Hide what your messages say in notifications on your Mac

Why it happens

Show previews decides how much of a notification appears on screen. Set to Always, a banner shows the words of a message or email to anyone who can see your screen, even when your Mac is locked. When Unlocked hides the text while your Mac is locked, and Never hides it all the time, which suits a screen other people often see.

How to fix it

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

2. Find Show previews and choose When Unlocked or Never. Choose Always if you want to see the text again later.

   Notifications›Show previews

3. For one app only, click it in the list of apps further down and change its own Show previews. The other apps keep the main setting.

   Notifications›your app›Show previews

4. Ask someone to send you a test message, or wait for the next one, and check the banner.

Still not fixed?

1. Want nothing at all to appear while your Mac is locked? Turn off Show Notifications when screen is locked.

   Notifications›Show Notifications›when screen is locked

2. Your iPhone's notifications can show on the Mac too, through Allow notifications from iPhone. Set Show Previews on the iPhone as well: in Settings, tap Notifications, then Show Previews.

   Notifications›Allow notifications from iPhone

3. Some apps have their own setting for what they show in a notification. If one app still shows the text, look in that app's settings too.

4. If previews still appear after you've chosen Never, restart your Mac. If they keep showing, contact Apple Support.