How to Enable and Manage iPhone Notifications on Mac in macOS Sequoia

When working at a desk, repeatedly picking up an iPhone to check incoming app notifications—such as delivery alerts, two-factor authentication prompts, ride-share updates, or domestic security cameras—disrupts concentration and workflow momentum. Historically, only notifications from native Apple services (iMessage, FaceTime, Calendar) relayed between iOS and macOS. With the release of macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, Apple introduced unified iPhone Notifications on Mac as part of the Continuity and iPhone Mirroring framework. Incoming notifications from any iPhone application appear directly in your Mac Notification Centre, allowing you to stay informed and interact with mobile apps from your desktop.

How iPhone Notifications Work on macOS Sequoia

iPhone notification forwarding operates over encrypted peer-to-peer wireless protocols:

• Universal Relay: Forwards alerts from any third-party iOS app—including Instagram, Uber, food delivery apps, banking clients, and smart doorbell cameras—directly to your Mac.
• Interactive Action Badges: Clicking an incoming iPhone notification banner automatically launches iPhone Mirroring on your Mac, opening the corresponding iOS app directly on your desktop.
• Distinct Visual Badging: iPhone notifications feature a miniature phone glyph next to the app icon, making it immediately clear whether an alert originated from your Mac or iPhone.
• Independent Permission Controls: Selectively allow or suppress notifications on your Mac on a per-app basis without disabling alerts on the physical iPhone.

System Requirements

To enable iPhone notification forwarding, verify the following hardware and account requirements:

1. Operating Systems: A Mac running macOS Sequoia (15.0 or newer) and an iPhone running iOS 18 (or newer).
2. Hardware: A Mac with Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) or an Intel Mac equipped with a T2 Security Chip.
3. Account & Connectivity: Both devices must be signed into the same Apple Account with Two-Factor Authentication enabled. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must remain active on both machines.

Step 1: Set Up iPhone Mirroring on Mac

Notification forwarding is anchored to Apple’s iPhone Mirroring system:

1. On your Mac running macOS Sequoia, open the iPhone Mirroring application from the Dock or Applications folder.
2. Follow the on-screen pairing prompts to link your iPhone.
3. Authenticate on your iPhone using your device Passcode.
4. During initial setup, macOS will display a prompt asking: Allow notifications from iPhone? Click Allow.

Step 2: Managing Notification Permissions in System Settings

To fine-tune which iPhone applications are allowed to forward notifications to your Mac:

1. Open the Apple menu () and click System Settings.
2. Click on Notifications in the left sidebar.
3. Under the section labelled Allow notifications from, locate iPhone.
4. Ensure the master toggle for Allow notifications from iPhone is enabled.

Step 3: Filtering Individual iPhone Applications

You may wish to receive delivery alerts and home security notifications on your Mac while suppressing noisy mobile game updates or social media pings:

1. In System Settings > Notifications, scroll down through the application list.
2. Notice the dedicated section labelled iPhone Notifications.
3. Every iOS app that sends alerts appears here, decorated with a small iPhone emblem.
4. Click on any individual app (e.g. DoorDash, Ring, or WhatsApp).
5. Customise alert behaviour:
   • Toggle Allow Notifications off to mute that app entirely on your Mac.
   • Choose alert style (None, Banners, or persistent Alerts).
   • Toggle Show in Notification Centre and Play sound for notification.

Interacting with iPhone Notifications on Your Mac

When an iPhone alert slides onto your Mac desktop:

• View Details: Click the down arrow or hover over the notification to read complete messages.
• Launch App via Mirroring: Click directly on the notification body. macOS immediately opens the iPhone Mirroring client, unlocks your phone virtually in the background, and navigates straight into the relevant iOS app.
• Dismiss: Click the close (X) icon. Dismissing an alert on your Mac clears it from your iPhone notification lock screen simultaneously.

Unified notifications deliver complete situational awareness while keeping your physical phone securely docked and out of reach.