In a world where news develops at lightning speed, you don't want to miss important events. Breaking news notifications make sure you know right away when something important happens. But too many notifications can also be disruptive. In this article we explain how to set up breaking news notifications smartly on your phone, so you stay informed without being flooded.

What are breaking news notifications?

Breaking news notifications are push notifications that news apps send when a major news event takes place. This can range from political news and natural disasters to big sports results and entertainment news. The notifications appear on your lock screen or as a banner, even when the app isn't open.

The advantage of breaking news notifications is that you know right away when something important happens. The downside is that every app uses its own definition of 'important', which can lead to notification fatigue if you allow too many apps to send notifications.

News apps with notification features

Most major news apps let you receive breaking news notifications:

Dutch apps

NOS: The app of the Dutch public broadcaster sends notifications for major news. You can select categories for notifications.

RTL Nieuws: Similar features, with options to adjust your notification preferences.

Nu.nl: One of the fastest Dutch news sources, with push notifications for breaking news.

De Telegraaf / AD: Newspaper apps with notifications for breaking news as well as sports and entertainment.

International apps

Google News: Sends personalized notifications based on your interests, plus breaking news.

BBC News: A reliable international source with well-curated notifications.

Reuters: Mainly for business and financial news.

The Guardian: International news with customizable notification preferences.

Setting up notifications per app

Every news app has its own notification settings. Here is a general approach:

In the app itself

Open the news app and go to Settings or Preferences (often found through a gear icon or hamburger menu). Look for 'Notifications', 'Push notifications' or 'Alerts'. Here you can usually set the following:

  • Turn notifications on or off
  • Select categories (only politics, only sports, etc.)
  • Choose the intensity (only very important news or less urgent news as well)
  • Set times (no notifications at night)

In your phone settings

You can also manage at system level which apps are allowed to send notifications:

iPhone: Go to Settings > Notifications. Find the news app and adjust whether notifications are allowed, how they are displayed (banner, sound, badge) and whether they appear on the lock screen.

Android: Go to Settings > Apps > [App name] > Notifications. Here you can manage specific notification categories if the app offers them.

A strategy for managing notifications

To avoid being flooded with notifications, it is smart to follow a strategy:

Choose a primary news source

Select one or two apps that you allow to send breaking news notifications. This prevents you from getting multiple notifications for the same news item. For Dutch news, NOS is a reliable choice; for international news, Google News or BBC.

Turn off notifications for other apps

Feel free to install multiple news apps to check them manually, but turn off notifications for those apps. That way you can always check a second source without being disturbed.

Use categories selectively

If you are mainly interested in political news but not in sports, set up your notifications accordingly. Most apps offer this option.

Set a schedule

Don't want to be disturbed at night? Use your phone's 'Do Not Disturb' feature or set the app itself to send notifications only during the day.

Notifications on your smartwatch

If you have an Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch or another smartwatch, you can also receive news notifications on your wrist:

Apple Watch

Notifications you receive on your iPhone are forwarded to your Apple Watch (unless you turn this off). In the Watch app, go to Notifications to decide per app whether notifications appear on your watch.

Wear OS / Samsung

Similarly, in the Galaxy Wearable or Wear OS app you can set which notifications are sent to your watch.

This can be handy for quickly seeing whether a notification is important enough to pick up your phone, but it can also feel disruptive. Set this up according to your personal preference.

Widgets as an alternative to notifications

If you find notifications disruptive but still want to see news quickly, consider news widgets:

A widget on your home screen shows recent headlines without actively sending a notification. You decide when to look. This gives you back control while still letting you see at a glance whether there is important news.

Most news apps offer widgets. See our article on weather widgets for instructions on adding widgets to your home screen.

Dealing with news stress

Constant breaking news can cause stress, especially when the news is negative. Here are tips for a healthy approach to news consumption:

Limit notifications: Only receive notifications for the most important news. Most news can wait until you open the app yourself.

Set news moments: Instead of constantly checking notifications, choose fixed moments (for example morning and evening) to read the news.

Choose quality: Read a few in-depth articles rather than dozens of short messages. This gives more context and less sensationalism.

Take breaks: It's okay to take a news break now and then, especially during distressing events. You can temporarily turn off all news notifications.

Notification settings per situation

Consider having different notification profiles for different situations:

Workday: Minimal notifications to stay focused. Only the most important breaking news.

Weekend: Perhaps allow a few more notifications when you have more free time.

Vacation: Consider temporarily turning off all news notifications for real relaxation.

Special events: During elections or a major sporting event, you can temporarily allow more notifications for specific topics.

Technical troubleshooting

Not receiving notifications even though you have set them up? Check the following:

App permissions: Make sure the app has permission to send notifications in your phone settings.

Battery optimization: On Android, battery-saving features can stop apps in the background. Set the news app to 'not optimized' for battery.

Do Not Disturb mode: Check that your phone isn't set to 'Do Not Disturb'.

App updates: Make sure your app is up to date. Old versions can have problems with notifications.

Reinstalling: If nothing helps, try removing the app and installing it again.

Frequently asked questions

Below we answer frequently asked questions about breaking news notifications.

Frequently asked questions

Which news app is best for breaking news notifications?

For Dutch news, NOS and Nu.nl are reliable choices. Choose an app you trust and that lets you customize notification categories.

How do I avoid too many news notifications?

Choose at most two apps that you allow to send notifications. Turn off notifications for other news apps and set categories selectively.

Can I automatically turn off news notifications at night?

Yes, use your phone's 'Do Not Disturb' feature with a schedule, or set the news app itself to send notifications only during the day.

Do news notifications use a lot of battery?

Push notifications use minimal battery because they are sent through efficient system notification services. The battery usage is negligible.

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