Make Mac notifications stay on screen, or go away on their own

Why it happens

Every app has its own Alert Style. Temporary notifications slide in at the top right and disappear after a few seconds. Persistent ones stay until you close them or click a button. Many apps start on Temporary, which is why some notifications vanish before you read them.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Notifications in the sidebar.

2. Scroll to Application Notifications and click the app you care about, for example Calendar or Reminders.

3. Under Alert Style, choose Persistent if you want its notifications to stay until you deal with them. Choose Temporary if you want them to go away by themselves.

   Notifications›your app›Alert Style

4. Repeat for any other app. The next notification from that app uses the new style.

5. If you'd rather not see an app's notifications at all, turn off Allow notifications on the same page.

   Notifications›your app›Allow notifications

Still not fixed?

1. Missed a Temporary notification? Click the date and time in the menu bar to open Notification Center. Recent notifications wait there until you clear them.

2. No notifications appearing at all? A Focus such as Do Not Disturb may be on. Open Control Center in the menu bar and check Focus, or look in Focus settings.

   Focus

3. If one notification is frozen on screen and won't close at all, restart your Mac. That clears it.

4. If an app ignores its Alert Style after a restart, update the app or ask its developer. For Apple's own apps, contact Apple Support.