[GH-ISSUE #1109 ] Android app shows ntfy icon at top even when there are no notifications #778

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Originally created by @chrisco484 on GitHub (May 17, 2024).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/binwiederhier/ntfy/issues/1109

💡 Idea
Currently on Android the ntfy icon is always present if the app is installed/running - even when there are no active notifications.

When I expand all notifications I can normally slide left to acknowledge most notifications and they disappear but the nfty one can not be removed.

This is rather annoying because I normally only like to see icons in the top bar when there are active/unacknowledged notification that require my attention.

Most other apps like FB, Whatsapp, LinkedIn, GMail etc., appear to implement this 'convention' of 'if you don't see an app's icon in the top bar then there's no notifications associated with the app' but unfortunately ntfy does not appear to follow this convention and its icon is present in the top bar even if there are no active notifications - unless there's a configuration setting that I'm missing?

💻 Target components

Android app

Originally created by @chrisco484 on GitHub (May 17, 2024). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/binwiederhier/ntfy/issues/1109 :bulb: **Idea** Currently on Android the ntfy icon is always present if the app is installed/running - even when there are no active notifications. When I expand all notifications I can normally slide left to acknowledge most notifications and they disappear but the nfty one can not be removed. This is rather annoying because I normally only like to see icons in the top bar when there are active/unacknowledged notification that require my attention. Most other apps like FB, Whatsapp, LinkedIn, GMail etc., appear to implement this 'convention' of 'if you don't see an app's icon in the top bar then there's no notifications associated with the app' but unfortunately ntfy does not appear to follow this convention and its icon is present in the top bar even if there are no active notifications - unless there's a configuration setting that I'm missing? :computer: **Target components**  Android app

BreizhHardware

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BreizhHardware commented

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@wunter8 commented on GitHub (May 17, 2024):

In recent Android versions, you can hide the persistent notification at a system settings level. What Android version are you using?

@wunter8 commented on GitHub (May 17, 2024): In recent Android versions, you can hide the persistent notification at a system settings level. What Android version are you using?

BreizhHardware commented

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@chrisco484 commented on GitHub (May 17, 2024):

In recent Android versions, you can hide the persistent notification at a system settings level. What Android version are you using?

Android 13

@chrisco484 commented on GitHub (May 17, 2024): > In recent Android versions, you can hide the persistent notification at a system settings level. What Android version are you using? Android 13

BreizhHardware commented

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@wunter8 commented on GitHub (May 17, 2024):

You should be able to just swipe the notification away. Also, if you long press the notification, and click on the gear/settings icon in the corner, it should bring you to the notification settings page where you can hide the notification entirely.

@wunter8 commented on GitHub (May 17, 2024): You should be able to just swipe the notification away. Also, if you long press the notification, and click on the gear/settings icon in the corner, it should bring you to the notification settings page where you can hide the notification entirely.

BreizhHardware commented

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@eerison commented on GitHub (Aug 24, 2025):

I'm with the same problem, the icon just disappear when I turn off the notifications 🥲

@eerison commented on GitHub (Aug 24, 2025): I'm with the same problem, the icon just disappear when I turn off the notifications 🥲

BreizhHardware commented

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@chrisco484 commented on GitHub (Aug 24, 2025):

I'm with the same problem, the icon just disappear when I turn off the notifications 🥲

Yeah, it's annoying heh! If there isn't anything to notify me about I don't want to see that icon at all. If every app that could potentially have notifications showed a permanent icon in the top section of my phone's screen it would be cluttered with icons and I would not be able to tell which ones actually had real notifications and which ones didn't - defeating the purpose of that section of the Android screen.

@chrisco484 commented on GitHub (Aug 24, 2025): > I'm with the same problem, the icon just disappear when I turn off the notifications 🥲 Yeah, it's annoying heh! If there isn't anything to notify me about I don't want to see that icon at all. If every app that could potentially have notifications showed a permanent icon in the top section of my phone's screen it would be cluttered with icons and I would not be able to tell which ones actually had real notifications and which ones didn't - defeating the purpose of that section of the Android screen.

BreizhHardware commented

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@binwiederhier commented on GitHub (Aug 24, 2025):

You are likely talking about the foreground service. This is a technical limitation on Android. The foreground service does not run if you're using firebase, which ntfy.sh uses, but your self hosted server cannot use.

