Android 'on-call' mode?
April 22, 2022 8:40 AM Subscribe
I've recently started a volunteer position that requires being on-call overnight. I would like to be able to have a present "configuration" on my Android phone that mutes all notifications aside from calls and texts. However, I would also like the standard "bedtime" mode set by Digital Well-being (I think) to continue to operate when I'm not on-call.
For reference, I'm on Android 11. I know about Tasker, Macrodroid and Automate, though I currently use none of them. You can customize the behavior of Do Not Disturb via different "schedules", but they're, well, schedules and are meant to be triggered at either specific times or by calendar events (which could be a solution for me, though I'd like to be able to enter "on call" mode manually as well). It's also not clear which schedule "wins" if two are in effect simultaneously.
I have to imagine what I'm looking for exists, but I haven't found the magic term with which to search the app store or the various automation apps' documentation.
For reference, I'm on Android 11. I know about Tasker, Macrodroid and Automate, though I currently use none of them. You can customize the behavior of Do Not Disturb via different "schedules", but they're, well, schedules and are meant to be triggered at either specific times or by calendar events (which could be a solution for me, though I'd like to be able to enter "on call" mode manually as well). It's also not clear which schedule "wins" if two are in effect simultaneously.
I have to imagine what I'm looking for exists, but I haven't found the magic term with which to search the app store or the various automation apps' documentation.
Response by poster: I actually almost mentioned PagerDuty in my question, actually. But as far as I can tell, I think it can only act in response to incidents, not "someone is calling". (Ignore cost, etc.)
posted by hoyland at 9:03 AM on April 22, 2022
posted by hoyland at 9:03 AM on April 22, 2022
Does your on-call position result in calls and texts from the same number, always and do you have any assurances that you won't get calls / texts from the number when not on call? If so, you can make that number a high priority contact and allow it to break through dnd on calls or texts at all times. I can confirm that that works for both regular dnd and bedtime mode / digital well-being on android 11. This will probably not work for your particular situation, but I'm noting it for completeness.
posted by true at 9:07 AM on April 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by true at 9:07 AM on April 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
True beat me to what I was going to suggest.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 9:09 AM on April 22, 2022
posted by ArgentCorvid at 9:09 AM on April 22, 2022
Response by poster: Oops, another forgotten detail--not guaranteed to be the same number (nor a known set of numbers). In theory I wouldn't be phoned when not on-call, but they failed at reading the schedule Monday night and called me even though it wasn't my shift.
posted by hoyland at 9:18 AM on April 22, 2022
posted by hoyland at 9:18 AM on April 22, 2022
In that case you could potentially split this into two problems. (1) find a virtual number service that allows you to set up call forwarding schedules and (2) give them that number, make it a priority contact, and allow it to break through do not disturb.
I'm nearly sure this is possible, but it will likely cost you a few dollars per month and I have not done the research into which virtual number providers allow scheduling. If you're willing to accept the risk of them calling you when not on shift (with the associated benefit to you about not having to set up your schedule), you can probably use a free virtual phone number provider (e.g. google voice)
posted by true at 10:23 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'm nearly sure this is possible, but it will likely cost you a few dollars per month and I have not done the research into which virtual number providers allow scheduling. If you're willing to accept the risk of them calling you when not on shift (with the associated benefit to you about not having to set up your schedule), you can probably use a free virtual phone number provider (e.g. google voice)
posted by true at 10:23 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Note that if you use Google Voice forwarding, you'll need to configure it to show your google voice number as the number for the incoming call, which isn't the default (by default, it shows the number of the original caller). It's a setting in the Voice app and probably also on the website.
posted by Aleyn at 10:47 AM on April 22, 2022
posted by Aleyn at 10:47 AM on April 22, 2022
Android 11 Do Not Disturb options list a "Schedule" that can link to a calendar. Can you set up a specific Google Calendar that marks On Call times? In theory, this should work, but I haven't tested it.
posted by dobi at 12:09 PM on April 22, 2022
posted by dobi at 12:09 PM on April 22, 2022
You could try something that automates android, I just googled and got this article but there are lots of options. You could come up with some kind of trigger where it takes effect when you're on call.
posted by lookoutbelow at 12:21 PM on April 23, 2022
posted by lookoutbelow at 12:21 PM on April 23, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mkb at 8:50 AM on April 22, 2022