Do Not Disturb blocks most notifications, but not all of them

Do Not Disturb (DND) silences notifications on your phone or computer, but certain apps and contacts can bypass it. This happens because DND has settings that let specific people and apps always reach you, even when the mode is active. The notifications you're still seeing are coming through those exceptions — not because DND is broken.

The most common reason is that someone is in your Favorites, VIP contacts, or Starred Contacts list, depending on your device. Another reason is that an app has permission to override DND in its own settings. A third reason is that you've set DND to allow calls or messages from specific groups, like family or work contacts. Understanding which setting is letting notifications through is the first step to stopping them.

Key Takeaways

  • Contacts marked as Favorites or VIP can send calls and messages through DND on most phones, even when the mode is fully on.
  • Some apps have their own permission to bypass DND, which you control in the app's settings or in your phone's notification settings, not in DND itself.
  • DND modes often have separate rules for calls, messages, and app notifications, so turning on DND for one type does not silence the others.
  • Repeated calls from the same number can break through DND on iPhones and some Android phones as a safety feature, even if that contact is not in Favorites.

Check which contacts can reach you through DND

On iPhones, go to Settings > Focus (or Do Not Disturb, depending on your iOS version) > select the active DND mode > scroll to "Allowed Notifications" and tap "People." You will see a list of contacts who can call or message you even when DND is on. If someone you do not want to hear from is listed, tap the minus sign next to their name to remove them.

On Android, the process varies by manufacturer. On Samsung phones, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > tap the mode that is currently active > look for "Allowed contacts" or "Exceptions." On stock Android (Pixel phones), go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > tap the active mode > scroll to "People" and review who is allowed. Remove anyone you do not want to receive notifications from by tapping their name and selecting "Remove."

If you see no one listed under allowed contacts but notifications are still coming through, move to the next section — the notifications may be coming from an app, not a person.

Find apps that are overriding Do Not Disturb

Some apps have built-in permission to send notifications even when DND is on. This is separate from your DND settings and lives inside the app's own notification controls. On iPhones, go to Settings > Notifications, scroll through the list of apps, and look for any app with a note that says "Notifications can bypass Focus" or similar language. Tap that app and turn off "Allow Notifications" or toggle off "Critical Alerts" if that option appears.

On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Notifications (or Notification Settings, depending on your phone). Look for an option called "Bypass Do Not Disturb" or "Override Do Not Disturb." If an app has this toggle turned on, switch it off. You may need to go into each app's individual settings to find this option — it is not always in the system settings.

Common culprits are messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal), calendar apps, alarm apps, and phone apps. These often have permission to break through DND by default because they are considered important. If you do not want to hear from them during DND, disable that permission.

Understand the difference between DND modes and their rules

Many phones let you create multiple DND modes with different rules. One mode might allow calls from Favorites but silence everything else. Another might allow messages from work contacts but block calls. If you have set up more than one DND mode, check which one is currently active — you may have turned on a mode that has looser rules than you thought.

On iPhones, swipe down from the top right to open Control Center, long-press the Focus icon, and see which mode is active. Tap it to see its rules. On Android, open Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and look for which mode has a checkmark or is labeled "Active." Tap it to review what it allows.

If the active mode is letting through notifications you do not want, switch to a stricter mode or edit the current one. To edit, tap the mode name and adjust the "Allowed Notifications" or "Exceptions" section.

Turn off repeated call exceptions

iPhones have a safety feature that lets a caller break through DND if they call twice within three minutes. This is meant to may support emergencies can reach you, but it also means someone calling back quickly will get through even if they are not in your Favorites. To turn this off, go to Settings > Focus (or Do Not Disturb) > select the active mode > scroll down to "Phone" and toggle off "Repeated Calls."

Android does not have this exact feature, but some Samsung phones have a similar option under Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > Advanced Settings. Look for "Allow calls from" and make sure it is set to "None" if you want no calls to break through.

If you turn off repeated calls and still want emergencies to reach you, add those specific contacts to your Favorites or allowed list instead. That way only the people you choose can get through, not anyone who happens to call twice.

Check if your work or school profile has its own DND settings

If your phone is managed by your employer or school, they may have set up a separate DND profile that overrides your personal settings. This profile might allow notifications from work apps or work contacts to come through even when your personal DND is on. Go to Settings > Accounts (or Profiles) and look for a work or school account. Tap it and look for notification or DND settings within that account.

If you find work-specific DND settings, review what they allow. You may need to contact your IT department or administrator to change these settings, as they are often locked on managed devices. If you do not want work notifications during personal DND time, ask your administrator whether the policy can be adjusted or whether you can disable the work profile during off-hours.

Restart your phone if notifications still come through

Sometimes DND settings do not explore correctly until you restart. Turn your phone off completely, wait ten seconds, and turn it back on. After the restart, turn DND back on and test whether notifications still come through. A restart clears temporary glitches that can cause DND to malfunction.

If notifications still arrive after a restart and you have checked all the settings above, the notification may be coming from a source you have not yet identified. Go back through the allowed contacts and app permissions one more time, paying close attention to any contact or app you use frequently. If you still cannot find the source, try turning off notifications for that specific app entirely rather than trying to silence it through DND.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I still get text messages when DND is on?

Text messages come through DND if the sender is in your Favorites, VIP contacts, or allowed contacts list. Check Settings > Focus > [your active mode] > Allowed Notifications > People and remove anyone you do not want to hear from. If no one is listed there, the messages may be coming from an app like WhatsApp or Telegram that has permission to bypass DND.

Can I turn off DND for one app but keep it on for everything else?

Not directly — DND silences all notifications except those you explicitly allow. Instead, go to Settings > Notifications, find the app you want to hear from, and turn off its notification permission entirely. Then turn DND back on. That app will not send notifications at all, but you can turn its notifications back on whenever you want.

Why do alarm notifications still go off during DND?

Alarms are designed to bypass DND because they are time-sensitive. If you do not want to hear an alarm during DND, delete the alarm or turn it off before activating DND. Some phones let you silence alarms within the Clock app settings, but this is separate from DND.

Does DND stop notifications on my smartwatch too?

DND on your phone does not automatically silence your smartwatch. You may need to set DND on the watch separately through its own settings app. Check your watch's notification settings and look for a Do Not Disturb or Focus mode, then turn it on independently.

What if I want to allow calls but block everything else during DND?

On iPhones, go to Settings > Focus > [your mode] > Phone and choose "Calls From" > "Favorites" or "Contacts." On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > [your mode] and set "Allow calls from" to "Favorites" or "Contacts." Then make sure "Allow messages from" is set to "None" or "Favorites only."