iPhone Do Not Disturb Not Working? 9 Proven Fixes (2025)

Why does my Do Not Disturb not work?

If iPhone Do Not Disturb not working is causing notifications to bypass your settings, several factors could be responsible. In this guide, we’ll cover the most common reasons why the Do Not Disturb feature on iPhone or iPad may fail and provide effective solutions to fix it quickly.

1. Do Not Disturb Settings Are Misconfigured

Many users overlook their settings, which may be incorrectly configured. With the introduction of Focus Mode (iOS 15 and later), traditional DND settings have changed, potentially causing confusion.

2. Scheduled Do Not Disturb Not Set Up Properly

If your iOS Do Not Disturb not turning on as expected, the scheduled mode might not be set correctly. Double-checking your scheduled settings can help resolve the issue.

3. iOS Bugs or Software Glitches

Occasionally, iOS updates introduce bugs that may affect Do Not Disturb mode iPhone not working as intended. A system-level issue may require a software repair tool.

4. App Notifications Bypassing Do Not Disturb

Certain apps have permissions that allow them to bypass Do Not Disturb. These settings should be reviewed to ensure notifications are properly silenced.

5. iPhone Storage Issues Affecting Performance

Low storage can lead to performance problems, including iPhone notifications coming through Do Not Disturb. Clearing unnecessary files and optimizing storage can help maintain smooth operation.

Tip: Use Dr.Fone App for iOS to quickly clear iPhone storage and optimize performance.

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Part 2. Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Do Not Disturb Not Working on iPhone

Solution 1: Check your Do Not Disturb Settings

When you lock your smartphone, Do Not Disturb on iOS will mute your incoming calls and alarms. Here's how to use the function that allows you to mute all notification alerts while using your phone.

• Step 1. Open the Settings > Do Not Disturb menu (Settings > Do Not Disturb).
• Step 2. Select Always in the Silence section.

If Do Not Disturb doesn't muffle incoming calls while you're using your iPhone or while it's locked, go on to the next alternative.

Solution 2: Turn Off Repeated Calls

When Do Not Disturb is on, phone calls, texts, and other app alerts are muted, but individuals may still contact you if they call several times. Yes, your iPhone's Do Not Disturb option may be overridden by repeated calls (from the same individual).

• Turn off Repeated Calls in your device's Do Not Disturb settings to avoid this from occurring.

Solution 3: Disable or Adjust Do Not Disturb Schedule

If you observe that Do Not Disturb only works at certain times of the day, double-check that you haven't accidentally created a Do Not Disturb schedule. Make sure the Schedule option is turned off in Settings > Do Not Disturb.

If you do create a Do Not Disturb schedule, double-check that the quiet hours (start and finish times) are set appropriately. Check the chosen hours as well as the meridian designation (i.e., A.M and P.M).

Solution 4: Change Contact Status

Your "favorite" contacts, might override your iPhone's Do Not Disturb settings. When you mark a contact as favorite on your iPhone, that individual may contact you at any time of day or night (by phone call or text), even if Do Not Disturb is turned on.

So, if you're receiving calls from a random contact when Do Not Disturb is turned on, be sure you haven't accidentally marked the contact as a favorite. To check your favorite contacts on your iPhone or iPad, follow the instructions below. We'll also teach you how to remove a contact from your favorites list.

• Step 1. Tap Favorites in the bottom-left corner of the Phone app. Cross-reference the contacts on the list and keep an eye out for any odd or unfamiliar names.
• Step 2. Tap Edit in the top-right corner to unmark a contact.
• Step 3. Press and hold the red minus (—) button.
• Step 4. Finally, pick Done to save the change and touch Delete to remove the contact from the list.

Solution 5: Change Incoming Call Settings

When Do Not Disturb is enabled on your iPhone or iPad, does it fail to hush incoming calls? It's possible that this is because you've enabled Do Not Disturb to accept all incoming calls. Select Allow Calls from the Do Not Disturb menu.

Make sure either ‘Favorites’ or ‘No one’ is selected. If you want just incoming calls from unknown numbers to be silenced when on Do Not Disturb, you may choose All Contacts.

Solution 6: Restart iPhone

One quick fix for the iPhone Do Not Disturb not working issue is to simply restart your device. Power off your iPhone, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. After rebooting, double-check that the Do Not Disturb settings on iPhone are enabled and properly configured to match your preferences.

