You can keep Do Not Disturb on and still let selected people, calls, and app alerts interrupt you. On iPhone, configure the Do Not Disturb Focus under Settings > Focus. On Android, edit the selected mode’s Notification filters. The labels and options differ by platform, so follow the steps for your phone.
Choose what should be allowed before changing settings
Decide whether you need calls from specific people, messages from particular contacts, notifications from certain apps, or a repeat-call exception. These are separate controls: allowing calls from someone does not necessarily allow every notification from an app, and allowing an app can let through alerts beyond calls.
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- People: choose contacts or call groups that may reach you.
- Apps: allow only the apps whose notifications need to interrupt you.
- Repeat callers: optionally allow a second call from someone who tries again soon.
- Alarms and other interruptions: on Android, review these separately from people and apps.
Allow selected calls and notifications on iPhone
- Open Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb.
- Under People, add the contacts or call groups you want to allow. Review the call options there to decide who can call while the Focus is on.
- Turn on Allow Repeated Calls if you want a caller who tries again to be able to get through. Apple’s current iPhone User Guide, identified as the iOS 27 edition, says this permits two or more calls from the same person within three minutes.
- Under Apps, add only the apps whose notifications should interrupt Do Not Disturb. If an app offers time-sensitive notifications, you can allow those through as well.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb from Focus in Settings or Control Center, then test the selected exceptions.
When a particular contact must make a sound
If you want one person’s ringtone or text tone to sound even when notifications are silenced, open that person’s contact card, choose Edit, then review the ringtone or text tone settings for Emergency Bypass. Apple says Emergency Bypass can allow that contact’s sound and vibration through silencing. It is a contact-specific exception, not a general permission for all callers.
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Optional: share Focus Status
With Focus Status sharing enabled, people contacting you may see that your notifications are silenced. This communicates your status; it does not guarantee that someone will respond to an emergency or that a message will be seen.
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Allow selected calls and notifications on Android
- Open Settings > Modes > Do Not Disturb, select the mode you use, and open Notification filters.
- Under People, configure whether calls, messages, or conversations from selected people are allowed or blocked.
- Under Apps, choose which apps may send interruptions.
- Review Alarms and other interruptions separately, and allow the alarm or other interruption types you need.
- If wanted, enable Allow repeat callers. Google’s Android Help says the same person calling twice within 15 minutes can be allowed through.
- Enable the mode and check its duration or schedule so it stays on for the period you intend.
Some steps require Android 14 or newer, and settings vary by phone maker. If your menus differ, search Settings for “Do Not Disturb” or consult your phone manufacturer’s instructions. Google also notes that critical system notifications, such as security notifications, cannot be blocked; that is different from setting a chosen contact to bypass silence.
iPhone and Android exceptions are not identical
| Control | iPhone | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Where to configure | Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb | Settings > Modes > Do Not Disturb > Notification filters |
| People and apps | Choose allowed people under People and allowed apps under Apps. | Configure People and Apps filters separately; call, message, and conversation controls are available under People. |
| Repeat-call rule | Apple’s iOS 27 guide: two or more calls from the same person within three minutes. | Google Android Help, accessed in 2026: the same person calls twice within 15 minutes. |
| Special interruption | Emergency Bypass can allow a selected contact’s ringtone or text tone and vibration through silencing. | The cited Google guide says critical system notifications, such as security notifications, cannot be blocked. |
| Variability | Labels can vary with the installed iOS version. | Some steps require Android 14 or newer; settings vary by manufacturer. |
Check why something still gets through—or is blocked
- An expected call is silent: confirm Do Not Disturb is on, then check whether the caller is included in the allowed people or call group. On iPhone, also check whether Allow Repeated Calls is enabled if you are relying on a second attempt.
- An unexpected call rings: review allowed callers and repeat-caller settings. On iPhone, check Emergency Bypass for that contact if its sound is still getting through.
- An app alert interrupts you: review the app allow-list and, on iPhone, whether time-sensitive notifications are allowed.
- An alarm or other interruption behaves unexpectedly on Android: inspect Alarms and other interruptions rather than changing the people or app filters.
- The mode turns off too soon: verify the active mode’s duration or schedule. Google documents a duration setting for Android Do Not Disturb.
After adjusting the filters, turn the mode on and test it with a trusted caller or an app notification. Change one exception at a time if the result is not what you intended.
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Sources
- Apple Support: Allow or silence notifications for a Focus on iPhone
- Google Android Help: Limit interruptions with modes and Do Not Disturb on Android
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