How to Enable iOS 12's New Do Not Disturb at Bedtime Feature

[MacRumors]

There's nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, glancing over at your iPhone to check the time, and seeing a bunch of notifications that demand your attention and distract you from getting back to sleep.

Apple is aiming to prevent this in iOS 12 with a new Do Not Disturb at bedtime feature that prevents notifications from being displayed on the iPhone's Lock Screen during your downtime, removing the temptation to start opening up apps in the middle of the night.

Enabling Bedtime Mode

1. Open up the Settings app.
2. Scroll to the "Do Not Disturb" section and tap on it.
3. In the Do Not Disturb section, tap on "Scheduled" to toggle it on.
4. Select your Do Not Disturb time period, which, for most people, should be from when you go to bed until when you typically wake up.
5. Tap on Bedtime Mode to toggle it on.

With Bedtime Mode enabled, when you activate the display on your device, the entire screen is dimmed and black, offering up only the time, the current device charge, and a notice that Bedtime Mode is turned on.

In this mode, all incoming calls are silenced as are all incoming notification messages. Your notifications are still listed in the Notification Center, accessible by swiping down from the top of the display, but you won't see them on the Lock Screen.

Bedtime Mode vs. Do Not Disturb

With Do Not Disturb turned on without Bedtime Mode, all of your incoming calls and notifications are still silenced, but the notification messages themselves will all be visible right on the Lock Screen.

Enabling Calls From Certain People

If you want family members to be able to contact you even with Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Mode turned on in case of emergency, there's a setting for that.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap "Do Not Disturb."
3. Scroll down to the Phone section where it says "Allow Calls From."
4. Select Everyone, No One, or "Favorites," which can be set up in the Contacts app.

You can also toggle on "Repeated Calls" in the same section of the Settings app so a second call from the same person within three minutes won't be silenced. This is an ideal way to screen out unwanted calls while still allowing for potential emergencies as most people will try again if you're unreachable in a crisis.

Waking Up

When it's time to wake up, and when Bedtime Mode is scheduled to go off, your iPhone or iPad will display a "Good morning!" message and it will let you tap to reveal all of the notifications that were silenced during the night.

Turning Off Bedtime Mode

If Bedtime Mode isn't for you, you can turn it off in the Settings app where it was enabled.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on "Do Not Disturb."
3. If you want to turn off your scheduled Do Not Disturb session entirely, toggle off "Scheduled."
4. If you want to leave Do Not Disturb on but disable Bedtime Mode, tap the Bedtime Mode toggle to turn it off.

Note: To quickly access Do Not Disturb settings, swipe to open up the Control Center and then 3D Touch or long press on the little moon icon.

This will provide you with options to enable Do Not Disturb for an hour, a few hours, until the end of an event, or until you leave a specific location, and it also offers up a "Schedule" option at the bottom that opens straight into the Do Not Disturb toggles in the Settings app.

Article Link: How to Enable iOS 12's New Do Not Disturb at Bedtime Feature

 

[Braderunner]

I wish bedtime mode would turn on and off according to the bedtime you have set.

 

[davidg4781]

I wish bedtime mode would turn on and off according to the bedtime you have set.

Can’t you schedule it to your bedtime? Or am I missing something?

 

[KanosWRX]

I wish bedtime mode would be a true night mode, most dim setting, totally black screen with just a very small hint of light for the time. Also I hate how every time I move the phone it turns on..

 

[davidg4781]

I lay mine on my bed to track my sleep quality. Using the Good Morning app. Will it be coming on every time I toss and turn? When I bump the Apple TV remote and the TV turns on it bothers me.

 

[MacWanker]

Can you use this without 'scheduled' being toggled, just by toggling 'bedtime' on when required?

If so, great. Not everyone has such a predictable schedule...

 

[davidg4781]

Wait. If we’re using Bedtime in Clock app, do we still need to set up DND at Bedtime? Are they different things?

