The bell with a line through it is a notification icon that tells you “sound is off.” You’ll see it on phones, tablets, laptops, or inside apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter (now called X). When this symbol shows up, alerts are muted—no ding, ping, or buzz.
In everyday life, you tap it when you need quiet: during a meeting, at the movies, or when you just don’t want your phone to shout every time a message arrives. Most people slide down the notification bar, hit the little bell with the slash, and forget about it until they’re ready to hear alerts again.
Meaning & Usage Examples
• On Android or iPhone, a bell with a line through it next to a contact in WhatsApp means you muted that chat.
• On X, clicking the same icon on a user’s profile stops their tweets from buzzing your phone.
• On Windows or Mac, the symbol appears in the taskbar or menu bar when system sounds are disabled.
Common Use Context
People use it most during work hours, school, or bedtime. One tap keeps distractions away without turning the whole device to silent or airplane mode.
Does the bell with a line through it block calls?
No. It only silences notification sounds. Calls still come through; they just won’t ring unless you’ve also set your phone to silent or Do Not Disturb.
How do I turn the sound back on?
Tap the same bell icon again or go to Settings > Notifications and switch the toggle back on.
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