Short Tutorial/FAQ – Use Do Not Disturb Without
Missing Important Calls Over the Thanksgiving Holiday

Question: How can I silence my cell phone during Thanksgiving dinner without missing a call from family?

Answer: You don't have to turn your phone completely off to get some peace and quiet. Do Not Disturb lets you silence texts, app alerts, and most calls while still allowing the people you choose to reach you. It's especially handy when you want to enjoy dinner, watch the game, or take a post-turkey nap without constant pings.

On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Focus, and tap "Do Not Disturb." Under "People," you can add family members whose calls and messages should come through. You can also allow repeated calls. This means if the same person calls twice within a few minutes, the second call will ring through. To turn Do Not Disturb on quickly, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen and tap Focus.

On most Android phones, go to Settings, then Notifications, and select "Do Not Disturb." Look for options such as "People," "Calls," or "Exceptions." There, you can allow calls or messages from favorite contacts while silencing everything else. You can also schedule Do Not Disturb to turn on automatically at certain times.

Before you settle in for the holiday, test the settings with a family member. Have them call or text to make sure they can reach you if needed. And remember, alarms can usually still sound, so you won't miss that important reminder to take the rolls out of the oven.