Solution 7: Reset All Settings

Normally, Do Not Disturb on iPhone silences calls, messages, and app notifications but does not affect alarms or reminders. However, some users experiencing the iPhone Do Not Disturb not working problem report that it occasionally interferes with alarm sounds. If this happens, try resetting your iPhone settings to restore default preferences. Keep in mind that this reset will remove saved alarms along with network and notification settings.

Note that: resetting the settings on your iPhone or iPad will not delete your media files or documents.

To reset all settings, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings and input your phone's passcode.

This will take 3–5 minutes, during which time your device will turn off and on. After that, turn on Do Not Disturb and set a fake alarm. Check to see whether the alarm goes off at the scheduled time.

Solution 8: Update your phone

Sometimes the iPhone Do Not Disturb not working issue can be linked to iOS bugs or glitches. Since outdated software may cause certain features to malfunction, it’s important to keep your device updated. To check for the latest iOS version, go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad and install any available updates.

Solution 9: Fix iOS System Issues with Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS)

If the iPhone Do Not Disturb not working issue still persists after trying all the basic fixes, the problem might be deeper within the iOS system itself. In such cases, advanced tools like Dr.Fone - System Repair can help you resolve software glitches safely without data loss. This is especially useful for users of the latest iPhone 17, where Apple has introduced enhanced notification controls and smarter Focus modes.

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• Step 1. From Dr. Fone's main window, choose "System Repair".

• Step 2. To fix the iPhone Do Not Disturb not working issue with Dr.Fone, connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer using the lightning cable. Once detected, you can choose between Standard Mode (repairs most iOS issues while keeping your data) or Advanced Mode (erases data but resolves more serious system problems). If Standard Mode doesn’t solve the issue, switch to Advanced Mode for a deeper fix. 

• Step 3. The program recognizes your iDevice's model form and displays the iOS framework models that are accessible. To continue, choose a version and click "Start".

• Step 4. After that, you may download the iOS firmware. The procedure may take some time due to the size of the firmware we need to download. Ascertain that the network is not disrupted throughout the procedure. If the firmware does not update properly, you may still download it using your browser and then use "Select" to restore the downloaded firmware.

• Step 5. The tool starts validating the iOS firmware after the upgrade.

• Step 6.In a couple of minutes, your iOS system will be fully functional. Simply take the computer in your hands and wait for it to start up. Both of the iOS device's issues have been rectified.

Part 3. Additional Tips to Optimize iPhone Performance

1. Clear iPhone Storage to Prevent Performance Issues

ow storage can sometimes cause the iPhone Do Not Disturb not working issue by slowing down system performance and disrupting background processes. When your device is nearly full, features like Do Not Disturb may not work correctly, resulting in notifications slipping through. Even with the advanced performance and expanded storage options on the new iPhone 17, running low on space can still trigger similar glitches. Regularly clearing unused files and managing storage helps ensure Do Not Disturb and other system functions run smoothly on your iPhone 17. 

Using Dr.Fone App for iOS can help optimize your device:

Key Features of Dr.Fone App - Smart Clean (iOS)

• Easily unlock various locks on your iOS devices, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
• Identify similar photos on your iPhone with 100% accuracy, making it easy to manage and organize your photo library.
• Merge and organize the Contacts app effectively, removing duplicates and keeping your contacts up-to-date.
• Clean up devices in just a few taps with the Smart Cleaning feature, freeing up storage space and improving performance.
• Manage subscriptions across iDevices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac, providing a centralized view of your active subscriptions.’

• Step 1. Download Dr.Fone App for iOS.

• Step 2. Open the app and scan for junk files.

• Step 3. Delete unnecessary files to free up space.

2. Enable and Configure Focus Mode Correctly (iOS 15 & Later)

If you’re using iOS 15 or later, Focus Mode replaces the traditional DND:

• Step 1. Open Settings > Focus.
• Step 2. Choose Do Not Disturb and set up customized options.

Conclusion

We have explored why Do Not Disturb not working on iPhone occurs and provided step-by-step solutions. If basic troubleshooting does not work, consider using Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS) to fix iOS Do Not Disturb not turning on due to system errors. Additionally, clearing storage with Dr.Fone App for iOS ensures smooth performance.

By following these methods, you can restore Do Not Disturb mode iPhone not working and enjoy uninterrupted peace when needed. If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with others facing the same issue!

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