Hamza

Posted on Jul 11 • Originally published at tekmag.thsite.top

DoNotNotify: The Open-Source App That Finally Fixes Android’s Notification Chaos

#android #apps #privacy #notifications

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DoNotNotify is the simple, open-source Android app that finally gives you granular notification control when stock Android’s channels cannot. It filters senders, titles, keywords, and patterns locally on device, without routing traffic through a server.

I checked the public Google Play listing for com.donotnotify.donotnotify and the main developer sources before writing this. The core claims hold up: the app is actively distributed, describes offline filtering as its main behavior, and has hands-on press coverage from multiple outlets in 2026.

Why stock Android notification channels are no longer enough

Android’s notification settings let you mute apps. They do not let you mute one kind of alert inside an app. A shopping app might mix order updates with flash-sale spam. A game might mix achievement pings with event promos. A banking app might hide security alerts behind the same channel used for credit-card marketing.

That usually forces a bad choice: either allow everything and deal with noise, or mute the app and miss something important.

What DoNotNotify does differently

DoNotNotify uses Android’s NotificationListenerService to inspect notification content before it reaches you. It can allow, deny, or route notifications based on exact app, title or body text, keyword match, and regex patterns.

The difference is control level, not volume. Stock Android mutes by app. DoNotNotify mutes by message type.

Video: Show HN: DoNotNotify – Log and intelligently block notifications on Android

Key features

Allow/deny lists and regex

You can build lists for what should always pass and what should always stay silent. Regex support is the real power move: it lets you match patterns like tracking numbers, coupon codes, or sender domains without manually typing every variation.

Time-based rules and presets

Notifications can be blocked only during certain hours. I used this for promotional noise during work hours while still getting delivery updates at night. Preset rules speed up setup for common cases such as shopping promos or friend-gift spam.

Import and export

Rules are stored as JSON and can be exported or imported. That matters if you switch phones or want to share a known-good setup without retyping everything.

Privacy and open source considerations

DoNotNotify does not need network access for core filtering. Once permission to read notifications is granted, the app runs rules locally. It also maintains a public repository, which matters for a tool that inspects sensitive notification content.

That transparency does not eliminate trust work. Reading notifications is a sensitive permission. The privacy-friendly takeaway is that the code is inspectable and the filtering is offline, not that there are no tradeoffs at all.

Setting it up

Install DoNotNotify from Google Play. Open it and grant notification access in Android’s special access menu. Then create your first deny list using keywords from the apps that annoy you most. Start with shopping and gaming apps, since they tend to mix transaction alerts with promotional noise.

A practical example

Use a deny list for promotional keywords inside retail apps. Use an allow list for specific phrases tied to shipping or account security. Set a time rule that blocks promotional alerts from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and lets them through in the evening.

If you use Android-specific power tools, you may also want to review How Shizuku Unlocks Android’s Full Potential Without Root. For broader privacy coverage, see The 2026 Privacy Toolkit: 10 Essential Apps to Protect Your Data.

Caveats

Notification access means the app can read your alerts. Some workplaces or security policies consider this sensitive and may restrict it. Also, regex rules can misfire if an app changes notification wording during an update. Check matched notifications regularly, especially after app updates.

Personal insight

For most Android users, the biggest win is not regex at all — it is separating delivery alerts from marketing inside the same app. If DoNotNotify only does that well, it already earns its place on the phone.

Frequently asked questions

Does DoNotNotify need internet access to filter notifications?

No. Core filtering runs on device using Android’s NotificationListenerService, so it does not need network access for allow or deny rules.

Is DoNotNotify open source?

Yes. A public repository is available and the project describes itself as transparent, which matters for an app with notification-reading permissions.

Can DoNotNotify block notifications from specific apps only?

Yes. It supports app-level filtering in addition to keyword, title, body, and regex-based rules.

References

Originally published on TekMag

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