Disable Rich Notifications in Messages on macOS 13

Rich notifications in macOS 13 Ventura display message previews, photos, and interactive reply options directly on your desktop or lock screen. While convenient, these notifications can compromise your privacy in public or shared workspaces. This guide explains how to disable detailed notification previews and adjust your alert settings for the Messages app using macOS Ventura’s redesigned System Settings.

How to Turn Off Message Previews in macOS 13

Disabling the preview feature prevents the notification banner from showing the sender's text or media, showing only a generic alert instead.

1. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
2. Click Notifications in the left-hand sidebar.
3. Scroll down to the Application Notifications section and click on Messages.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the Messages settings pane to find the Show Previews dropdown menu.
5. Change the selection from Always to Never (or When Unlocked if you only want to hide previews while the Mac is locked).

Adjusting Alert Style for Minimal Disruption

To further strip down rich notifications so they do not remain on screen or offer interactive elements:

1. In the same Messages notification menu, locate the Messages alert style section at the top.
2. Select None to stop banners from appearing entirely, or select Banners instead of Alerts so notifications dismiss themselves automatically.
3. Toggle off Show in Notification Center if you do not want message logs stored in your swipe-out menu.
4. Toggle off Show on lock screen to prevent any incoming text notifications from appearing when your Mac is asleep or locked.