Need to Permanently remove do not disturb

My mother who is basically blind at 88 and lives alone loves her Apple phone. Somehow she continually manages to turn on her do not disturb feature. Since she can't see she has no idea it is on and isn't aware she is missing our phone calls. Is there some way we can permanently remove this feature on the phone. I've tried adding all my siblings as allowed callers on her phone in the focus setting but we still aren't ringing through.


I don't understand why Apple doesn't make this an optional feature and forces it down our throat.



iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Dec 28, 2024 2:42 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 28, 2024 2:58 PM

While Do Not Disturb and Focus features cannot be fully removed, you can effectively disable its function:


  1. Go to SettingsFocus
  2. Delete all Focuses except Do Not Disturb
    1. Tap the Focus
    2. Scroll down to the bottom
    3. Tap Delete Focus
    4. Repeat for each Focus
  3. Disable Do Not Disturb
    1. Go back to the main Focus settings screen
    2. Tap Do Not Disturb
    3. Tap People
    4. Set to Silence Notifications From
    5. Remove everyone silenced
    6. Tap BackNotifications
    7. Set to Silence Notification From
    8. Remove all silenced apps
    9. Tap Back, then scroll down to the bottom
    10. Remove all schedules and filters

 * * *

[Edited by Moderator]

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 28, 2024 2:58 PM in response to jbirgs

While Do Not Disturb and Focus features cannot be fully removed, you can effectively disable its function:


  1. Go to SettingsFocus
  2. Delete all Focuses except Do Not Disturb
    1. Tap the Focus
    2. Scroll down to the bottom
    3. Tap Delete Focus
    4. Repeat for each Focus
  3. Disable Do Not Disturb
    1. Go back to the main Focus settings screen
    2. Tap Do Not Disturb
    3. Tap People
    4. Set to Silence Notifications From
    5. Remove everyone silenced
    6. Tap BackNotifications
    7. Set to Silence Notification From
    8. Remove all silenced apps
    9. Tap Back, then scroll down to the bottom
    10. Remove all schedules and filters

 * * *

[Edited by Moderator]

Dec 28, 2024 8:15 PM in response to jbirgs

Refer to: Set up a Focus on iPhone - Apple Support


Turn on Focus

1. Go to Settings > Focus. 

2. Tap a provided Focus option—like Do Not Disturb, Personal, Sleep, or Work—then tap Customize Focus.

3. Set up your Focus. You can select allowed or silenced notifications from people and apps, connect your Lock Screen or Home Screen, have this Focus turn on automatically, and add Focus filters.


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Need to Permanently remove do not disturb

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