Did you know you can disable Do Not Disturb for as many contacts as you want? Here's how to bypass Do Not Disturb with Emergency Bypass, so emergency bypass contacts on your iPhone can call, text, or both.
Your Tip of the Day is sponsored by:
Sponsors make free tips & tricks possible. Visiting our sponsors helps keep the newsletter free.

Featured Deals

T-Mobile Is Helping Families to Stay Connected, Committed to Military & Veterans

Get unlimited talk, text, and data on America's largest 5G network — with exclusive military discounts! T-Mobile is committed to supporting active duty military, veterans, and military spouses to stay connected. Get all of T-Mobile's unlimited plan benefits with more entertainment and travel perks at a discount for veterans & military. Learn More.

We earn a small commission if you click the links in this email; this is how we keep our newsletter free.

Tip of the Day  

Use Emergency Bypass on iPhone to Designate Priority Contacts

Did you know you can disable Do Not Disturb for as many contacts as you want? Here's how to bypass Do Not Disturb with Emergency Bypass, so emergency bypass contacts on your iPhone can call, text, or both.

Why You'll Love This Tip

  • Use the Emergency Bypass iPhone feature to designate priority contacts on your iPhone.
  • Priority contacts on your iPhone can call, text, or both with Do Not Disturb on, so you're never out of touch.

CAROL Bike gives you the shortest, most effective workouts—proven to deliver double the health and fitness benefits in 90% less time compared to regular cardio. CAROL’s AI-personalized workouts are easy to follow, suitable for any age and fitness level, and create the most potent training stimulus with just 2x20-second sprints. Get $200 off with the code MOTHERSDAY.

How to Let Priority Contacts on iPhone Bypass Do Not Disturb with Emergency Bypass

System Requirements

This tip was performed on an iPhone 16 running iOS 18.3. Find out how to update to the latest iOS.

Can emergency contacts call on Do Not Disturb? Yes, if you turn on Emergency Bypass in their contact card. If you have priority contacts on your iPhone that you want to be able to call and text you, even with Do Not Disturb enabled, here's how to let them reach you:

  1. Open the Contacts app or Phone app.

    open phone app
  2. If you open the Phone app, tap the Contacts tab.

    tap contacts tab
  3. Tap the contact you want to designate as an emergency contact who can reach you even when Do Not Disturb is turned on.

    tap a contact in contacts tab
  4. Tap Edit in the top right corner.

    tap edit in contact

    Enjoying Your Tip of the Day?

    If you'd like to learn more about iPhone Life's premium paid subscription, click here

  5. Tap Ringtone.

    tap ringtone
  6. Toggle on Emergency Bypass. This will allow phone calls from that person to always go through.

    toggle on emergency bypass
  7. Repeat these steps for Text Tone to allow texts to bypass Do Not Disturb as well.

    tap text tone
  8. Tap Done.

    tap done after toggling on emergency bypass
  9. Repeat these steps for all the emergency bypass contacts you'd like to add.

Now you know how to use the emergency bypass iPhone feature to let priority contacts on iPhone contact you even when you have a Focus mode set. Be sure to check out our free Tip of the Day for more great Focus mode tutorials.

 

Share This Tip

Got a Tip You Would Like to Share? Let Us Know.
More from iPhone Life

Check out our sponsors

Sponsor Logo - Earbudi
Sponsor Logo - Withings
Sponsor Logo - Pocket Informant

Follow iPhone Life

iPhoneLife Logo
Copyright © 2025 Mango Life Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, Apple Watch, AirPods, macOS, iPadOS, iOS, watchOS, and Apple are all trademarks of Apple, Inc.
You have opted in to receive this email from iPhone Life magazine: Newsletter - Tip of the Day
To stop receiving these emails, you may:
Mango Life Media LLC | 402 North B Street | Fairfield, IA 52556