How to Quickly switch between Alarms only, Total silence and Priority using Android Pie

[Android Central Question]

In the previous version I used all 3 DND options. Priority only was set up for overnight use for calls from specific contacts and Alarms. I used this when I was on call. Alarms only when I didn’t want to be disturbed at all and wanted to use my phone as an alarm clock. And total silence when in a meeting or cinema etc when I didn’t want any sounds at all but still wanted to see any calls or email notifications as they happen. It was easy to change between these options with only 2 taps.

How can this be done in Pie without having to change the configuration of DND every time I change, often several times a day?

I have seen comments that Pie makes managing DND simpler, but I don’t see how. It seems to provide less options and makes it harder to achieve what I want. I thought the DND options were brilliant in the previous versions, and can’t believe Android have taken this flexibility away. Is there any way of quickly, with one or two taps, switching between total silence, Alarms and customised DND options?

 

[methodman89]

Tap settings, tap sounds, tap mute.
Yes, I know it's 3 taps

 

[methodman89]

Tap settings, tap sounds, tap mute.
Yes, I know it's 3 taps

Or tap the speaker in the pull down menu : 2 steps

 

[sumi11]

I’ve tapped settings, then sounds, but don’t see a mute option. Even if I did, would that achieve total silence or alarms only?

 

[sumi11]

Pull down menu? Do you mean from top of screen that has wifi, mobile data, hotspot etc? I don’t have a speaker symbol here.

 

[methodman89]

Speaker with the word Sound. Your pull down menu has options that you need to swipe right to see.

Pull down menu? Do you mean from top of screen that has wifi, mobile data, hotspot etc? I don’t have a speaker symbol here.

 

[methodman89]

Speaker with the word Sound. Your pull down menu has options that you need to swipe right to see.

Here you go

 

[sumi11]

Thanks for this. Regrettably no speaker symbol in my Pixel. Have scrolled through both screens and have the wifi, Bluetooth, aeroplane, torch etc but no speaker. Thanks anyway. Looks like I shouldn’t have bought a Pixel.

 

[methodman89]

According to Pixel you should have it.

'method to put Pixel or Pixel XL into Silent mode is by holding down the power button until your see the mute and vibrate options on the screen, then choose one of the two. The third method to get access to the mute/vibrate options from the sound settings by swiping down from the top of your screen.'

 

[Rdm2020]

So using the'Mute' method STARTS Total Silence but doesn't solve the problem of returning your phone to normal when your done. DND had a duration that you could set.

Is there any way to do that?

 

[methodman89]

So using the'Mute' method STARTS Total Silence but doesn't solve the problem of returning your phone to normal when your done. DND had a duration that you could set.

Is there any way to do that?

Yes, it's in the dnd options as previously located.

 

[sumi11]

Holding power button gives 3 options, power off, restart, and screen shot. Swiping down from top does not provide ready access to silence. You have to click settings, sound, and then slide the ring volume and alarm volume to zero. Doable, it not as easy as the DND options previously which were one touch. Then when you want to take off silence reverse the process which is annoying esp if you don’t use full volume on ring and alarm, you have to experiment with the volume sliders to find the previous volume. Doable, but not easy, which is why I started this thread.