How to Disable Icon Notification Badges on Galaxy S8

In this guide we’ll show you how to disable those annoying notification badges on the Samsung Galaxy S8. As messages and notifications pile up on your phone, little orange dots appear on app icons with the number of unread notifications. It’s a feature a lot of users love, like those coming from the iPhone.

However, these notification badges don’t work with all of your apps. Meaning you’ll see it on some, and not others. This is frustrating and thankfully there’s a way to disable them.

Read: 8 Best Galaxy S8+ Screen Protectors

In the past, you could easily disable notification badges in the settings menu. Sadly, that’s no longer the case. Most of the Galaxy S8 software is highly customizable, but Samsung doesn’t let us turn this off. However, we’ve found a solution so read on for the quick and simple instructions. This works for the Galaxy S8+ as well.

Before we begin, it’s worth noting that there is a temporary fix and a permanent one. To clear the notification badge just press and hold the app icon, and tap the “clear badge” option from the pop-up. This gets rid of the orange notification dot, but it comes back once you get another notification.

How to Disable Notification Badges on the Galaxy S8

To completely disable notification badges we need to download a 3rd party app from the Google Play Store.  Make sure you ONLY disable the notification badge option detailed below. As disabling other packages or things can harm your phone. Be careful with this application.

Note: Clear all notification badges from every app before you begin. Otherwise, they’ll stay stuck on the screen after you follow the guide below.

Instructions

• Download BK Package Disabler from the Play Store ($2.49 but it’s worth it)
• Open BK Package Disable and follow the prompts to add the BK Plugin
• With all icon badges cleared, Open PK Package Disabler again
• Tap the System column

• Scroll down and find BadgeProvider from the list of packages
• Check the box next to BadgeProvider (check this box only)

Again, we do not recommend that users check any other boxes or disable any packages on the Galaxy S8. Some of these are crucial to how the phone works, and you’ll cause problems if you check the wrong box. So only disable the BadgeProvider, then hit home and never use the app again.

Now, you’ll never see those annoying orange circles with numbers on them. All the icon notification badges are gone for good. You can’t choose which apps have notification dots and which don’t. It’s all or nothing. If you want to get these back, simply uncheck the box and uninstall BK Package Disabler.

Other Details

And finally, if you’re worried about messing with your phone or downloading 3rd party apps, we have one more solution. Get a different launcher for the Galaxy S8. You can download and install a new Home Launcher, many of which have far more options and customization than Samsung’s.

Read: How to Completely Disable the Bixby Button on Galaxy S8, Note 8

The Google Now Launcher looks like stock Android, or the Pixel Launcher makes the Galaxy S8 look like the Pixel 2 XL. And others like NOVA Launcher are extremely popular. It basically replaces how the entire homescreen and app tray looks.

Sadly these three suggestions are your only options when it comes to getting rid of the notification icon badges on the Galaxy S8. Before you go, take a look at these 25 Best Galaxy S8 cases.