You can hide it like this: https://docs.ntfy.sh/subscribe/phone/#instant-delivery

@binwiederhier commented on GitHub (Aug 24, 2025): You are likely talking about the foreground service. This is a technical limitation on Android. The foreground service does not run if you're using firebase, which ntfy.sh uses, but your self hosted server cannot use. You can hide it like this: https://docs.ntfy.sh/subscribe/phone/#instant-delivery

BreizhHardware commented

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@chrisco484 commented on GitHub (Aug 24, 2025):

Ah, ok, so it's the self hosting aspect that causes the problem. I think I understand it now.

Is there a paid service whereby our self hosted service can send an event to the ntfy.sh service so that it can produce the notifications in Android? So then, presumably, Android sees the notification coming from ntfy.sh and so it behaves like a normal notification icon that can be removed without needing to do the workaround of disabling instant notifications?

@chrisco484 commented on GitHub (Aug 24, 2025): Ah, ok, so it's the self hosting aspect that causes the problem. I think I understand it now. Is there a paid service whereby our self hosted service can send an event to the ntfy.sh service so that it can produce the notifications in Android? So then, presumably, Android sees the notification coming from ntfy.sh and so it behaves like a normal notification icon that can be removed without needing to do the workaround of disabling instant notifications?

BreizhHardware commented

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@binwiederhier commented on GitHub (Aug 25, 2025):

You can read all about it here: https://blog.ntfy.sh/2023/12/06/138-lines-of-code/#android-app

If you are technical, you can sign up for Firebase (see https://docs.ntfy.sh/develop/#firebase-setup), run your own ntfy server, and compile your own Android app with the Firebase service file embedded. Then you won't have the foreground service and notifications will come from Firebase/Google directly.

Happy to answer more questions, but this ticket is answered by https://docs.ntfy.sh/subscribe/phone/#instant-delivery -- You CAN disable the foreground service.

@binwiederhier commented on GitHub (Aug 25, 2025): You can read all about it here: https://blog.ntfy.sh/2023/12/06/138-lines-of-code/#android-app If you are technical, you can sign up for Firebase (see https://docs.ntfy.sh/develop/#firebase-setup), run your own ntfy server, and compile your own Android app with the Firebase service file embedded. Then you won't have the foreground service and notifications will come from Firebase/Google directly. Happy to answer more questions, but this ticket is answered by https://docs.ntfy.sh/subscribe/phone/#instant-delivery -- You CAN disable the foreground service.

BreizhHardware commented

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@mattokar commented on GitHub (Aug 31, 2025):

Hi.
Where exactly should Subscription Service option to disable be? I can't find it in app settings nor in app's notification settings page.
Thank you

@mattokar commented on GitHub (Aug 31, 2025): Hi. Where exactly should `Subscription Service` option to disable be? I can't find it in app settings nor in app's notification settings page. Thank you

BreizhHardware commented

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@kinslayer1982 commented on GitHub (Nov 18, 2025):

@binwiederhier

You can hide it like this: https://docs.ntfy.sh/subscribe/phone/#instant-delivery

Sorry, but the link is wrong. This is absolutely NOT how it looks like when following the instruction and there is nothing even similar to "subscription service".

@kinslayer1982 commented on GitHub (Nov 18, 2025): @binwiederhier > You can hide it like this: https://docs.ntfy.sh/subscribe/phone/#instant-delivery Sorry, but the link is wrong. This is absolutely NOT how it looks like when following the instruction and there is nothing even similar to "subscription service".

BreizhHardware commented

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@binwiederhier commented on GitHub (Nov 18, 2025):

Android does not allow you to dismiss this notification, unless you turn off the notification channel in the settings. To do so, long-press on the foreground notification (screenshot above) and navigate to the settings. Then toggle the "Subscription Service" off

It may look slightly different on your phone, but the instructions still work on my OnePlus phone

@binwiederhier commented on GitHub (Nov 18, 2025): > Android does not allow you to dismiss this notification, unless you turn off the notification channel in the settings. To do so, long-press on the foreground notification (screenshot above) and navigate to the settings. Then toggle the "Subscription Service" off It may look slightly different on your phone, but the instructions still work on my OnePlus phone

BreizhHardware commented