How to schedule a notification summary on iPhone

Collect less urgent notifications into a summary that arrives when you choose.

By Until Red · November 2, 2026

If your phone interrupts you throughout the day, Scheduled Summary can collect notifications from selected apps and deliver them at times you choose. Open Settings → Notifications → Scheduled Summary to set it up. Keep alerts you need promptly outside the summary, and check the setup on your device.

Set up a notification summary

1. Open Settings, tap Notifications, then Scheduled Summary.
2. Turn on Scheduled Summary and follow any setup prompts.
3. Choose when you want the summary to arrive. You can add another summary time if you want more than one.
4. Choose the apps whose notifications can wait. Under Apps in Summary, check the A to Z list and turn on the apps you want to include.
5. After the first few summaries, review what you missed and adjust the apps or times.

These steps follow Apple’s iPhone guide. Labels and available options can vary by iOS version and app.

Which notifications should go in it?

Start with a small set of low-stakes alerts, such as promotions or updates from a social feed. Leave out apps where you need prompt messages. Keep a reliable route for important calls, caregiving, accessibility and work alerts; test it before you rely on it.

If an app you want to include does not appear in the list, Apple says you may need to enable its notifications first: go to Settings → Notifications, choose the app and check Allow Notifications.

How do I change an app back to immediate delivery?

Open Settings → Notifications, select the app, and check its delivery options. When Scheduled Summary is enabled, supported settings let you choose immediate or scheduled delivery. Options can differ by app and iOS version. You can also remove the app from the summary’s list.

Summary, Focus, or notifications off?

Use a summary when you want selected alerts later. Use Focus for a period with fewer interruptions and chosen people or apps allowed through. Turn an app’s notifications off if you no longer need them. These controls affect alerts; they do not automatically limit time spent inside an app.

Try a small experiment

Choose a summary time that fits a real break. For a few days, keep essential messages immediate and put only low-stakes apps in the batch. If the summary itself becomes another feed to check, adjust its contents or schedule. Our notification review worksheet can help you make a checklist; it does not change your iPhone settings.