How to remove the red notification badges from Dock icons on a Mac
Red numbers on Mail, Messages and App Store icons are badges. How to turn them off for any app, and why one stays after you have read everything.
How do I turn off the red badge for an app?
- Open System Settings, then Notifications.
- Click the app in the list.
- Turn off Badge application icon.
The badge disappears at once. Banners and sounds stay as they were.
Why does a badge stay after I read everything?
- Mail counts unread messages in every mailbox it is told to count, not only the inbox. Mail's settings choose which.
- App Store counts waiting updates. Install them, or turn the badge off.
- System Settings shows a badge for a pending update or an account that needs attention. Open it to see what.
Can I turn off badges for every app at once?
No. The switch is per app. Start with the ones whose numbers never mean anything to you.
Notifications themselves: clear all notifications and use Focus to silence them. The bounce as well: stop Dock icons bouncing.
Checked on 22 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1: Badge application icon was read from System Settings, Notifications.
Questions
How do I get rid of the red number on a Mac app icon?
In System Settings, Notifications, choose the app and turn off Badge application icon.
Will turning off badges stop notifications?
No. Banners, alerts and sounds stay as they were.
Why does the App Store icon show a number?
It counts updates waiting to install.
Read next
- Guide
How to remove extra desktops on a Mac, and stop new ones appearing
Delete the desktops you do not use in Mission Control, stop full screen apps adding more, and turn off the swipes that send you to them by accident.
Read › - Guide
How to stop app icons bouncing in the Dock on a Mac
An icon bouncing in the Dock means an app is opening or wants you. How to turn off the opening bounce, stop the attention bounce, and when to leave it on.
Read › - Guide
The green button on Mac windows: every option
Click it, hover over it, or ⌥ click it: the green button on every Mac window does more than full screen. What each option does and how to skip full screen.
Read ›