How to Manage Badge App Icons in iOS 12

Badge app icons in iOS 12 are the small red circles with numbers that appear on your app icons to indicate unread messages, updates, or pending tasks. While helpful for tracking alerts, they can quickly cause visual clutter and unnecessary distraction. This guide explains how to access your iOS 12 notification settings to customize or disable these badges on an app-by-app basis to create a cleaner, less stressful home screen.

Steps to Turn Badge App Icons On or Off

In iOS 12, badges must be configured individually for each application. Follow these steps to adjust them:

  1. Open Settings: Tap the gray Settings gear icon on your home screen.
  2. Select Notifications: Scroll down and tap Notifications to view a list of all installed apps.
  3. Choose an App: Scroll through the list and tap the specific app whose badge settings you want to change (for example, Mail, Messages, or Facebook).
  4. Toggle Badges: Under the Alerts section, locate the Badges toggle switch.
    • Tap the switch to the Off (gray) position to hide the red number counters for that app.
    • Tap the switch to the On (green) position to restore badge counts.

Why Manage Badge Icons?

Managing your badge app icons gives you more control over your device usage:

  • Reduces Notification Fatigue: Constant red indicators can trigger anxiety or the urge to clear them immediately. Disabling badges removes this pressure.
  • Maintains Critical Alerts: You can leave badges active for high-priority apps (like Phone or Messages) while turning them off for social media or games.
  • Independent Notification Style: Disabling badges does not affect other alert types. You will still receive Lock Screen alerts, Banners, and Notification Center updates if those settings remain enabled.