Go into the settings app, then tap on Apps & Notifications, and tap on Houseparty.
The same system is in place on Android too. You could turn all of these off, but leave Badges open, where the notification number appears in a red circle on the Houseparty app icon. You can have them appear on the lock screen or not, appear in the Notification Center or not, and appear as a drop-down banner at the top of the screen, or not. Here you can turn notifications for the app off entirely (meaning you won't know when a friend invites you to a party), or change how they look. For iPhone users, this means opening the Settings app, then tapping on Notifications, then Houseparty. Of course, you can also limit notifications at a system level by going into your phone's settings menu. Notifications for all apps can be adjusted in the Settings app GearBrain With both of these switched off, you will still receive notifications when a contact calls you, invites you into a video chat, or sends the 'hi' notification, which we think is a good compromise. This page also lets you switch off 'Get My Friends' Notifications.' Toggle this off and you will no longer receive those 'in the house' alerts every time a friend opens the app. To ghost your friends, open the app (or sneak in), then tap the face icon into the top-left corner, then tap Manage Notifications.įrom here you can switch off 'Send Out My Notifications' to effectively ghost everyone, meaning no one will be told when you open the Houseparty app.Īlternatively, you can choose to ghost individual contacts, so only those who remain un-ghosted are the ones you are alerted when you open the app. Ghosting is the phrase Houseparty uses in its own set of house rules, and means that friends who are ghosted will no longer receive those annoying 'in the house' notifications when you open the app. This may sound a bit extreme, especially in a time when social interaction is at a premium, but it's not as drastic as it sounds. It's a bit like a friend smuggling you into an actual party through the back door. That way, when you're told someone has opened the app, you can tap the notification to get in without alerting anyone else. Sneaking into the app also works when you tap on an incoming Houseparty notification. You can 'sneak' into the app - in other words, open it without anyone receiving a notification - by long-pressing on the Houseparty app icon, then tap the 'Sneak into the House' button.
Thankfully, there are settings menus in the app and your phone itself to get your Houseparty notifications under control.įirst, a useful trick for iPhone users.
You only really need the latter, unless you really want to be told every single time every friend opens the app.