Imagine missing an important call from someone special because your phone is on Do Not Disturb (DND), silent, or focus mode. Don’t worry; you can set certain contacts to bypass these settings and always ring through.
THE intention is that you want to set a contact to always
That’s how you are interested in learning how to set a contact to always ring on Android even when a phone is on do not disturb mode or silent mode. However, you still want that one contact always to ring because it is essential ring or to select a specific contact to ring when you’re on DND or silent mode.
To enable Do Not Disturb (DND) on your mobile device, follow these steps:
Step1: Open mobile settings.
Step2: Access DND from “Notifications.”
Step3: Select “Calls & messages” in DND.
Step4: Add specific contacts to allow during DND.
Step5: Choose contacts and click “Done.”
SCROLL FOR SCREENSHOTS<, It is really easy.
These steps will help you set up Do Not Disturb and specify who can contact you during that mode.
How to Always Allow Specific Contacts to Ring on Android (Even on DND or Silent Mode)
Below are all the ways to set a contact as always ring even on silent, do not disturb, etc. So you will get all of the crucial calls.
1. Open the mobile settings.
Note: For Silent mode, check method 2, but for those who are using dnd, they can go with method 1.
2.Navigate to your phone’s ‘Settings’ app and search for ‘Do Not Disturb.’ Under ‘Allowed Notifications,’ choose ‘Calls & Messages,’ and add the contacts you want to bypass DND.
3. In Calls & messages, Add specific contact to allow during do not disturb. To add specific people, tap on the plus button.
4. Select contacts from the list of contacts.
5. Hit Done.
Also, read: How to Make a Folder On Android (instantly)
Here’s a step-by-step guide in 11 easy steps to make certain contacts ring on silent mode on Android:
- Open the Contacts or Phone app on your Android device.
- Find and select the contact you want to set as a priority contact.
- Open the contact details page.
- Look for an option to mark the contact as a favorite or set it as a priority contact.
- This can vary depending on the specific Contacts app or Android version you’re using. Some apps may have a star icon or an option to mark it as a favorite.
- Mark the contact as a favorite or set it as a priority contact.
- Exit the Contacts or Phone app and open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Search for “Sound” or “Sound & Vibration” settings.
- Tap on “Do Not Disturb” or “Notifications” settings.
- Look for the option to allow calls or notifications from priority contacts only.
- Enable the option to allow calls or notifications from priority contacts only.
- Exit the Settings app.
Once you’ve completed these steps, incoming calls or notifications from the specific contact you marked as a priority or favorite should still ring or sound even when your device is in silent or Do Not Disturb mode. Remember that the exact steps and options vary slightly depending on your Android device and version.
Allow Favorite Contacts To Allow Specific Contacts Ring On Silent Android
You can also allow Calls from contacts only, favorite person only, and for all. Moreover, you can allow Repeat Callers: Allowing calls when they’ve received from the same phone number more than once within 15 minutes.
Enable Favorite Contacts to Ring Through Silent/DND Modes
If you only want to accept calls from favorite contacts, select ”favorite contacts only” from the drop-down.
It will work when you have already selected some contacts as your favorite contacts from the dialer app. Then, when you select this, your phone will only ring on DND or silent when these people call you.
If DND exceptions don’t work, check if you have mistakenly enabled Focus Mode, which may override DND settings. Additionally, some phones have app-level notification permissions that need to be adjusted.
Marking a contact as a ‘Favorite’ often gives them priority access to notifications, even on DND or silent mode. Most Android devices use this feature to simplify managing essential contacts.
Note: The exact steps may vary slightly depending on your Android version or device brand. For instance, Samsung’s One UI uses ‘Exceptions’ under DND, while Google Pixel devices label it as ‘Priority Notifications.
To allow saved contacts, as always, to ring
Another option for allowing contacts to ring is to enable it. Get into DND configuration here, select calls and messages, then select contacts only from ”Also allow”.
2. Use a Third-Party App to Make Contacts Ring on Silent/DND
So, for those who need help finding the option or finding it challenging, this will help you better. Because it will help you manage calls on silent mode using an app.
It manages all the calls received when the smartphone is in silent mode.
Step 1. Firstly, download an app from the Google play store named Silent Manager whitelist -lite.
Step 2. Then, open the app and tap the add (+) button.
Step 3. Here, select the contacts you want to set as always ring on silent.
Step 4. Hit save and Done.
Now, whenever these people call you, even if your device is on silent mode or mute, it will still ring for those selected people.
What happens is that this app overrides the existing commands of smartphones and makes these phones ring.
Moreover, it is a free application with ads. However, it has a limitation that you can only select five people in the app’s free version.
But if you go with its complete version, you can add up to as many people as you want.
Here is the feature of its paid version:
Features
- Add and remove any contact to the whitelist
- Full integration with contact application, including
- Joined contacts
- Multiple phone numbers
- Ring on call and Messages for allowlist.
