The Android lock screen is not just a barrier between your data and strangers. This is an information panel that can show you the most important notifications without requiring you to unlock your device. But how can you make sure that only the necessary notifications are displayed on the locked screen - without unnecessary information and while maintaining privacy?

In this article we will look at all the ways to configure notifications on the lock screen: from standard Android tools to hidden functions of manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and others). You'll learn how to turn notifications on or off for individual apps, hide sensitive text, change the display style, and even use third-party apps for advanced customization. And also - how to bypass restrictions on some firmware and what to do if notifications suddenly disappear.

Important: configuration options depend on the version Android (from Android 5.0 Lollipop to Android 14) and the manufacturer's shell. If your smartphone runs pure Android (for example Google Pixel), the instructions will be as universal as possible. For devices with proprietary shells (One UI, MIUI, ColorOS), we will indicate the key differences.

1. How to enable lock screen notifications in stock Android

In most versions of Android, lock screen notifications are enabled by default, but you can customize their display to suit your needs. Here's how to do this on pure Android (for example, on Google Pixel, Nokia or devices with Android One):

Open Settings → Notifications. Here you will see a section "Notifications on the lock screen" (in some versions it may be called "On the lock screen" or "Lock and security"). Tap on it to open the settings menu.

  • 📱 Show all notifications —all notifications are displayed, including confidential ones (message text, sender names, etc.).
  • 🔒 Hide sensitive content —only application icons and notification headers are shown, without text.
  • 🚫 Do not show notifications at all —the lock screen will remain clean.

If you choose the option to hide sensitive content, notifications will appear as application icons with a label "Content hidden"You will need to unlock the device to see the text.

📊 What information do you prefer to see on the lock screen?
App icons only
Notification titles without text
Full notification text
Show nothing
⚠️ Attention: On Android 10 and later, some manufacturers (for example, Xiaomimay restrict access to notification settings on the lock screen through the standard menu. In this case, use alternative methods from section 4.

2. Setting up notifications for individual applications.

Android allows you to flexibly manage notifications for each application individually. This is useful if you want messages from WhatsApp or Telegram to be displayed on the lock screen, but notifications from games or news applications do not.

To customize the display of notifications for a specific application:

  1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Notification history (or Manage notifications).
  2. Select an application from the list (for example, Gmail or VK).
  3. Tap on the item "Notifications on the lock screen" (or "Show on the locked screen").
  4. Select one of the options:
    • 📌 Show in full —notifications will be displayed with text.
    • 🔍 Show but hide sensitive content —headers only.
    • 🚫 Not show —notifications from this application will not appear on the lock screen.

For example, for Google Messages you can leave the full display, and for Facebook you can hide the text so as not to show personal data. On devices Samsung this section can be called "Notification style" and be in the menu Settings → Notifications → Additional settings.

☑️ Setting up notifications for applications

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⚠️ Attention: Some system applications (for example Google Play Services or Android System) may not have separate settings for the lock screen. Their notifications are controlled by global parameters from section 1.

3. Setting features on smartphones of different brands

Manufacturers often modify the standard Android interface by adding their own functions or changing the layout. settings. Let's look at the key differences for popular brands.

Brand Path to settings Unique features Restrictions
Samsung (One UI) Settings → Lock screen → Notifications Detailed view mode with animation, Always On Display (AOD) support It is impossible to hide notifications for individual applications without disabling them completely
Xiaomi (MIUI) Settings → Lock screen → Notifications and controls Separate switch for "Sensitive notifications", support for themes On some models you need to disable "Battery optimization" for correct operation
Huawei (EMUI/HarmonyOS) Settings → Security and privacy → Notifications on the lock screen Intelligent sorting notifications by importance, support for gestures Limited customization for applications not installed through AppGallery
Oppo/Realme (ColorOS) Settings → Notifications and status bar → On the lock screen "Smart Sidebar" mode for quick access to notifications, setting transparency There is no separate control for high priority notifications

For example, on Samsung Galaxy s One UI 5.0 and newer, notifications on the lock screen can be configured via Settings → Lock screen → Notifications, where the options are available:

  • 📱 Show notification icons —only application icons are displayed.
  • 📜 Show details —full text of notifications.
  • 🌙 Always On Display — notifications are displayed even when the screen is off (on supported models).

On Xiaomi in MIUI 14 the path will be different: Settings → Lock screen → Notifications and controls → Notifications on the lock screenHere you can enable the option "Show notification contents" or disable it for. privacy.

How to check the shell version on your smartphone?

Open Settings → About phone → MIUI/One UI/ColorOS version. If this item is not there, look in Settings → System → Update systems —the firmware version is usually indicated there.

4. Hidden settings and ADB commands for advanced users

If the standard settings do not provide the desired flexibility, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to fine-tune notifications. This method is suitable for users who are ready to work with the command line.

First turn on USB debugging:

  1. Go to Settings → About phone.
  2. Tap on the item "Build number" 7 times to activate developer mode.
  3. Go back to Settings → System → For Developers and enable "USB Debugging".