 

[MsRandall]

I want Do Not Disturb scheduler to be improved to set the day as well - I would like a M-F do not disturb option vs everyday

There was a tweak called Disturb Please that was great for this option

 

[davidg4781]

I was able to pick my days, but do you mean on different days have different schedule? I’m going to try waking up at 7am every day from now on. That should cover me for almost all the different shifts at work.

 

[Skeptical.me]

There's nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, glancing over at your iPhone to check the time, and seeing a bunch of notifications that demand your attention and distract you from getting back to sleep.

Apple is aiming to prevent this in iOS 12 with a new Do Not Disturb at bedtime feature that prevents notifications from being displayed on the iPhone's Lock Screen during your downtime, removing the temptation to start opening up apps in the middle of the night.

Enabling Bedtime Mode

1. Open up the Settings app.
2. Scroll to the "Do Not Disturb" section and tap on it.
3. In the Do Not Disturb section, tap on "Scheduled" to toggle it on.
4. Select your Do Not Disturb time period, which, for most people, should be from when you go to bed until when you typically wake up.
5. Tap on Bedtime Mode to toggle it on.

With Bedtime Mode enabled, when you activate the display on your device, the entire screen is dimmed and black, offering up only the time, the current device charge, and a notice that Bedtime Mode is turned on.

In this mode, all incoming calls are silenced as are all incoming notification messages. Your notifications are still listed in the Notification Center, accessible by swiping down from the top of the display, but you won't see them on the Lock Screen.

Bedtime Mode vs. Do Not Disturb

With Do Not Disturb turned on without Bedtime Mode, all of your incoming calls and notifications are still silenced, but the notification messages themselves will all be visible right on the Lock Screen.

Enabling Calls From Certain People

If you want family members to be able to contact you even with Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Mode turned on in case of emergency, there's a setting for that.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap "Do Not Disturb."
3. Scroll down to the Phone section where it says "Allow Calls From."
4. Select Everyone, No One, or "Favorites," which can be set up in the Contacts app.

You can also toggle on "Repeated Calls" in the same section of the Settings app so a second call from the same person within three minutes won't be silenced. This is an ideal way to screen out unwanted calls while still allowing for potential emergencies as most people will try again if you're unreachable in a crisis.

Waking Up

When it's time to wake up, and when Bedtime Mode is scheduled to go off, your iPhone or iPad will display a "Good morning!" message and it will let you tap to reveal all of the notifications that were silenced during the night.

Turning Off Bedtime Mode

If Bedtime Mode isn't for you, you can turn it off in the Settings app where it was enabled.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on "Do Not Disturb."
3. If you want to turn off your scheduled Do Not Disturb session entirely, toggle off "Scheduled."
4. If you want to leave Do Not Disturb on but disable Bedtime Mode, tap the Bedtime Mode toggle to turn it off.

Note: To quickly access Do Not Disturb settings, swipe to open up the Control Center and then 3D Touch or long press on the little moon icon.

This will provide you with options to enable Do Not Disturb for an hour, a few hours, until the end of an event, or until you leave a specific location, and it also offers up a "Schedule" option at the bottom that opens straight into the Do Not Disturb toggles in the Settings app.

Article Link: How to Enable iOS 12's New Do Not Disturb at Bedtime Feature

I really appreciate this feature. I'm at University p/t but I'm also "disabled" from chronic pain. And I live with 3 other people and often Im awake during the night and so I've set the bedtime mode for the hours everyone here sleeps so my iPhone doesn't buzz every 5 minutes and wake everyone up and I'm not distracted by notifications and then staring at a bright screen while I unsuccessfully try to sleep. Its helped a lot so far. Its true, staring at a screen during night hours really does affect your ability to fall asleep.

 

[marvz]

The first arrow is pointing at "Screen Time" and not at "Do Not Disturb" - kind of wrong.

 

[BvizioN]

I wish bedtime mode would turn on and off according to the bedtime you have set.

That's exactly what it does.

 

[marvz]

Can you use this without 'scheduled' being toggled, just by toggling 'bedtime' on when required?

If so, great. Not everyone has such a predictable schedule...

