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Freedom251 › Blog › Do Not Disturb

How to Let Calls, Alarms, and Important Apps Through Do Not Disturb in Windows 11

By Freedom251 Team · · 2 min read

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In Windows 11, open Settings > System > Notifications to choose which calls, reminders, and app notifications can interrupt Do Not Disturb. Add trusted apps to priority notifications, then review automatic activation settings if Do Not Disturb turns on when you do not expect it.

Allow calls, reminders, and selected apps

  1. Open Start > Settings > System > Notifications.
  2. Expand Set priority notifications if it is collapsed.
  3. Under Calls and reminders, select the checkboxes for the incoming calls and reminders you want to come through while Do Not Disturb is on.
  4. Under Apps, select Add apps, then choose each app whose notifications you want to allow.

These are priority exceptions: alarms, reminders, and chosen apps can show banners while Do Not Disturb is active. Other notifications are sent to Notification Center for later review. If you need to adjust how an app notifies you beyond this exception list, select that app in Settings > System > Notifications and change its notification preferences.

Stop Do Not Disturb from turning on unexpectedly

Windows can activate Do Not Disturb automatically under conditions such as scheduled hours, display duplication, gaming, use of a full-screen app, or the first hour after a Windows feature update.

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  1. In Settings > System > Notifications, expand Turn on do not disturb automatically.
  2. Review the listed conditions and turn off any that do not fit your routine.

You can also switch Do Not Disturb on or off from Notification Center. When it is on, notifications outside your priority exceptions remain there rather than appearing as banners.

Check Focus if Do Not Disturb stays on

Windows Focus sessions turn on Do Not Disturb. Focus settings can also hide taskbar badges and flashing. If Do Not Disturb was already enabled before a Focus session began, Microsoft says it remains enabled after the session ends. If notifications stay quiet afterward, check the Do Not Disturb control in Notification Center and your automatic activation conditions.

If a Clock alarm does not appear

Windows Clock alarms and timers can work when the Clock app is closed or the device is locked, but Microsoft warns that alarm notifications appear only if the device is awake at the scheduled time. Check Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep if the computer may have gone to sleep before an alarm.

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