Now we will look at the Do Not Disturb mode settings on your Android phone and make sure that your favorite contacts can call or text you.
This article is suitable for all brands that produce phones on Android 11/10/9/8: Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, LG, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Meizu, Fly, Alcatel, Xiaomi, Nokia and others. We are not responsible for your actions.
Attention! You can ask your question to a specialist at the end of the article.
If the user does not want to be disturbed by phone calls or messages, then he can activate the Do Not Disturb mode. To make important calls in this situation, you can leave access to your favorite contacts. This is done by changing the Do Not Disturb settings.
What is Do Not Disturb mode on Android
This option was first used by developers on Android 5.0. Its name differs depending on the gadget manufacturer. If this mode is activated, then the receipt of messages or calls to contacts is selectively or completely limited.
Developers offer users pre-prepared templates. You can use them with just a few clicks:
- Only important ones. By selecting this mode, all notifications will be disabled, except those marked by the user as “Important”. System entertainment messages will still function.
- Only an alarm clock. This mode means that except for the alarm clock, all notifications will be turned off. There will still be active software sounds launched by the user independently, for example, games, music.
- Complete silence mode. Selecting this mode by the user means turning off all sounds.
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What to do if your phone is lost outside the home
If the phone is lost on the street or in a public place, then finding it, of course, will be more difficult, but there are chances. In this case, there are several recommendations that you can use to try to find the loss.
- Firstly, you need to start looking for a missing smartphone the moment it is discovered. In this case, the likelihood of finding it increases.
- Secondly, follow the steps above. If the smartphone is turned on, you will find it on the map and you will be able to hear the call melody. You can also lock your device and sign out of your Google Account (you'll still be able to locate your device on a map) or delete all data from your smartphone, but then you won't be able to locate your device.
- If you were in a public place (cafe, cinema, museum), then you need to go back and ask the staff, perhaps someone found a smartphone and left it at the reception.
- Call your phone. There is a chance that you will hear a call or the finder will answer you.
- If the above measures do not help, post advertisements on social networks, in communities and groups in your area (village, residential area). It is advisable to offer a reward in the ad, since in this case the finder would rather return the smartphone than take it to a pawnshop or try to sell it.
What to do if your smartphone is stolen
The worst case scenario for losing your phone is it being stolen. In this case, you should immediately contact the police department at the scene of the incident and write a statement noting the place and time of the theft. The application will also ask you to indicate the IMEI of the stolen smartphone - a unique 15-digit device identification number assigned to each smartphone.
The IMEI is indicated on the box in which the smartphone was sold, on a sticker on the back of the case (on a new device), in addition, it can be found by opening the Phone application and entering the combination *#06#.
Recommendations in case of phone theft
- As soon as possible, contact the police department at the place of the theft and write a statement.
- Don't forget to take your smartphone box with you.
- Be prepared for the fact that police officers may try to hint that you have “lost” your phone and that it is generally inappropriate to write a statement, and the likelihood of finding a smartphone is very low. In this case, firmly insist on filing an application.
- Theoretically, at the request of the police, you can obtain video from surveillance cameras, if there were any near the place where the theft occurred, and billing data from a mobile operator (by court decision). But in practice, the likelihood that law enforcement agencies will promptly deal with this is very small. Whereas an attacker who stole a phone can reinstall software on it and change IMEI.
- Go to the pawn shops closest to the site of the theft, your smartphone may be there.
- Call the investigator regularly and ask about the progress of the case.
Today it is almost impossible to find a person who does not have a mobile phone. This gadget has long become an integral part of our lives and helps not only stay in touch, but also work, have fun and study. It's no surprise that losing a device can be stressful, especially if you don't know where you left it.
We recommend keeping a close eye on valuables in public places and storing them in the inside pockets of your clothes or bags, and at home placing the device in its usual place.
Share your experience of finding a smartphone in the comments!