Just choose your latest time to wake up. I have mine set from 01:00am until 10:00am but most of the time I have to wake up at around 8:00am. And you can still toggle it manually and it remembers your scheduled DND time. Like if I toggle DND at 10:00pm it shows "DND until tomorrow 10:00am".
So you can have the best of both.

 

[Sven Seven]

I don’t see why Apple even added Bedtime mode. Putting the iPhone face down on the night stand with DND turned on just works fine.

 

[MasterMac]

I don’t see why Apple even added Bedtime mode. Putting the iPhone face down on the night stand with DND turned on just works fine.

Did you watch the keynote? Sometimes you want to be able to check the time on your phone without being bombarded with visual notifications of what's been coming in.

 

[Braderunner]

Can’t you schedule it to your bedtime? Or am I missing something?

It doesn't end at the same time as your bedtime alarm. It has a separate schedule. I know that I can change both, but, come on.
It makes more sense, to me anyway, to begin and end with your bedtime setting under the clock app.

 

[Braderunner]

That's exactly what it does.

I must be missing something, then. It doesn't end at whatever time that I have bedtime set to end under the clock app.
Do Not Disturb has a separate schedule. I think it would be easier to just adjust my bedtime in the clock app, and have do not disturb begin and end at the same time. Without having to also change dnd's schedule.
Actually, the more I look at it, I don't thing it has anything to do with bedtime settings under the clock app. It's just an option that can be added to your DND schedule, which is completely separate from your bedtime schedule.

 

[Supermacguy]

It would also be nice if when I wake up I dont have to enter my passcode. It seems like I have to enter my 4 digit code more when I wake up than any other times of day.

 

[Googlyhead]

There's nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, glancing over at your iPhone to check the time, and seeing a bunch of notifications that demand your attention and distract you from getting back to sleep.

Actually; there is: Being actively woken by your iPhone at 01:30am with a prompt to install the latest iOS release, because Apple have evidently reasoned that there's a better chance you'll (mistakenly) accept if you're not fully awake.

 

[davidg4781]

It doesn't end at the same time as your bedtime alarm. It has a separate schedule. I know that I can change both, but, come on.
It makes more sense, to me anyway, to begin and end with your bedtime setting under the clock app.

You know, I thought that. But. I have mine set to DND for bedtime until 530am. Reason is where I work, we open at 6. I’d like to not be bothered until I need to wake up, but, if something comes up I don’t want to be that person who didn’t answer multiple phone calls.

But. Alarm is set for 7am.

 

[Braderunner]

[doublepost=1532119285][/doublepost]

You know, I thought that. But. I have mine set to DND for bedtime until 530am. Reason is where I work, we open at 6. I’d like to not be bothered until I need to wake up, but, if something comes up I don’t want to be that person who didn’t answer multiple phone calls.

But. Alarm is set for 7am.

Ok...I got it to work the way that I want it to. I opened the clock app to the Bedtime feature. Then tapped options in the upper left corner. Then turned on the "Do Not Disturb During Bedtime" option. I'm not sure if that's new, or not.
I kind of feel like it's not. I can't remember why I didn't want to use that option, but, I forgot it existed. My habits have changed, and I want the DND schedule to mirror my Bedtime schedule. I also turned off the Scheduled option under DND in Settings. My bad...

 

[jacjustjac]

I think Apple is gearing up to release a watch with multi-day battery life and/or fast charging, with full support for wearing your watch to sleep and integrated sleep tracking functionality. Their acquisition of Beddit is a good sign, but also the early integration of Bedtime DND Mode and the Bedtime App. Both are pretty messy and confusing, which is how most new Apple services start out while Apple works out the kinks. I currently use Sleep Watch to track my sleep but I wish it could integrate with my alarm a la Sleep Cycle. I have a pretty varying schedule and it would be cool for the Apple Watch to suggest I remind me to take a nap every once in a while, and promise to wake me. Then when it knows you’re napping or sleeping it can automatically turn off raise to wake and notifications until you wake up.

 

[fefufighter]

There's nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, glancing over at your iPhone to check the time, and seeing a bunch of notifications that demand your attention and distract you from getting back to sleep.

