How to Set Up Do Not Disturb on Android Phone | Easy Guide to Customize DND Modes

If you want to stop getting bombarded with notifications, calls, or alerts at the wrong time, Do Not Disturb (DND) on Android is your best friend. Setting up DND modes lets you control when and how your phone interrupts you—whether you’re working, sleeping, or simply taking a break from digital noise.

This step-by-step guide covers everything from a quick DND toggle to creating custom modes, scheduling, and troubleshooting—so your phone only speaks up when you want it to.

Key Takeaways

What Is Do Not Disturb (DND)?	Why Use It?	Quick Setup Steps
Silences notifications, calls, and alerts	Reduces distractions during work, sleep, or focus	Swipe down > Tap DND icon or Settings > Sound > DND
Lets you set rules and exceptions	Lets urgent calls/messages through if needed	Customize who can contact you during DND
Can be scheduled or triggered automatically	Saves you from manually toggling it every time	Set schedules for bedtimes, meetings, or driving mode

What Exactly Is Do Not Disturb Mode?

Do Not Disturb is more than just muting your phone—it’s about personalized control. You decide what’s muted and what still gets through. For instance, you might want your alarms to ring in the morning, or to let calls from close family through at night.

Whether you have a Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, OnePlus, or another Android device, the concept is the same: you make your phone quiet on your terms.

How to Quickly Turn On and Off Do Not Disturb

From Quick Settings:

Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings.
Look for the Do Not Disturb icon (circle with a minus “–”).
Tap it to toggle on/off.

Tip: If you don’t see it, swipe left or tap the pencil icon to edit and add DND to your quick menu.

By Voice Command:

Say “Hey Google, turn on Do Not Disturb”
Or “Hey Google, turn off Do Not Disturb”

Perfect when you’re driving or busy.

How to Access and Customize DND Settings

Open Settings.
Tap Sound & Vibration (sometimes labeled just Sound).
Tap Do Not Disturb.

On Samsung: Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb
On OnePlus: Settings > Sound & Vibration > Do Not Disturb

Here you can tweak exactly how DND behaves.

Customizing Do Not Disturb

Once you’re in the settings, you can control:

1. Allowed Exceptions

Calls: let everyone, contacts, favorites, or no one call.
Messages: same options as calls.
Repeat Callers: allow a second call from the same person within 15 minutes to ring through.
Alarms & Media: choose whether alarms, reminders, or music can still make sound.

2. Notification Filters

Block or allow sounds for:

Events & reminders
Media playback
Touch sounds / screen lock sounds

3. On-Screen Behavior in DND

Dim the screen.
Hide pop-up or banner notifications.
Turn on grayscale or bedtime display if supported.

Scheduling Do Not Disturb Automatically

Scheduling means DND runs without you touching a button.

Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb > Schedules (or Turn on automatically).
Tap Add schedule.
Pick your trigger:
- Time-based: Set start/end time (e.g., 11 PM – 7 AM).
- Event-based: Sync with your calendar.
- Activity-based: Enable during driving, gaming, or workouts.

Example: “Work Mode” runs 9–5 Monday to Friday, allowing only work emails and calls from colleagues.

Creating Custom DND Modes

On some phones (Samsung, OnePlus, Pixel with Digital Wellbeing), you can make multiple profiles:

Work Mode: Only work apps and important calls.
Sleep Mode: Alarms allowed, calls only from family.
Study Mode: Everything muted except urgent messages.

To set up:

Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb > Schedules/Modes > Add Mode.
Name it, set permissions, choose triggers.

Troubleshooting Do Not Disturb Issues

Sometimes DND doesn’t behave.

Problem	Possible Cause	Quick Fix
Notifications not silenced	Too many exceptions allowed	Reduce exceptions in DND settings
DND turns off/on unexpectedly	Overlapping schedules or Digital Wellbeing	Review and adjust your schedules
Important calls not coming through	Caller not marked priority / repeat disabled	Star the contact & enable “Allow Repeat Callers”
Apps bypassing DND	App has override permission	Remove DND override in App Permissions

Fix tips:

Restart your device to clear glitches.
Update Android — new releases often fix DND bugs.
Check app-specific notification settings.

Pro Tips for Getting the Most from DND

Use Google Assistant shortcuts for hands-free control.
Combine DND with Android secret codes to explore extra device features.
Link DND with calendar events so meetings are silent automatically.
Use DND with Android Auto for distraction-free driving.
Keep alarms in exceptions so you never oversleep.

Final Thoughts

Do Not Disturb on Android isn’t just about silencing your phone—it’s about control. Once you set it up, you can focus on what matters without worrying about missing truly important calls or alerts.

If you found this guide useful, check out more Android tips and guides on our Blog, or read our iPhone troubleshooting tips if you use both platforms.

Question for you: Do you keep DND always on for specific apps, or do you schedule it? Drop your answer in the comments below — let’s compare setups.