DND OverrideOpen the native controls
On current stock Android and Pixel devices, open Settings → Modes → Do Not Disturb, then review Notification filters. Depending on the Android version and manufacturer, the path may instead appear under Sound & vibration, Notifications, or Modes and Routines.
Google's Android Help notes that setting names vary by phone. Common filters include:
- People: calls, messages, selected contacts and repeat callers.
- Apps: apps allowed to notify during a mode.
- Conversations: conversations marked as priority, where supported.
- Alarms and other interruptions: alarms, media sounds, reminders, calendar events and touch sounds.
Inspect notification categories too
Long-press a notification or open Settings → Apps → the app → Notifications. Android 8 and later organize many notifications into channels/categories. A source app may separate motion, messages, incidents or background status. Set only the needed category to alerting and choose a sound. Some phones expose DND override at the category level; others route exceptions through Modes.
When native Android is sufficient
- You want all notifications from one app.
- You want calls or messages from favorite contacts.
- You need alarms during DND.
- The app already has a dedicated category for the important event.
- You need repeat callers or a priority conversation.
When text matching adds something different
Android's native filters generally do not inspect arbitrary notification wording. DND Override may help when one app/category contains both routine and urgent notifications and only text such as “critical,” “down,” or “person detected” should trigger a separate sound.
It receives posted notifications through Android's notification-listener service, performs matching on-device and plays a selected sound with alarm audio attributes while DND is active. It does not change the DND policy.
OEM and background differences
Manufacturers can rename settings and impose battery/background restrictions. Notification listeners are also subject to Android platform limits; work profiles and some managed or low-RAM devices may restrict access. After setup, test the exact notification with DND active, the device locked and alarm volume above zero.
Continue with one-app exceptions or keyword notification alerts.