How to Clear Stuck Red Number Badges on iPhone Apps That Won’t Go Away

Red number badges are intended to alert you to new notifications, but sometimes they persist even after you’ve addressed them. This tutorial outlines several methods to clear these stubborn badges and restore a tidy home screen.

1. Open the App to Clear Notifications

Sometimes the badge remains because the app hasn’t registered that you’ve viewed the notification.
Steps:

Tap the app icon to launch it.
Navigate to the notifications or alerts section within the app.
Swipe through or tap each notification to mark it as read.
(Based on common troubleshooting tips shared on community forums )

2. Force Close and Reopen the App

Refreshing the app by force closing it can update its notification count.
Steps:

Access the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (or double-clicking the Home button on older models).
Swipe the problematic app upward to force close it.
Return to your home screen and reopen the app.
(This method is frequently recommended by users experiencing similar issues )

3. Toggle Badge Notifications Off and On

Resetting the badge setting can prompt the app to refresh its notification count.
Steps:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Notifications and then select the app with the stuck badge.
Toggle the Badges switch off.
Restart your iPhone.
Go back to the same settings screen and toggle Badges back on.

4. Restart Your iPhone

A simple restart can resolve minor software glitches that cause badges to stick.
Steps:

Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button (for iPhones with Face ID) until the slider appears.
Slide to power off.
Once the phone is off, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.
(Restarting is a universal troubleshooting step recommended by many support articles )

5. Update Your iOS Software

Updating to the latest iOS can fix bugs that lead to persistent notification badges.
Steps:

Open the Settings app and tap General.
Select Software Update and, if an update is available, tap Download and Install.
Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your device if prompted.
(Keeping your software up to date is a key step recommended by Apple support resources )

6. Log Out and Log Back In

Logging out of your account within the app and then logging back in can reset notification data.
Steps:

Open the app and access its Settings or account options.
Select the option to log out.
Close the app completely.
Relaunch the app and log back in using your credentials.
(This method is often suggested on community forums for apps with persistent notification issues )

7. Delete and Reinstall the App

Reinstalling the app resets its data and often clears any lingering badge notifications.
Steps:

Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears.
Select Delete App and confirm the deletion.
Open the App Store, search for the app, and reinstall it.
Launch the app and complete any initial setup steps as needed.
(A common remedy noted by users is to remove and reinstall the app to clear persistent badges )

8. Reset All Settings

Resetting your iPhone’s settings can resolve system-level issues affecting notification badges.
Steps:

Open the Settings app and tap General.
Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Select Reset, then tap Reset All Settings.
Enter your passcode if prompted and confirm the reset.
(This action will not delete your personal data but will reset system settings like Wi-Fi passwords )

9. Erase All Content and Settings

As a last resort, erasing your iPhone and restoring it to factory settings can eliminate persistent notification issues.
Steps:

Back up your iPhone using iCloud or iTunes.
Open the Settings app and tap General.
Scroll down to Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
After the reset, restore your data from your backup if desired.
(This extreme measure should be used only when other methods have not resolved the issue )