How to silence notifications on your iPhone while listening to music

Oluwaseun Bamisile -

You're listening to The Weeknd's latest album or finally getting into that Joe Rogan podcast episode you've been saving, only to have your iPhone interrupt with a notification. "New email!" "Calendar reminder!" "Someone liked your post!" annoying, right?

It's like your phone is intentionally trying to ruin your vibe. I get it—I've been there too.

Luckily, Apple recognized this potential problem and provided various ways to tackle it. So, whether you're streaming music or podcasts on Apple Music, Spotify, or YouTube Music, this guide will show you how to use certain tools to silence distractions.

Use Silent Mode

If you have an iPhone 14 or earlier, look for the physical Ring/Silent switch on the left side of your phone. Then, flip it to Silent mode.

However, for newer iPhones (iPhone 15 and later), Apple replaced the Silent/Ring switch with the Action Button. In that case, you simply have to long-press the Action Button to toggle Silent Mode.

Activate Do Not Disturb

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open the Control Center, then tap the crescent moon icon to enable Do Not Disturb mode.

Create and Activate a Focus Mode

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This feature is only available to iOS 15 and later versions

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and select "Focus"

Step 2: Tap the "+" icon at the top right corner to add a new Focus

Step 4: Select Custom

Step 5: Give your custom focus a name and icon, then press "Next"

Step 6: Now, click "Customize Focus"

Step 7: You can customize the custom focus to your taste by choosing certain contacts and apps to silence notifications. You can also schedule it to turn on automatically at specific times

Step 8: After creating your custom focus mode, open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen. Then, select "Focus"

Step 9: Finally, click on the name of your custom focus to activate it

Conclusion

So there you have it! With just a few simple changes, your iPhone can go from being that friend who constantly interrupts your conversation to the one who knows when to stay quiet.

Remember, taking control of your notification settings isn't about missing out on important messages—it's about creating intentional spaces where you can fully enjoy audio experiences that matter to you.

Image credit: Oluwaseun Bamisle/Techloy.com