Now connect your smartphone to the computer and run one of the commands in terminal (by first installing ADB):

# Show all notifications on the lock screen (including confidential ones)

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_show_notifications 1



Hide sensitive notification content


adb shell settings put global lock_screen_allow_private_notifications 0



Completely disable notifications on the lock screen


adb shell settings put global lock_screen_show_notifications 0

You may need to restart your device to apply the changes. Please note that these commands do not work on all firmware - some manufacturers block such settings.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect use of ADB commands can lead to system failures. Before experiments, create a backup copy of your data via Settings → System → Backup.
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If ADB commands do not work, try first adb shell settings list global and check if there are parameters in the list lock_screen_*. Their absence means that the manufacturer has blocked this function.

5. Third-party applications for advanced configuration

If the built-in tools are not enough, you can use third-party applications. They offer additional features, such as: Notifications (fonts, colors, animations). data-i="181">by category or priority.

  • 🎨 Customization of appearance notifications (fonts, colors, animations).
  • 🔐 Flexible privacy management (for example, hiding notifications from certain contacts).
  • 📊 Grouping of notifications by category or priority.
  • 🔔 Additional sounds and vibrations for notifications on the locked screen.

Popular applications for these purposes:

  • 📱 NiLS Lock Screen Notifications — allows you to customize the style of notifications, add widgets and manage priorities.
  • 🔧 Notisave —Saves notification history and provides advanced filters for the lock screen.
  • 🎭 AcDisplay —An alternative to the standard lock screen with support for gestures and themes.

Please note that some applications will require granting permissions to work. overlay on top of other windows and access to notifications. This can be done in Settings → Accessibility → Apps with usage access (the path may vary depending on the firmware).

⚠️ Attention: Applications for customizing notifications may conflict with proprietary skins (for example, MIUI or One UIBefore installation, check user reviews for your smartphone model.

6. Why are notifications not shown on the lock screen?

If notifications suddenly disappeared from the lock screen, the reasons may be as follows:

  • 🔕 Global disabling of notifications - check the basic settings in Settings → Notifications.
  • 🔋 Battery optimization — some firmware (for example, MIUI or EMUI) block background activity of applications. Exclude the necessary applications from optimization in Settings →. Battery → Battery optimization.
  • 🔒 Changes in the privacy policy —after updating Android or firmware, the settings may have been reset.
  • 📵 Do Not Disturb mode —check if it is activated in Settings → Sound → Do Not Disturb.
  • 🛠️ System service failures — try rebooting the device or resetting notification settings to default.

If the problem affects only one application (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram), check:

  1. Notification permissions for this application in Settings → Notifications → [Application name].
  2. Settings of the application itself - some messengers have internal settings for display notifications on the locked screen.
  3. Updates - an outdated version of the application may conflict with the new firmware.

On devices with Android 12 and later, notifications may not appear due to the new privacy management system, where apps require explicit permission to show high priority notifications. To fix this, go to Settings → Notifications → Advanced settings → High priority notifications and add the desired applications to the list.

7. Security: how to hide sensitive notifications

Showing notifications on the lock screen is convenient, but can become a threat to privacy. For example, if the contents of SMS or messages from instant messengers are visible on the screen, anyone nearby can read them. Here's how to protect your data:

Method 1: Hide notification text

In the notification settings (see section 1), select the option "Hide sensitive content"Then only the lock screen will be displayed. application icons and notification headers (for example, "New message" instead of SMS text).

Method 2: Disable notifications for sensitive applications

For applications containing personal information (banks, instant messengers, mail), completely disable the display of notifications on the lock screen. This can be done in the settings of each application separately (see section 2).

Method 3: Use Safe Folder or Secure Folder

On devices Samsung and some other brands have a feature Secure Folder —a protected space for applications. Notifications from applications installed in Secure Folderwill not be displayed on the main lock screen.

Method 4: Set up notification blocking by time or location.

Some firmware (for example, EMUI from Huawei) allow you to configure the rules for displaying notifications depending on the time of day or location. For example, you can hide notifications at work or at night.

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Even if you have hidden the text of notifications, an attacker can see which application the notification came from. For maximum privacy. disable the display of notifications on the lock screen completely and use Always On Display (if supported) only for time and icons.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about notifications on the lock screen

Is it possible to configure different notification styles for different applications?

Yes, but the capabilities depend on the firmware On pure Android. and One UI (Samsung) you can set individual settings for each application (show completely, hide text or not show at all). On MIUI (Xiaomi) and ColorOS (Oppo) such settings are limited - usually only a global switch is available.

Why are notifications not shown immediately? and with a delay?

This may be due to battery optimization. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery optimization and disable it for the desired applications. Also check if the power saving mode is activated.

How to return notifications to the lock screen after updating Android?

System updates often reset settings. Try:

  1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Notifications on the screen blocking and turn them on again.
  2. For individual applications, check permissions in Settings → Applications → [Application name] → Notifications.
  3. Restart the device - sometimes this helps restore system services.
Is it possible to change the color or font of notifications on the lock screen?

In standard Android there are no such settings, but some firmware (for example, ColorOS on Oppo/Realme) allow you to select a design theme that also affects notifications. For deep customization, you will need third-party applications like NiLS Lock Screen Notifications or root access.

Why are notifications not shown on Always On Display?

The Always On Display (AOD) function is not supported on all devices. If it is available, but notifications are not displayed:

  • Check the AOD settings in Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display.
  • Make sure that apps are allowed to display notifications on the lock screen.
  • On some devices (for example, Samsung), notifications on AOD are shown only for "favorite" contacts or apps.