Google continues revamping ‘Do Not Disturb’ for Android 16 with new ‘Modes’

Improvement on the following main launch of Android, ie. Android 16, is effectively underway, however since we’re greater than half a 12 months away from its steady launch, a number of its new options aren’t prepared but. Nevertheless, we will get a glimpse at a few of Android 16’s new options by poking round within the Android beta releases that Google pushes out. Following the discharge of yet one more new Android beta earlier at present, we managed to uncover much more particulars on one of many greatest new options in Android 16: Modes.

Modes is the brand new identify of the Precedence Modes function that we totally documented earlier this month. This upcoming function is mainly a supercharged model of Android’s Do Not Disturb mode. The explanation the Do Not Disturb mode must be overhauled is that it’s fairly restricted proper now. You’ll be able to both activate it manually or set it to activate between sure instances or throughout sure calendar occasions from a particular calendar. If you wish to set a number of schedules based mostly on different instances or calendars, although, then it’s a must to modify the mode each single time. You’ll be able to’t simply create one other copy of Do Not Disturb mode with its personal settings. That’s what the brand new Modes function in Android 16 will remedy, fortunately.

In Android 16, you’ll be capable to create many alternative modes, every with their very own identify, icon, activation set off, show settings, and notification settings. You’ll be able to manually toggle modes from both the Settings app or from a brand new Fast Settings tile that Google is engaged on. Our earlier report on Android 16’s new Modes function, which once more was once known as Precedence Modes, not solely confirmed off the UI for creating new modes but additionally how one can toggle them, in case you’re .

With the discharge of Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3 earlier at present, we seen that not solely did Google rebrand Precedence Modes to only Modes as we talked about earlier however it additionally up to date the OS to indicate an icon within the standing bar, lock display screen, and AOD that corresponds to the present mode that’s enabled. It will make it simpler to inform at a look what mode is at present enabled.

In Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3, Google additionally barely tweaked the UI for the dialog that seems once you faucet the Fast Settings tile. Modes are actually displayed in a single-column, vertically scrolling checklist as an alternative of a dual-column checklist. I personally desire the outdated dual-column checklist because it makes higher use of obtainable house, however maybe Google switched to a single-column checklist to depart house for extra data to be added, similar to a brief description for every mode.

One other small tweak is that the Fast Settings tile itself now shows the icon of the primary mode that you just allow. It additionally exhibits the identify of the primary mode however switches to saying the variety of modes lively if multiple is enabled. Talking of which, in the event you ever have multiple mode enabled, then solely the primary one’s icon will seem on the standing bar, lock display screen, and AOD.

In its present state, the Modes function helps you to select from over 40 distinctive icons, however that quantity may develop earlier than Android 16’s launch. I don’t know if Google plans to allow you to use your personal icon, however I’m beginning to doubt it should for stability causes. Even in the event you can’t choose your personal icon, the 40 present ones are fairly broad and distinct from each other, so that you shouldn’t have any points discovering the suitable icon on your customized mode.