Setting the priorities of calls and messages
The opinion that after activating the Do Not Disturb mode the subscriber becomes completely isolated from society is erroneous. This option only creates restrictions for unwanted calls during the selected period.
The user is able to configure the priority after following the following path in the system interface: first click “Settings”, “Sound”, then select “Do not disturb” and click “Priority alerts”.
After this, you can select the type of notifications that you can receive. In the “Calls” section, you can set numbers that are allowed access to calls and messages during a special period. Often the user is asked to choose from the following applications:
- Contact list only.
- Only to specified subscribers.
- No one.
- Everyone.
There are special settings for users. You can make it so that you receive notifications from a subscriber who calls several times.
How to find your phone if it's at home
The best option is to lose your phone at home. Of course, the search becomes more difficult if the device is in silent mode, but even in this case, finding the gadget is very easy. To do this, you will need a laptop, PC or other smartphone.
1. Open the site https://myaccount.google.com/find-your-phone
2. If necessary, sign in to the account you use on your phone
3. In the list of Android devices on which this account is used, select your smartphone
4. The location of your device will be displayed on the map, in addition, on the left side of the screen you will see the options “Ring”, “Block” and “Wipe device”
5. Since the smartphone is at home, it is logical that the location of your home will be displayed on the map. To find the device, click on “Ring” - the smartphone will start playing the call melody, even if it is in silent mode.
A few more tips on how to find your phone at home
- Sit down and try to remember where you put the device. You can walk through the rooms - perhaps the device is in a visible place.
- It is possible that the smartphone is in silent mode, but vibration is turned on when making a call; try calling the device and hearing the vibration in silence.
- Ask your household, maybe someone will remember where you put the phone.
- If you cannot find the phone in the dark, then turn off the lights in the room and call the device. You may be able to find your smartphone by looking at the light from the screen.
- Look in unobvious places where the device could be: between sofa cushions, in the refrigerator, trash can, etc. Perhaps, while thinking, you accidentally put your smartphone in the refrigerator.
- Do you wear a smartwatch or bracelet synced with your smartphone via Bluetooth? You can find your phone using them. In the watch/bracelet menu, find More → Find device. The smartphone will start playing the ringtone, even in silent mode.
How to use Do Not Disturb mode
You can activate this mode using different methods. To manually activate, use the following instructions:
- Click "Quick Settings".
- Now the user needs to specify "Do not disturb".
- Select the appropriate function: important only, silence, alarm.
- Select the operating time of the mode.
- Click “Finish”.
The selected mode in quick settings is disabled.
The mode can be activated in automatic mode. To do this, you will need to configure it once:
- Go to “Settings”.
- Click on “Automatic rules” in “Sound”, then “Do not disturb”.
- Specify a suitable rule from those proposed or create your own.
New recent apps menu
New menu of recently launched applications. Now it is more functional - there are two vertical columns instead of a single horizontal strip. It has become much more convenient to switch between applications and work.
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You can pin some important application so that it is not unloaded from memory and always hangs among the recently launched ones. To do this, you need to press and hold your finger on the desired application.
Several quick settings icons will pop up, among which we need a lock. We pressed it and the application is not unloaded from memory even when we clean the RAM.
"Quiet Hours"
This is the simplest scenario so that it can be quickly activated for recurring events. The system already has the “Weeknight” and “Weekend” rules; the user only needs to make adjustments in accordance with his requirements.
For example, a setting is being made so that selected contacts can only call you on weekends, and on weekdays from 23:00 to 08:00 only the alarm clock functions. You can also introduce rules for meal times so that no one distracts you.
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Search functions on Android
Determining the location of a smartphone works if:
- device is on
- linked to Google account
- data transfer available
- geolocation is active
- Location feature is enabled
Data transfer is necessary to obtain GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates of your device. Geolocation is enabled through the quick access panel or smartphone settings. “Location history” and “Location determination” are also included there.
