How to Turn Off Do Not Disturb From Specific People on an iPhone

PDF download Download Article
Learn how to take one person or specific people off the Do Not Disturb list
PDF download Download Article

Do Not Disturb silences all notifications, calls, and alerts on your iPhone. However, you can make exceptions and disable this feature for certain contacts. Here's how to turn off Do Not Disturb from specific people on an iPhone.

Things You Should Know

  • To exclude someone from Do Not Disturb, go to your iPhone "Settings" → "Focus" → "Do Not Disturb" → "People" → "Add People".
  • Set "Allow Calls From" to "Allowed People Only".
  • You can also add contacts to your "Favorites" list and set notifications from Favorites only.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is the grey cog icon. You can use Do Not Disturb to silence notifications from others.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c7\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c7\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will be next to the crescent moon icon. [1]
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is at the top of the page.
    • If you have another Focus mode you want to change instead, tap it.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9e\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9e\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can find this underneath the Allow Notifications header.
    • A new page will open.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is the + icon. Your contacts list will open.
    • The blue check mark should already be next to Allow Notifications From . If it isn't, tap this option to enable it now.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The circle on the left of the contact will turn blue with a white checkmark.
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The contact will be added to the Allowed People list.
    • To remove a contact, tap the minus symbol next to their contact icon.
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is under the Phone Calls header.
    • Options will expand.
  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bb\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bb\/Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Do-Not-Disturb-from-Specific-People-on-an-iPhone-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will allow phone calls from contacts on the Allowed People list.
    • Alternatively, you can add contacts to your Favorites list.
      • In the Contacts app, select a contact, and then tap Add to Favorites .
      • In Focus settings, set Allow Calls From to Favorites .
    10. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Hard Reset an iPhone
      10 Simple Ways to Fix an iPhone or Android That Won’t Send Pictures
      How to Fix "Notifications Silenced" on iPhone Messages
      Turn Off Location Sharing on an iPhone Without Anyone Knowing
      How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC: 3 Simple Ways
      4 Ways to Find Your Lost iPhone When It’s Offline or Dead
      2 Ways to Get a Still Image from Video on iPhone or iPad
      6 Easy Steps to Reload Your Cash App Card at the Store
      How to Automatically Forward Text Messages to Another Phone
      How to Overlay Pictures on iPhone
      How to Use the iPhone Hidden Album to Hide Private Photos
      How to Fix the “iPhone Unavailable” Message: Explanation and Fixes
      3 Easy Ways to Check Your WiFi GHz on an iPhone
      4 Simple Ways to Know if You’ve Been Blocked on Snapchat
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about smartphones, check out our in-depth interview with Naseem Speach .

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108302

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open your iPhone's Phone app.
      2. Tap Favorites.
      3. Tap the + in the top left corner.
      4. Tap on a contact, and select the phone number you want to favorite.
      5. Open your iPhone's Settings.
      6. Tap Do Not Disturb.
      7. Tap Allow Calls From.
      8. Select Favorites from the menu options.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 58,558 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement