How to receive text notifications from only certain people?

Question

How to receive text notifications from only certain people?

Long story short, my friend has bad anxiety and has her notifications on her phone turned off for every single app, to include texting because when she had them on, she would get really anxious when her phone would go off because she didn't want to check to see who it was (especially if it was her mom). Is there any way to set it so that you would only get text notifications from a custom list of people (like from my number and her roommates)? Please don't say switch on Do Not Disturb and then manually set the Emergency Bypass by each contact because she doesn't need to be blocking all calls and such.

iPhone 7, iOS 10.3

Posted on Apr 7, 2017 11:30 AM

Reply

Answer 1

TMHahn

Level 2

460 points

Apr 7, 2017 11:46 AM in response to SETHdaFIRENZE

In the Contacts App, select a person you DO want to receive messages from after-hours.

Touch "Edit" in the upper right corner of the entry.

Go down to "Ringtone" or "Text Tone." It is most likely set to a Default tone. Regardless, scroll to the TOP of the options inside where it says Ringtone or Text Tone. You will see "Emergency Bypass."

If you switch "Emergency Bypass" ON, you can have your iPhone's Do Not Disturb enabled and still receive texts or calls from that ONE Contact entry.

I have found this to be a game-changer. Now I can receive messages from a handful of friends and all other text and call alerts are silenced.

Reply

Answer 2

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,291 points

Apr 7, 2017 11:33 AM in response to SETHdaFIRENZE

If she still has text messages from people that she does not wish to receive notifications from, she can turn DND on within the message for those individual contacts. That does not block everything, so not like regular DND. In the message, tap on the ℹ in the upper right corner, then you can see the DND switch there. Much easier than the emergency as you stated. There is not, however, a way to provide a custom list as you requested.

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 7, 2017 11:36 AM in response to SETHdaFIRENZE

She should create or download a "silent" text tone. I believe I bought mine from the iTunes Store because spending the $1.49 made more sense Than the 30 minutes it would have taken for me to make it myself. Then, set the default text tone to that silent text tone. Then, for the people she wants to get notifications from, select a custom text tone in Contacts. If, at any time, she wants to get notifications from everyone, all she need do is change the default text tone to something audible.

Reply