How to Schedule Do Not Disturb on Android Using Bedtime Mode

Why Use Bedtime Mode on Android?

Nothing disrupts a good night’s sleep quite like a sudden notification ping or a glowing screen illuminating your dark bedroom. While you can manually turn on Do Not Disturb every night, it is easy to forget. Android’s Bedtime Mode solves this by automatically silencing your phone and dimming your screen based on your preferred sleep schedule.

By scheduling Do Not Disturb, you ensure that only critical alarms and emergency calls can interrupt you, allowing you to disconnect from technology and rest without distraction.

How to Set Up Bedtime Mode

Bedtime Mode is a core feature of Android’s Digital Wellbeing suite. Depending on your phone manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus), the exact menu names might vary slightly, but the process remains largely the same.

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
3. Look for the section labeled Bedtime mode and tap on it.
4. You will be presented with a setup screen. Tap Turn on now to test it, or proceed to schedule it.

Scheduling Your Sleep Routine

You have two primary ways to automate when Bedtime Mode activates.

1. In the Bedtime Mode settings, tap Bedtime routine.
2. Select one of the following triggers:
   • Use a schedule: This is the most common option. Choose the specific days of the week you want the schedule to run, then set your target Start time (when you go to sleep) and End time (when you wake up).
   • Turn on while charging: If you only charge your phone at night, this is a great alternative. Set a time window (e.g., After 10:00 PM). Bedtime mode will only activate if the phone is plugged in during those hours.

Customising Bedtime Mode Features

Bedtime Mode does more than just silence notifications. You can configure it to change how your screen looks to reduce eye strain.

1. Return to the main Bedtime Mode screen and tap Customize.
2. Under the Screen options at bedtime section, you can enable:
   • Grayscale: Turns your entire screen black and white. This makes your phone visually less appealing, discouraging late-night scrolling.
   • Keep the screen dark: Disables the always-on display and prevents the screen from waking up when you receive silent notifications.
   • Dim the wallpaper: Reduces the brightness of your home screen and lock screen backgrounds.

Ensuring Important Calls Still Come Through

The biggest fear of using Do Not Disturb is missing a genuine emergency. Android allows you to create exceptions.

1. In the Settings app, navigate back to Sound & vibration and tap Do Not Disturb.
2. Tap on People.
3. Under Calls, select who can reach you while Do Not Disturb is active. You can choose Starred contacts (your favorites), Contacts, or Anyone.
4. Crucially, ensure Allow repeat callers is toggled On. This means if the same person calls you twice within 15 minutes, the second call will ring out loud, assuming it is an emergency.
5. Under Alarms & other interruptions, verify that Alarms are permitted so you don’t miss your morning wake-up call.

Once configured, Bedtime Mode will run quietly in the background, ensuring your phone supports your rest rather than disrupting it.