- Sleep time, Silent Manager will stop itself at this time.
- Full support of Android 2.3 or up
- Remember to check your allowlist.
- Long click on any item to have help.
- Compatibility with third-party programs like schedulers.
Also, check the below limitation of the accessible version of Silent Manager:
Limitations:
- You can add five contacts to your list.
- Contains advertisements.
- It doesn’t contain Sleep time settings.
That’s it; these are the primary techniques to use. If you think there is an alternative way, or by using settings, there’s no way to ring specific contacts on silent without using any external app.
Conclusion
| Method | Works on Silent? | Works on DND? | Requires App? | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Contact as Favorite | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Easy |
| Adjust DND Settings | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Moderate |
| Use Silent Manager App | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Easy |
I hope you find the article helpful. In today’s article, I have shown how to make specific contacts ring on silent or do not disturb mode. Let us know in the comments which method worked for you! And if you’re looking for more Android tips, check out our guide on Remove Synced Contacts on Android.
| Method | Works on Silent? | Works on DND? | Device/OS Compatibility | Unique Insight | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Automation Using Bixby Routines (Samsung) | ✅ | ✅ | Samsung (One UI 3.0 and above) | Use Bixby Routines to create an automation: If a specific contact calls, override silent/DND mode. This bypasses default limitations by using a conditional trigger. | Moderate |
| Google Assistant Routine Override | ✅ | ✅ | Android (Assistant-enabled devices) | Set a Google Assistant Routine: “When [Contact Name] calls, play ringtone at 100% volume,” even if the phone is on silent or DND. | Moderate |
| Priority Call Trigger in Automation Apps | ✅ | ✅ | All Android versions with Tasker/IFTTT | Use Tasker or IFTTT to create a profile that listens for a specific caller ID. When detected, the app triggers sound override and max volume, bypassing all restrictions. | Advanced |
| Pair Custom Ringtones with DND Exceptions | ✅ | ✅ | Most Android devices | Assign a custom ringtone at a unique frequency (e.g., 500Hz). Use DND settings to allow ringtones above a specific frequency, ensuring the contact always rings. | Easy |
| Silent Mode Manager App with Scheduler | ✅ | ✅ | Android (2.3 and above) | Use Silent Mode Manager to whitelist contacts and schedule timeframes for silent mode exceptions (e.g., allow specific contacts during work hours but not at night). | Easy |
| Emergency SOS Settings for Contacts | ❌ | ✅ | Select devices (Pixel, iPhone with Android integration) | Add a contact to your emergency SOS list. Many devices treat SOS contacts as priority callers, bypassing DND restrictions automatically. | Easy |
| Dynamic Notifications with Vibration Patterns | ✅ | ✅ | Most Android devices | Assign vibration patterns to specific contacts (e.g., SOS, urgent). Even on silent, these unique patterns help identify important calls without audible rings. | Moderate |
| Carrier Call Forwarding to a Secondary Number | ✅ | ✅ | All devices supported by the carrier | Forward calls from critical contacts to a secondary number, such as a landline or separate phone that isn’t on DND or silent mode. | Complex |
| Whitelist via Network Firewall App | ✅ | ✅ | Rooted Android Devices | Use apps like AFWall+ (for rooted devices) to whitelist certain contacts at the network level, ensuring their calls bypass phone restrictions, including DND and silent. | Advanced |
| Custom Contact Categories via Third-Party Apps | ✅ | ✅ | Android 8.0 and above | Create a custom contact category (e.g., “Critical”) in third-party apps like Contacts+. Configure DND to allow calls only from this category. | Easy |
| Manual Airplane Mode Toggle Exception | ❌ | ✅ | All devices | Use automation tools to disable airplane mode temporarily for specific contacts. When their call comes in, airplane mode toggles off, allowing the call to bypass blocks. | Advanced |
With these tips, you’ll never miss an important call again—even when your phone is on silent or Do Not Disturb. If you’ve discovered a different method that works for you, feel free to share it in the comments!
A: Yes, using an app from the Google Play Store, you can put your phone on silent except for one person. But there’s no direct way to do it because settings do not provide any settings.
A: To make your Android phone ring for specific contacts, Open mobile settings, get into Do Not Disturb Settings, and select the contacts to allow ring on DND.
A: Allows you to specify certain contacts as priority contacts, and their calls or notifications will ring even in silent or Do Not Disturb mode.
A: The number of contacts that can be added to the allowlist may vary depending on the device and its software. However, most devices should allow you to add multiple contacts to the allowlist.
A: Yes, you can set certain contacts to always ring without using an app by utilizing the built-in features of your Android device such as Do Not Disturb mode or Priority mode.
A: Use the ‘Silent Manager’ app or configure Do Not Disturb exceptions in your settings. Make sure the contact is marked as a favorite to avoid missed calls.
A: Yes, most Android devices allow setting custom ringtones for specific contacts, which can also help you identify essential calls when DND is off.