Apple is aiming to prevent this in iOS 12 with a new Do Not Disturb at bedtime feature that prevents notifications from being displayed on the iPhone's Lock Screen during your downtime, removing the temptation to start opening up apps in the middle of the night.

Enabling Bedtime Mode

1. Open up the Settings app.
   
2. Scroll to the "Do Not Disturb" section and tap on it.
   
3. In the Do Not Disturb section, tap on "Scheduled" to toggle it on.
   
4. Select your Do Not Disturb time period, which, for most people, should be from when you go to bed until when you typically wake up.
   
5. Tap on Bedtime Mode to toggle it on.

With Bedtime Mode enabled, when you activate the display on your device, the entire screen is dimmed and black, offering up only the time, the current device charge, and a notice that Bedtime Mode is turned on.

In this mode, all incoming calls are silenced as are all incoming notification messages. Your notifications are still listed in the Notification Center, accessible by swiping down from the top of the display, but you won't see them on the Lock Screen.

Bedtime Mode vs. Do Not Disturb

With Do Not Disturb turned on without Bedtime Mode, all of your incoming calls and notifications are still silenced, but the notification messages themselves will all be visible right on the Lock Screen.

Enabling Calls From Certain People

If you want family members to be able to contact you even with Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Mode turned on in case of emergency, there's a setting for that.

1. Open the Settings app.
   
2. Tap "Do Not Disturb."
   
3. Scroll down to the Phone section where it says "Allow Calls From."
   
4. Select Everyone, No One, or "Favorites," which can be set up in the Contacts app.

You can also toggle on "Repeated Calls" in the same section of the Settings app so a second call from the same person within three minutes won't be silenced. This is an ideal way to screen out unwanted calls while still allowing for potential emergencies as most people will try again if you're unreachable in a crisis.

Waking Up

When it's time to wake up, and when Bedtime Mode is scheduled to go off, your iPhone or iPad will display a "Good morning!" message and it will let you tap to reveal all of the notifications that were silenced during the night.

Turning Off Bedtime Mode

If Bedtime Mode isn't for you, you can turn it off in the Settings app where it was enabled.

1. Open the Settings app.
   
2. Tap on "Do Not Disturb."
   
3. If you want to turn off your scheduled Do Not Disturb session entirely, toggle off "Scheduled."
   
4. If you want to leave Do Not Disturb on but disable Bedtime Mode, tap the Bedtime Mode toggle to turn it off.

Note: To quickly access Do Not Disturb settings, swipe to open up the Control Center and then 3D Touch or long press on the little moon icon.

This will provide you with options to enable Do Not Disturb for an hour, a few hours, until the end of an event, or until you leave a specific location, and it also offers up a "Schedule" option at the bottom that opens straight into the Do Not Disturb toggles in the Settings app.

Article Link: How to Enable iOS 12's New Do Not Disturb at Bedtime Feature

Why is this feature called “do not disturb” but the vibration of incoming calls is still activated?!
This is just driving me crazy during night time calls from colleagues in different time zones.

 

[bluewalt]

I read the article fastly, but it seems it does not explain how to use bedtime app to configure bedtime mode.
In this way, you DON'T have to check "scheduled" option and just open bedtime app, options, then check "do not disturb" option at this place.

 

[sclawis300]

[doublepost=1532119285][/doublepost]
Ok...I got it to work the way that I want it to. I opened the clock app to the Bedtime feature. Then tapped options in the upper left corner. Then turned on the "Do Not Disturb During Bedtime" option. I'm not sure if that's new, or not.
I kind of feel like it's not. I can't remember why I didn't want to use that option, but, I forgot it existed. My habits have changed, and I want the DND schedule to mirror my Bedtime schedule. I also turned off the Scheduled option under DND in Settings. My bad...

This may be the most poorly implemented idea from apple in a while. Too many places to turn it off and on and to many options that are misleading. Why even have a bedtime toggle switch under the schedule if you still have to manually adjust the time to match the bedtime???? Make those options independent or don’t have the bedtime option on that screen at all.