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To keep Windows 11 notification banners visible longer, open Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects, expand Dismiss notifications after this amount of time, and choose a duration. Windows notifications disappear after five seconds by default, according to Microsoft Support.
Change how long notification banners stay visible
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Select Start > Settings. You can also open Accessibility settings with Windows key + U.
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Go to Accessibility > Visual effects.
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Expand Dismiss notifications after this amount of time.
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Choose the duration you want from the dropdown.
Microsoft describes this dropdown as the control for how long notifications are displayed. Its documentation does not list the dropdown’s exact duration choices, which may vary by Windows build. See Microsoft’s Accessibility settings guidance.
Why the setting is not under System > Notifications
Settings > System > Notifications controls whether notifications are enabled and how individual apps deliver them. There you can configure app banners, whether notifications appear in Notification Center, and notification sounds. That page does not contain the documented banner-duration setting. See Microsoft’s notifications settings guidance.
Find a notification after its banner disappears
A banner leaving the screen does not mean the notification is gone. Open Notification Center by selecting the clock or notification bell on the taskbar, or press Windows key + N. Notifications that remain available there can be reviewed after their banners have disappeared.
Distinguish banner duration from silencing notifications
Do Not Disturb silences notifications, while allowing selected alarms, reminders, or chosen apps to show banners. Focus sessions turn on Do Not Disturb by default and can hide taskbar badges and flashing while active. These features manage interruptions; they do not change how long a displayed banner stays on screen. Microsoft explains these controls in its Windows notifications and Do Not Disturb guidance.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →If you cannot find the timeout dropdown
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Check that you are in Accessibility > Visual effects, not System > Notifications.
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Confirm that the device is running Windows 11 and look for the control under the exact label Dismiss notifications after this amount of time.
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If it is still missing, the available documentation does not establish why it is absent on a particular device. It does not confirm that a work or school administrator can restrict this dropdown, so check the device’s Windows version and configuration rather than assuming a policy is responsible.
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