How to Use Do Not Disturb on Android to Silence Notifications

You want your Android phone to stop ringing and buzzing — during a meeting, at night, or while you focus — without missing the people who really matter.

Why: Do Not Disturb (now part of Modes on Pixel) silences calls, texts, and notifications but still lets you set exceptions for favorite contacts, alarms, and repeat callers. Some steps need Android 11 or later.

Settings paths vary by maker (Samsung One UI vs Pixel). Wording below follows Google’s Pixel and Android docs.

Step 1: Turn Do Not Disturb on and off

The fastest way is from Quick Settings.

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings.
2. On Pixel, tap Modes, then Do Not Disturb, then Done (older versions and other makers show a Do Not Disturb tile directly).
3. To turn it off, tap the same tile again.

A crescent-moon or Do Not Disturb icon in the status bar tells you it’s on.

Step 2: Set how long it lasts

Decide whether it stays on until you turn it off, or auto-ends after a set time.

1. Open Settings > Modes > Do Not Disturb (older Android: Settings > Sound & vibration > Do Not Disturb).
2. Tap Duration for Quick Settings.
3. Choose Until you turn off, a set time like 1 hour, or Ask every time so it prompts you when you switch it on.

Step 3: Let important people and sounds through

So you don’t miss a family emergency, allow specific exceptions.

1. In Settings > Modes > Do Not Disturb, open Notification filters (older Android: People, Apps, and Alarms & other interruptions).
2. Under People, allow calls and messages from Starred contacts or Contacts, and turn on Allow repeat callers so a second call within 15 minutes rings through (useful for real emergencies).
3. Under Alarms & other interruptions, keep Alarms and Media on so your alarm still wakes you.

Step 4: Schedule it or use Flip to Shhh

Automate Do Not Disturb so you don’t have to remember it.

1. In Settings > Modes > Do Not Disturb, tap Schedule (or Set a schedule) and pick the days and times — for example overnight.
2. On many Pixel phones you can also turn on Flip to Shhh: place the phone face down on a flat surface to switch Do Not Disturb on instantly. Find it under Settings > System > Gestures.
3. Bedtime mode (in the Clock app or Digital Wellbeing) can silence notifications and dim the screen on a nightly schedule.

FAQ

Will my alarm still go off in Do Not Disturb? Yes, as long as Alarms is allowed under the interruption/exceptions settings — it is by default.

Can I let just one person ring through? Mark them as a Starred contact, then under People allow calls from Starred contacts only.

Some notifications still come through. Critical system and security alerts can’t be blocked by design. Check Notification filters / Apps to silence specific apps.

Where is Do Not Disturb on Samsung? Settings > Notifications > Do not disturb — a different path from Pixel’s Settings > Modes > Do Not Disturb, but the exceptions work the same way.

Sources: Pixel Phone Help — Limit interruptions with Modes & Do Not Disturb on Pixel phone or Pixel Tablet, Android Help — Limit interruptions with Modes & Do Not Disturb on Android