How to Clear All Notifications at Once in iOS 12

Managing a cluttered lock screen or Notification Center on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 12 is simple once you know the hidden shortcut. Rather than swiping away alerts individually or clearing them group by group, iOS 12 allows you to dismiss every pending notification simultaneously using a single gesture. This guide explains the exact steps to clear all notifications instantly on any compatible Apple device.

How to Clear All Notifications

1. Open Notification Center: Swipe down from the top edge of your screen (or from the top-left on an iPhone X, XS, or XR) to reveal your active notifications.
2. Locate the Clear Icon: Scroll to the top of your notification list and locate the small "X" icon on the right side, next to the "Notification Center" heading.
3. Use the Clear All Shortcut:
   • For devices with 3D Touch (iPhone 6s through iPhone XS, excluding iPhone XR): Press firmly down on the "X" icon.
   • For devices without 3D Touch (iPhone XR, iPhone SE, and iPads): Tap and hold the "X" icon for a second.
4. Confirm: A "Clear All Notifications" prompt will appear. Tap it to immediately erase all alerts from your screen.

Once confirmed, your Notification Center will be completely cleared of all pending alerts, returning to an empty state.