Limit interruptions with Do Not Disturb on Android

You can silence your phone with Do Not Disturb. This mode can mute sound, stop vibration and block visual disturbances. You can pick what you block and what you allow.

Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 9 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

The Pixel battery continuously learns your behaviours and optimises itself based on your most recent app usage. When you set up a new device or after a factory reset, optimisation may take up to a few weeks to take full effect. For best results keep Adaptive Battery and Battery Optimisation on.

It's normal for your Pixel battery to drain a little more than usual after a software update. This is because the phone is working hard to download and optimise the new software and get everything up and running.

If you still experience unusual battery drain after a few days, please let us know and we'll be happy to help.

Quickly turn interruptions off or back on

To turn Do Not Disturb on or off, swipe down from the top of your screen. Then tap Do Not Disturb .

Tip: If you have a smart display or speaker with the Google Assistant, you can ask it to silence your phone. Find out how to limit interruptions with Google Assistant.

Change your interruption settings

Set what to block

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Sound and vibration  Do Not Disturb. If you find 'Do Not Disturb preferences' instead, you're using an older Android version. Try these steps for Android 8.1 and below.
3. Under 'What can interrupt Do Not Disturb', choose what to block or allow.
   • People: Block or allow calls, messages or conversations.
   • Apps: Choose which apps can send you notifications.
   • Alarms and other interruptions: Block or allow alarms, media, touch sounds, reminders or calendar events.

Tip: With any settings, critical notifications show. For example, you can't block system security notifications.

Set who can interrupt you

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Sound and vibration  Do Not Disturb.If you find 'Do Not Disturb preferences' instead, you're using an older Android version. Try these steps for Android 8.1 and below.
3. Under 'What can interrupt Do Not Disturb', tap People.
4. Choose what to allow:
   • Calls:
     • Anyone, contacts or starred contacts.
     • None.
     • Repeat callers. To let a call through if the same person calls twice in 15 minutes, turn on Allow repeat callers.
   • Messages:
     • Anyone, contacts, starred contacts or priority conversations
     • None.

Set how long Do Not Disturb lasts

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Sound and vibration  Do Not Disturb Duration for Quick Settings.If you find 'Do Not Disturb preferences' instead, you're using an older Android version. Try these steps for Android 8.1 and below.
3. When you turn on Do Not Disturb, choose how long you want it to stay on.
   • Until you turn it off 
   • A certain time, like For 2 hours or For 15 minutes
   • Ask every time
4. Tap OK.

Stop interruptions automatically

At certain times

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

1. Open your phone's settings app.
2. Tap Sound  Do Not Disturb Turn on automatically. If you find 'Do Not Disturb preferences' instead, you're using an older Android version. Try these steps for Android 8.1 and below.
3. Tap a rule. Or, to make your own rule, tap Add rule  Time.
4. Edit your rule's name, status and alarm override.
5. At the top, check that your rule is turned on.

To delete a rule, tap 'Delete' .

During events and meetings on your Google Calendar

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Sound and vibration  Do Not Disturb Schedules. If you find 'Do Not Disturb preferences' instead, you're using an older Android version. Try these steps for Android 8.1 and below.
3. Tap a schedule that’s already listed.
   • You can customise a schedule, for example, the days on which you want Do Not Disturb to turn on while you’re asleep.
4. To make your own schedule, tap Add more .
5. Tap Event, Time, or Driving.
6. Edit your schedule's name, when it would turn on and other options.
7. Check that your schedule is on.
   • To delete a schedule, tap it  Delete .

Before sleep ('Bedtime mode')

To automatically turn on Do Not Disturb when you get ready to stop using your device for a while, like when you sleep, you can use Bedtime mode.

While you drive

Important: If you use a Pixel phone, use Driving mode.

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap Google Personal safety.
3. Turn on Silence notification while driving.

If you're using Android 8.1 and below

Pick which interruptions to allow

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

Option 1: Total silence

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen with two fingers.
2. Under Do Not Disturb  or your current option, tap the down arrow .
3. Turn on Do Not Disturb.
4. Tap Total silence.
5. Choose how long you want this setting to last.
6. Tap Done. You'll see 'Total silence' . In 'Total silence':
   • Your alarms won't make noise.
   • Your device won't vibrate or make sounds when you get a call, message or notification.
   • You won't hear sounds from music, videos, games or other media.
   • During a phone call, you'll still be able to hear the other person.

Option 2: Alarms only

Important: This won't mute sounds from music, videos, games or other media.

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen with two fingers.
2. Under Do Not Disturb  or your current option, tap the down arrow .
3. Turn on Do Not Disturb.
4. Tap Alarms only.
5. Choose how long you want this setting to last.
6. Tap Done. You'll see 'Alarms only' .

Option 3: Priority notifications only

Important: This won't mute sounds from music, videos, games or other media.

1. Pick which notifications are a priority.
   1. Open your phone's settings app.
   2. Tap Sound  Do Not Disturb preferences  Priority only allows.
   3. Set your priorities.
2. Turn on 'Priority only'.
   1. Swipe down from the top of your screen with two fingers.
   2. Under Do Not Disturb  or your current option, tap the down arrow .
   3. Turn on Do Not Disturb.
   4. Choose Priority only.
   5. Choose how long you want this setting to last.
   6. Tap Done. You'll see 'Priority only' .

Automatically block interruptions

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

Option 1: Silence sounds during certain times

1. Open your phone's settings app.
2. Tap Sound  Do Not Disturb preferences.
3. Under 'Automatic rules', tap a rule, like Weeknight. Or, to make your own rule, tap Add more  Time rule.
4. Edit your rule.
5. At the top, check that your rule is turned on.

Option 2: Silence sounds during events and meetings

1. Open your phone's settings app.
2. Tap Sound  Do Not Disturb preferences.
3. Under 'Automatic rules':
   • To edit the default rule, tap Event.
   • To make your own rule, tap Add more  Event rule.
4. Edit your rule.
5. At the top, check that your rule is turned on.

Option 3: Block visual disturbances

1. Open your phone's settings app.
2. Tap Sound  Do Not Disturb preferences  Block visual disturbances.
3. To prevent notifications from:
   • Showing over your screen while you're doing something else, turn on Block when screen is on.
   • Turning on the screen or pulsing the light, turn on Block when screen is off.

Turn interruptions back on

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

Turn off Do Not Disturb

You can either: 

• Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap your current option: Alarms only , Priority only  or Total silence .
• Press the volume down button and tap Turn off now.

Override Do Not Disturb for certain apps

1. Open your phone's settings app.
2. Tap Apps and notifications.
3. Tap the app. If you don't see it, tap See all apps or App info, and then tap the app.
4. Tap App notifications.
5. Turn on Override Do Not Disturb. If you don't see 'Override Do Not Disturb', tap Additional settings in the app  Notifications, then turn on Override Do Not Disturb.

Related resources

• Change volume, sound and vibrate settings
• Control your notifications
• Find your chats and messages quickly