with removing balloons are often due to unread notifications, app errors, or specific settings.
Are you tired of seeing notification badges 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 customize or remove them completely can make a big difference in your daily mobile experience.
In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about customizing notifications and badges on Android : what these symbols are exactly, what they're used for, how to enable or disable them both generally and per app, and what to do if they persist even after you think you've turned them off. We'll also explain the differences between classic badges and the new chat bubbles, how they vary depending on your phone's brand, and what errors can cause these indicators to cause more problems than they should.
What are notification balloons and what are they used for?
Notification badges—also known as dots, badges, or bubbles—are small visual indicators that appear above an app icon when you have unread notifications, such as messages, emails, or updates. Their main purpose is to alert you to new information in the app without requiring you to open it or pull down the notification bar. Sometimes they display a simple colored dot (red, orange, blue, etc.), while other times they show a number indicating the exact number of unread notifications.
The appearance and functionality of these icons vary greatly depending on the brand, Android version, and user interface . 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 system version; on stock Android, the options are usually 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 notifications is key to finding the balance between staying informed and not being overwhelmed by unnecessary alerts.
How notification bubbles work and which Android versions are available
Android has offered advanced notification badge management since version 9.0 Pie . However, 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, customization options were much more limited.
The path to configure or remove these balloons may differ depending on your mobile brand and 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 badges 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 names of the options may change 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 the notification badges from all apps, you can keep them only on the truly important ones and remove them from the rest . This is especially useful for differentiating between messaging apps, social media, and other less essential 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 badges may continue to appear even after following all the steps to disable them . There 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, "chat bubbles" appeared , similar to the popular bubbles in Facebook Messenger. These are not the same as balloons: while balloons only indicate that you have unread notifications, 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 let you 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 it still doesn't integrate with Android's native bubbles. On phones from certain brands, 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 configuration and behavior of notification balloons and bubbles , so it's important to know how it works on your mobile device:
- 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 configuring everything correctly you still see annoying notification badges or, conversely, they don't 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 that you need at least Android 9 to configure notification badges and Android 11 to use native chat bubbles . In earlier versions, you may not be able to modify 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
In newer versions of Android, you can choose to have the notification bubble automatically expand . This is typically configured in messaging apps developed for Android 11 or later, using system-specific methods like ` setAutoExpandBubble()` and `setSuppressNotification()` . This way, when you receive a message, the conversation appears directly in a floating window, making it easy to reply quickly without switching apps. However, if you close or dismiss the bubble, the app may run in the background, but it will still function as a normal notification if the bubble is disabled.
Errors and practical limitations
Currently, not all messaging and social media apps support Android's native chat bubbles , and there are still significant differences between models and manufacturers. Google Messages, Telegram, and Skype are the main compatible apps, while WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger still rely on their own systems that may not integrate perfectly with the operating system. Furthermore, some phones with heavily customized interfaces may completely disable these features, so if you can't find the option, it could be the manufacturer's fault.
Don't forget that even if you do everything correctly, occasional errors or unread messages in the archive can keep the badges 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 so more people can learn how to hide these notifications.