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How to Wake Someone Up over the Phone Download ArticleExplore this Article Sections 1 How can I wake someone up when their phone is on silent? 2 Updating Settings to Allow Alerts in Silent Mode (iPhone) 3 Updating Settings to Allow Alerts in Silent Mode (Android Phone) 4 Alarm and Notification Apps + Show 1 more... - Show less... Other Sections Related Articles References Co-authored by Imad Jbara and Madeleine Flamiano
Last Updated: August 24, 2025 Fact Checked
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This article was co-authored by Imad Jbara and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano. Imad Jbara is a Dating Coach for NYC Wingwoman LLC, a relationship coaching service based in New York City. 'NYC Wingwoman' offers matchmaking, wingwoman services, 1-on-1 Coaching, and intensive weekend bootcamps. Imad services 100+ clients, men and women, to improve their dating lives through authentic communication skills. He has a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 572,839 times.
Ready to give someone a wakeup call? Maybe you want to get in touch ASAP, and you don’t want them to miss your message. Here, we'll walk you through your options so you can grab a person’s attention. This article will also cover some basic settings and fun apps to use when you want to wake someone up over the phone. Read on to help a friend out and get them to jump out of bed, even when their phone is on silent.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
How can I wake someone up when their phone is on silent?
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1 There’s no immediate way to alert someone when their phone is on silent. Once a person switches on "silent" mode, their phone will mute notifications from everyone on their contact list. When you call, they won't be able to hear ring tones or alerts.[1]XResearch source
“Silent” mode quiets any notifications. However, a phone will still light up or vibrate.
When a phone is on “Do Not Disturb” mode, it blocks notifications—it won’t light up or vibrate.
If they program their own alarm on their phone, then they'll hear it even if it's on silent mode.
2 If you plan in advance, there are settings and apps to wake someone up over the phone. For any of them to work, this individual will have to switch off silent mode or change their phone's settings to give you special permission to contact them.[2]XResearch source
When you edit a person's "Do Not Disturb" settings or add yourself as an emergency contact, they'll hear you when you call.
Special apps called "social alarm apps" are designed to allow you to customize fun alarms and reminders to wake this person up.
Advertisement Section 2 of 4:
Updating Settings to Allow Alerts in Silent Mode (iPhone)
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1 Go to “Settings.” Tap this app on the Home Screen or the App Library.[3]XResearch source
2 Tap "Focus." Choose the square purple icon with the symbol of a white crescent moon. Select “Do Not Disturb.”
3 Select “People." Find it under the “Allowed Notifications” tab.[4]XResearch source
4 Add yourself to the “Allow Calls From” list. Now, you’ll be able to call them at any time—even when their phone is on silent.[5]XResearch source
5 Go to their contact list. Scroll down until you find your number. Tap it to select it.[6]XResearch source
6 Edit the info for your number. Choose a ringtone with a special sound effect that's loud and exciting so you can wake this person up.
For example, “chimes” resemble the sound wind chimes make.[7]XResearch source
Advertisement Section 3 of 4:
Updating Settings to Allow Alerts in Silent Mode (Android Phone)
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1 Edit their “Do Not Disturb” settings. Swipe down from the top of their phone’s screen to access the “Control Center." [8]XResearch source
2 Tap “Do Not Disturb." When the menu opens up, select “People” under the “What can interrupt Do Not Disturb” tab.
3 Add yourself as a "starred contact" in their “Calls” list. Select “Calls from” and add your number to the list that pops up.
4 Enable sound alerts for your number. Swipe “Alarms” to the right.
5 Go to their Contacts list and edit your number's info. Select “Sound” and choose an alert that will get their attention every time you call.
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Alarm and Notification Apps
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1 Give the Galarm app a go for helpful reminders. Galarm allows someone to create group chats, “buddy alarms,” and urgent alerts. Members can configure alarms in their apps or on a web browser. [9]XResearch source
Galarm also has special alarms that are designed to notify multiple people at the same time. This is helpful if a whole group needs to schedule a wake up call.
2 Install the Snoozle app so they can receive audio messages. If you and other mutual friends also have Snoozle, you can record yourselves talking and send this person voice memos as a fun alternative to a standard alarm tone.[10]XResearch source
Their friends and family can record messages that are up to 12 seconds long.
The messages are also self-deleting, so anyone sending them can get really silly without worrying about the voice memo being played again later!
3 Use the WakieChat app’s “social alarm clock” feature. This allows a random stranger to give someone a wake up call. They both have to be in the same region that speaks the same language, and their numbers will be hidden from each other.[11]XResearch source
WakieChat's research suggests that a 1-minute call with a stranger immediately engages a person's brain, which is very effective for waking this individual up.
