# Reading, opening, and clearing notifications

**Category:** [Notifications Center](https://help.totalctrl.app/hc/totalctrl/totalctrl-help-center/en-US/categories/notifications-center)
**Updated:** 2026-10-04

## Read vs. unread

New notifications are **unread** and counted on the bell's badge. Opening an item — or clicking its action button — marks it read and the badge count goes down. To clear the badge in one go, click **Mark all read** at the top of the tray.
## Opening what it's about

Most notifications have an action button that takes you straight to the result — **Open** a finished video, **Download** an SDK, **Review** a generated course, **Reconnect** an integration. Clicking it marks the notification read and jumps you there.
## Dismissing

Done with a notification? Hover it and click the **×** to dismiss it, removing it from your tray. On the full **See all notifications** page you'll find a dismiss button on every row.
## See all notifications

The tray shows your most recent items. For the complete list, choose **See all notifications** at the bottom of the tray. From there you can page through everything, open items, and dismiss what you no longer need.
## Live updates

You don't need to refresh — notifications appear in real time as work finishes, and the bell updates on its own. If your connection is briefly interrupted, it catches up automatically within a minute.
## Automatic cleanup

Your tray stays tidy on its own. Notifications you've read are cleared automatically after about a month, and anything you dismiss is removed right away, so old items never pile up.

---

## Related Articles

- [Troubleshooting notifications](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/notifications-troubleshooting)
- [Notification preferences](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/notifications-preferences)
- [Your Notifications Center](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/notifications-overview)
- [What you'll be notified about](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/notifications-what-you-get)

---
[← Back to TotalCtrl Help Center](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/)