Silent mode & volume

Silent mode does exactly what it promises, and that is the problem when the phone is lost under a cushion. This section explains what the mute switch, Do Not Disturb and the Focus modes actually silence, and what still gets through anyway. Alarms usually ring, some notifications are marked as critical, and a repeat caller can be allowed through if you set that up in advance. The answers here walk through those settings on both iPhone and Android, so you can decide beforehand which sounds you never want muted. RingIt uses the routes the operating system leaves open for this, which is why it can make a muted phone ring rather than add one more silent notification.

• Why doesn't my phone ring when Alexa calls it?

  Alexa places an ordinary phone call, so silent mode, Do Not Disturb and Focus modes apply to it like any other call. The call connects and the phone stays quiet. An unknown-number filter can silence it too, because the Echo dials from a number that is not in your contacts.