Managing Notification Privacy on Your Devices
Launch library · evergreen read
Notifications that display message previews on a locked screen can reveal sensitive information to anyone standing nearby, from the content of a text message to a one-time verification code sent for account access entirely. A locked screen offers less privacy than most people assume by default.
Adjusting settings so sensitive notifications, particularly from banking or messaging apps, do not display full content on a locked screen closes this particular gap without requiring you to turn off notifications entirely at all. This adjustment takes only a minute per app once you find the setting.
This setting matters particularly in shared or public spaces, where a glance at an unlocked screen from someone nearby could otherwise reveal considerably more than intended, even just briefly in passing. A crowded train or cafe is exactly where this small gap tends to matter most.
Reviewing notification settings periodically, especially after installing new apps that may default to showing full previews, keeps this protection genuinely consistent and reliable across all of your devices over time. This quick review is easy enough to fold neatly into an already existing digital habit.