Where to find Do Not Disturb and turn it on

Do Not Disturb is a setting that silences calls, texts, and notifications so your phone won't interrupt you. On most iPhones, you reach it through Control Center — the panel you swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (or up from the bottom on older models).

Swipe down from the top-right corner. Look for the crescent moon icon labeled "Do Not Disturb". Tap it once to turn the feature on. Your phone will show a small moon symbol in the status bar at the top, confirming it's active. Notifications will still arrive, but your phone won't make sounds or light up when they do.

If you don't see the Do Not Disturb icon in Control Center, you may need to add it first. Go to Settings, tap Control Center, then scroll down and tap the plus sign next to Do Not Disturb to include it in your quick-access panel.

Key Takeaways

  • Do Not Disturb silences calls and notifications but still lets them arrive — you can read them later without interruption.
  • The fastest way to turn it on is through Control Center, which you reach by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen.
  • You can set Do Not Disturb to turn on automatically at certain times or when you arrive at specific locations using the Settings app.
  • Starred contacts and repeated callers can still reach you even when Do Not Disturb is on, if you configure those exceptions.
  • Turning off Do Not Disturb is as straightforward as tapping the moon icon again in Control Center.

Setting a schedule so Do Not Disturb turns on automatically

If you want Do Not Disturb to set up at the same time every day — like during work hours or sleep time — you can set a schedule instead of turning it on manually each time. Open Settings and tap Focus (on newer iPhones) or Do Not Disturb (on older models).

Tap "Do Not Disturb" if you're in the Focus menu. Then tap "Add Schedule". Choose whether you want it based on time of day or a specific location. If you pick time, enter the start and end times — for example, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. for sleep. Your phone will automatically turn Do Not Disturb on and off at those times without you having to remember.

Once the schedule is set, you'll see it listed under Do Not Disturb in Settings. You can edit or delete it anytime by tapping the schedule and choosing Edit or Remove.

Allowing calls and messages from specific people

By default, Do Not Disturb blocks all notifications. But you may want certain people — like family or your boss — to reach you even when it's on. You can create exceptions for those contacts.

In Settings, go to Focus or Do Not Disturb, then tap "Do Not Disturb". Scroll down to "Allowed Notifications" and tap "People". Tap "Add People" and select the contacts you want to get through. Now calls and messages from those people will still alert you, even though everything else stays silent.

You can also allow calls from anyone who calls twice in a row within three minutes — a feature meant to catch emergencies. This setting is usually on by default. If you want to turn it off, go to Settings, find Do Not Disturb, and toggle off "Repeated Calls".

Turning off Do Not Disturb when you're done

To stop Do Not Disturb, swipe down from the top-right corner again and tap the moon icon. It will turn gray, showing the feature is now off. Your phone will resume making sounds and lighting up for calls and notifications.

If you set a schedule, Do Not Disturb will turn itself off at the end time you chose — you don't need to do anything. But you can always override the schedule by manually turning it off early if you need to receive notifications before the scheduled end time.

The difference between Do Not Disturb and Silent mode

Silent mode (the physical mute switch on the side of your iPhone) silences your phone's ringer and alerts when ready. Do Not Disturb is a software setting that does the same thing but also prevents the screen from lighting up when notifications arrive, and it lets you set rules about who can reach you.

Silent mode is faster if you just need quiet right now. Do Not Disturb is better if you want to block notifications for a set period, allow certain people through, or have your phone automatically go quiet at specific times. You can use both at the same time — they don't conflict.

Checking notifications that arrived while Do Not Disturb was on

Notifications don't disappear when Do Not Disturb is on — they just don't make noise or light up your screen. When you turn Do Not Disturb off, you can see all the messages and calls that came in while it was active.

Open the Notification Center by swiping down from the top-left corner. You'll see all your notifications grouped by app. Tap any notification to open it. Missed calls appear in the Phone app's Recents tab, and text messages are in the Messages app where they always are. Nothing is lost — it's just been quiet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will people know I have Do Not Disturb on?

No. When someone calls or texts you while Do Not Disturb is active, they won't see any indication that it's on. The call or message just goes through normally — they won't get a busy signal or an automatic reply unless you've set one up separately.

Can I set different Do Not Disturb rules for work and sleep?

Yes. On newer iPhones, you can create multiple Focus profiles (like "Work" and "Sleep") and set different allowed contacts and schedules for each one. Go to Settings, tap Focus, and tap the plus sign to create a new profile. Each one can have its own rules.

What happens to alarms when Do Not Disturb is on?

Alarms still go off normally. Do Not Disturb only silences notifications, calls, and messages — it doesn't affect alarms, timers, or reminders you've set in the Clock app.

Can I turn Do Not Disturb on for just one hour?

Yes. After you tap the moon icon to turn Do Not Disturb on, hold down the icon (don't just tap it). A menu will appear letting you choose how long to keep it on — options usually include one hour, until evening, or until you leave your current location.

Does Do Not Disturb stop all notifications or just the sounds?

It stops the sounds and the screen from lighting up, but notifications still arrive and sit in your Notification Center. You can read them whenever you open that panel. If you want to completely block notifications from an app, you'd need to change that app's notification settings separately.