Third party search tools
Third-party services will provide additional functionality: tracking via camera, notification of SIM card changes, viewing incoming/outgoing calls, connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. Services run in the background: they consume traffic and drain battery power.
The top applications to protect your smartphone remain unchanged:
- Cerberus Phone Security
- Reptilicus
An obvious advantage of a third-party application is that if you change your Google ID, it does not stop working, and you still have access to the device’s geolocation.
In fact, any data transmission technology (3GPP, Wi-Fi) is suitable for searching for a smartphone.
3GPP
Mobile operators provide paid location determination services. Plus – receiving location via SMS. The downside is that you need to have your active SIM card in the missing device.
If you have used similar services, you probably know that the accuracy of location determination leaves much to be desired. This is due to the method of determining the location, which has nothing to do with GPS (Global Positioning System). The search is carried out by base stations.
The base station is a cluster of antennas with limited radiation patterns. The higher the signal level on the device, the closer it is to the base station. This gives a conditional search radius. When two radiation patterns from different base stations intersect, determining the location of the smartphone becomes more accurate.
WiFi
The Wi-Fi protocol uses 2 parameters to access the network - IP and MAC. The IP address is issued at the communication node, while the device's MAC is registered in the last mile ISP's switching equipment.
Using TeamViewer QuickSupport, you can remotely connect to your smartphone and check the current IP and MAC in the settings. The device must be linked to a TeamViewer account in advance.
In previous versions, MAC was detected in the toolbar; this feature is no longer available. You will have to go into the device settings.
You can unlock your smartphone remotely through the same Samsung Find My Mobile.
To do this, you must first activate the remote unlock function in the device settings.
The received IP address belongs to the Wi-Fi router to which the smartphone is connected. To obtain a global IP, you will need to go to a third-party service, for example, myip. The host name, provider and its DNS are determined by IP. Information about DNS ownership of a specific person is public. The Internet provider has access to the exact location address of the “IP+MAC” pair. This is non-public information; it can only be requested through the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Finding a lost phone using a SIM card
The method of searching for a switched off phone via a SIM card also has its pros and cons. So, for example, if relatively little time has passed since the loss, and there is a possibility that the SIM card is still in the device, it is quite reasonable to contact the telecom operator with all the necessary documents and a statement to carry out a search. However, if the suspicion falls specifically on theft, there is no point in searching for the phone in this way, since usually, in such situations, attackers immediately throw away the SIM card and turn off the device.
To search for a switched-off phone using a SIM card, operators use a modern GPS navigation system and fix geodata using a satellite signal, which is sent even to an inactive card. Preferably, this signal is sent simultaneously from several satellites, and after the card receives them, its location is instantly recorded by the nearest signal communication towers. Using this technology, you can establish the most accurate location of the subscriber, with a deviation radius of no more than two meters.
Finding a lost device using a special program for the Android operating system is the least effective, since it is only possible if the phone is turned on and has access to the mobile Internet. If it was deliberately stolen, then it is unlikely that the criminals left it in its original condition, that is, turned on and with a working SIM card.
In any case, you can try by downloading a special utility on the Google Play service. The installation and registration process is very simple and fast, and therefore everything can be done in a matter of minutes.
Sending SMS
Send a message to a stolen or lost phone. In fact, there are people who are still honest and don't mind returning a gadget to someone who lost it. You can contribute to this. Write an SMS to your number. You can use the same service. Click “Configure data blocking and deletion.” In the window that appears in front of you, you will need to enter a password, which will block the phone.
Then write a message asking the person to return your gadget. If this does not happen, protect your data. To do this, click the “Clear” button. This will entail deleting all data, and therefore the phone will go back to working in the standard settings from the manufacturer.
An additional way to search for a Samsung smartphone
Here you need to use Samsung Accounts. The Google Accounts password is not the same as the Samsung Accounts password.
Go to Samsung Find My Mobile. Enter the “Samsung ID/password” pair and find the smartphone.
Samsung Find My Mobile will notify the smartphone user about the geolocation request.
