How do I schedule my Samsung to silent mode?

Silent mode is a setting on Samsung devices that mutes all sounds and vibrations, allowing the user to avoid disruptions. This can be useful in situations where noises from the phone would be inappropriate, such as meetings, classes, movies, bedtime, or anywhere the user needs to focus without distraction.

Samsung devices allow users to schedule silent mode so that it turns on and off automatically at set times. This eliminates the need to manually toggle silent mode on and off, providing convenience and ensuring the phone is quiet when needed. There are several options for customizing scheduled silent mode to fit an individual’s lifestyle and needs.

In this guide, we will walk through how to enable and set up scheduled silent mode on a Samsung device. We will also explore ways to customize silent mode, troubleshoot issues, and leverage other apps and features like Bixby Routines to further automate silence on your Samsung phone.

Prerequisites

In order to schedule your Samsung device to silent mode, your device must support this feature. Not all Samsung models have the capability to schedule silent mode.

Scheduled silent mode is available on many Samsung Galaxy smartphones and smartwatches released since 2018. Some examples of supported models include:

• Samsung Galaxy S9 and newer
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and newer
• Samsung Galaxy A series (2019 models and newer)
• Samsung Galaxy Watch
• Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
• Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2

If you are unsure whether your Samsung device supports scheduled silent modes, you can check in your Settings app. Navigate to Sounds and Vibration > Do Not Disturb to see if scheduling options are available.

Enable Scheduled Silent Mode

To enable the Scheduled Silent Mode feature on your Samsung Galaxy device, you’ll first need to open the Settings app and navigate to the Sounds and Vibrations menu. There you’ll find the option to toggle on Scheduled Silent Mode (Samsung).

Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your Samsung Galaxy device.
2. Tap on Sounds and Vibrations.
3. Under Sound Mode, toggle on the switch next to Scheduled Silent Mode to enable it.

Once Scheduled Silent Mode is enabled, you’ll be able to set specific times and days for your phone to automatically switch to Silent Mode. This allows you to mute notifications and calls during set periods like overnight or during meetings.

Set Silent Mode Schedule

You can directly schedule when Silent Mode turns on and off. As Samsung describes, to set your Silent Mode schedule, do the following

1. Open the Quick settings panel by swiping down from the top of the screen using two fingers
2. Tap and hold the Do Not Disturb icon
3. Tap on Scheduled Silent Mode to open schedule settings
4. Set your desired start and end times for Silent Mode by tapping the time pickers
5. Choose the days to repeat the schedule

Now your Samsung phone will automatically enable and disable Silent Mode based on the schedule you set. You can customize the schedule at any time.

Customize Silent Mode

Samsung gives users several options to customize what happens when Silent Mode is enabled on their device. You can customize which notifications and alerts are allowed so important calls or messages can still come through.

For example, you can set exceptions to allow alarms, media audio, incoming calls or messages from specific contacts like close family. This way your device stays silent for most alerts, but key notifications can still be received.

You can also customize other settings like whether the device vibrates, LED indicator flashes, or the Always On Display shows notification icons while in Silent Mode. This adds flexibility based on your specific needs and situation.

Additionally, there is an option to show a pop-up reminder that Silent Mode is active when unlocking the device or receiving a call. This helps avoid missing important alerts if Silent Mode is enabled longer than intended.

Troubleshooting

If you set a schedule for silent mode but it’s not turning on or off as expected, there are a few things you can try.

First, check that the schedule itself is set properly in your phone’s Sounds and Vibration settings. Make sure the times are correct and that the days of the week are properly selected if you only want silent mode during certain days/times (source).

You can also try rebooting your phone to see if that helps. Sometimes a simple reboot can clear up intermittent software issues.

If notifications are still making sounds during your silent mode schedule, double check that you don’t have any contacts or apps excluded from silent mode. Go to Sounds and Vibration settings and select “Do Not Disturb” to edit the exceptions.

Make sure none of your frequent contacts are allowed to bypass silent mode. You can also choose the “Alarms only” option under Exceptions which will only allow alarm sounds through (source).

As a last resort, you can try resetting all of your sound settings back to default. This will clear any problematic customizations that could be preventing silent mode from working properly.

The Bixby Routines allow you to automate many functions and settings on your Samsung smartphone, including enabling silent mode. Using Bixby, you can easily set silent mode to turn on at specific times or locations.

Automate With Bixby Routines

To create a Bixby Routine for silent mode:

1. Open Bixby Routines from the Settings app or Quick Settings panel.
2. Tap “Add routine” and select your desired Starter for when you want silent mode to be enabled. For example, a time-based starter or a location-based starter. (How to use Bixby Routines).

Some useful examples of Bixby Routines for silent mode:

• Enable silent mode every night at 10 PM.
• Silent mode activates when you arrive at specific locations, like work or home (using location-based triggers) (Set silent mode with Bixby).

With Bixby Routines, you have flexibility over customizing when and how your silent mode is enabled based on your own habits and preferences. It’s an easy way to set your device’s sound profile without needing to constantly manually toggle settings.

Alternative Apps

While Samsung devices have built-in silent mode scheduling capabilities, some users prefer third-party apps. Polite and Peace Time are third-party options for automatically silencing your phone.

Another alternative option is MacroDroid. MacroDroid allows you to schedule silence mode with more customization than built-in features. You can adjust time, duration, and repeat intervals with greater flexibility. It also supports using silent mode based on triggers like location, charger status, or incoming texts from specific people. MacroDroid does have a steeper learning curve, but provides more control for advanced users.

Other Uses for Silent Mode

Silent mode on Samsung devices can be useful for many situations where you want to avoid unnecessary disruptions from ringtones, notifications, or vibrations.

Studying

When studying for school or testing, silent mode eliminates distractions so you can focus. By putting your phone in silent mode with immediate effect or on a schedule, you won’t be disrupted by alerts while hitting the books.

Meetings

During meetings at work, events, or sensitive gatherings, silent mode keeps your phone quiet as others are speaking. This prevents awkward ringing or buzzing mid-presentation.

Movies

Turning on silent mode before going into a movie theater ensures your phone won’t distract fellow viewers. You can easily toggle it on right before showtime.

Temporary Use

Beyond those examples, silent mode comes in handy any time you need short-term quieting of your mobile notifications with minimal effort. Just swipe down your notification shade and tap the silent icon for on-demand sound suppression.

Conclusion

In summary, the key steps to schedule silent mode on a Samsung device are:

1. Open Settings and go to Sound and vibrations > Silent mode

2. Toggle on “Turn on as scheduled” and set your desired silent hours

3. You can customize options like allowing exceptions or choosing vibrate instead of mute

For more information on customizing silent mode, automating it with Bixby Routines, or using it for other purposes like focusing on work, check out Samsung’s support page on silent mode features. With a bit of setup, Samsung’s scheduled silent mode can help you stay focused and minimize distractions.