Alex Ruben
How To Adjust Windows Notification Settings Effectively
Windows notifications are super handy for keeping tabs on updates or messages, but honestly, their default placement can be kinda annoying sometimes. They pop up where they want, sometimes right in the middle of your workspace or overlapping other stuff. Luckily, there’s a free app called Top Notify that lets you mess with where those notifications land and how they look. Tried it out myself — kind of weird, but on some setups, it worked instantly, on others… not so much. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Step 1: Download and install Top Notify
This part should be straightforward. Just go to the Microsoft Store, search for Top Notify, and install it. No extra fuss. Sometimes the store acts up, so if it doesn’t show up right away, wait a minute or try restarting the store or your PC.
- Open Microsoft Store
- Type Top Notify into the search bar and hit Enter
- Click Install
Step 2: Launch Top Notify
After it’s installed, you’ll find it under your Start menu or just search for it. The app runs in the background and hooks into your notification system, so don’t worry if it’s not in your taskbar right away.
- Open the app from Start menu or search for Top Notify
- It should minimize or sit in the background—you might see a little icon in the system tray
Step 3: Pick your primary monitor
If you’ve got more than one monitor, this part actually matters. You want to select which display to tweak because notifications appear on the primary by default. Find the dropdown or options area in the app where it says Primary Monitor.
- In Top Notify, locate the dropdown that lists your monitors
- Select the one where you want notifications to show
Step 4: Move notification position
This is the fun part… or frustrating, depending. You can choose from preset positions (top left/right, bottom left/right) or drag the window to somewhere custom. Not sure why it works, but dragging the Top Notify window to your preferred spot on the screen and pressing Esc saves the position. Sometimes it takes a couple tries or a restart of the app if it doesn’t seem to stick.
- Within the app, choose your preferred corner or location
- To set a custom spot, just drag the window around on your screen
- Press Esc to lock in the position
Step 5: Preview and tweak
The app has a little test notification feature. Use it to see how your chosen spot looks. If the notification overlaps or feels off, just drag again or pick a different preset. Because, yeah, it’s all trial and error.
- Click the test button in Top Notify to generate a demo notification
- Adjust the position if it’s not quite right
Step 6: Tweak transparency (optional)
If you want notifications to blend in more or less, there’s a transparency slider in settings. This can help reduce visual clutter or match your desktop theme. Not sure why, but on some machines it makes a big difference in how notifications feel.
- In Top Notify settings, find the transparency slider
- Slide it to your preferred level
Step 7: Set custom sounds (for fun)
Want notifications to have unique sounds? Good news, you can enable custom sounds within the app and choose from a library or add your own. Just find the sound options and set what sounds you want for different apps or globally. Because standard Windows sounds are… well, kinda boring.
- Find the Custom Sounds toggle in settings
- Select your sounds or upload favorite ones
Step 8: Enable click-through (optional but handy)
This is surprisingly useful — clicking on notifications might accidentally make you close what you’re working on. Turning on the click-through mode makes notifications transparent to clicks, so you can see what’s behind but still interact with notifications if you want.
- Toggle Click-Through on in settings
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Sometimes, notifications decide to not show up or stick around weirdly. If that happens, double-check that Top Notify’s running — you can kill it or restart from the system tray. Also, make sure Windows notification permissions are enabled for the app.
Conclusion
Changing where your notifications pop up doesn’t have to be a pain — especially with tools like Top Notify. It’s kind of a hit or miss at first, but messing with the drag-and-drop options and settings can make a big difference. Play around with transparency and position, and you’ll get something that works for your workflow. Just something that worked on multiple machines, hopefully it helps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Top Notify on Windows 10?
Yep, it works on Windows 10 too, so no worries there.
What if notifications still aren’t showing?
Make sure Top Notify is actually running (check in system tray) and check Windows notification settings — go to Settings > System > Notifications. Confirm that notifications are turned on for the app.
Is Top Notify free?
Totally. It’s open-source and available on the Microsoft Store for free.