If this person really hits it off with whoever called them, they can go to the in-app forum and message the individual who woke them up.
4 Give the WakeMe app a shot for a fun surprise. WakeMe gives users a chance to record their own alarm tones and send them to strangers to change up their wake up routine. If someone wakes up within 90 seconds of the new alarm, they have a chance to chat with whoever sent it.[12]XResearch source
WakeMe also allows users to create profiles. That way, members can learn about each other if they respond to their alarm quickly enough.
If the person prefers to be woken up by a stranger of a particular gender, there's a feature for that.
Once an individual starts adding friends, they can opt to receive alarms only from these members.
Members can create a schedule and review all of their alarms. For example, they can see when they need to wake up for exercise classes and exams.
5 Try out the Air Horn app. Grab their attention with an exciting sound effect. Install an “Air Horn” app on your phone’s friend. Choose one of the app’s sound effects as your ringtone when you call. If you’re able to walk up to them while they’re sleeping, play one of the app’s alerts to surprise them and get them out of bed.[13]XResearch source
Ask which sound they like the best or think they’re more likely to wake up to—they might prefer a stadium horn or a trumpet effect.
6 If they live with you, set up a WiFi-activated sunrise alarm. Use a special app to connect your phone to the alarm. Place a sunrise alarm near this individual—on their nightstand, for example. Install an app that’s compatible with the sunrise alarm and connect the alarm to your phone. Use the app to select the time this person wants to wake up.[14]XResearch source
Make sure you're connected to the same WiFi network—if you are, then you can use your phone to configure the settings on this individual's sunrise alarm clock.
Most sunrise alarm apps also allow you to choose different shades of light for this person to wake up to. Check which color they prefer.
Sunrise alarms can help defeat grogginess and offer a gentler way to wake up.[15]XResearch source
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Co-authored by: Imad Jbara Dating Coach This article was co-authored by Imad Jbara and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano. Imad Jbara is a Dating Coach for NYC Wingwoman LLC, a relationship coaching service based in New York City. 'NYC Wingwoman' offers matchmaking, wingwoman services, 1-on-1 Coaching, and intensive weekend bootcamps. Imad services 100+ clients, men and women, to improve their dating lives through authentic communication skills. He has a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. This article has been viewed 572,839 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 5Updated: August 24, 2025 Views: 572,839 Categories: Cell Phones In other languages Czech Japanese Italian
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Download Article Explore this Article Sections 1 How can I wake someone up when their phone is on silent? 2 Updating Settings to Allow Alerts in Silent Mode (iPhone) 3 Updating Settings to Allow Alerts in Silent Mode (Android Phone) 4 Alarm and Notification Apps + Show 1 more... - Show less... Other Sections Related Articles References Co-authored by Imad Jbara and Madeleine Flamiano 
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Co-authored by: Imad Jbara Dating Coach This article was co-authored by Imad Jbara and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano. Imad Jbara is a Dating Coach for NYC Wingwoman LLC, a relationship coaching service based in New York City. 'NYC Wingwoman' offers matchmaking, wingwoman services, 1-on-1 Coaching, and intensive weekend bootcamps. Imad services 100+ clients, men and women, to improve their dating lives through authentic communication skills. He has a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. This article has been viewed 572,839 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 5 Updated: August 24, 2025 Views: 572,839 Categories: Cell Phones In other languages Czech Japanese Italian 
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1 There’s no immediate way to alert someone when their phone is on silent. Once a person switches on "silent" mode, their phone will mute notifications from everyone on their contact list. When you call, they won't be able to hear ring tones or alerts.[1] 
2 If you plan in advance, there are settings and apps to wake someone up over the phone. For any of them to work, this individual will have to switch off silent mode or change their phone's settings to give you special permission to contact them.[2] 
1 Go to “Settings.” Tap this app on the Home Screen or the App Library.[3] 
2 Tap "Focus." Choose the square purple icon with the symbol of a white crescent moon. Select “Do Not Disturb.” 
3 Select “People." Find it under the “Allowed Notifications” tab.[4] 
4 Add yourself to the “Allow Calls From” list. Now, you’ll be able to call them at any time—even when their phone is on silent.[5] 
5 Go to their contact list. Scroll down until you find your number. Tap it to select it.[6] 
6 Edit the info for your number. Choose a ringtone with a special sound effect that's loud and exciting so you can wake this person up. 
1 Edit their “Do Not Disturb” settings. Swipe down from the top of their phone’s screen to access the “Control Center." [8] 
2 Tap “Do Not Disturb." When the menu opens up, select “People” under the “What can interrupt Do Not Disturb” tab. 
3 Add yourself as a "starred contact" in their “Calls” list. Select “Calls from” and add your number to the list that pops up. 
4 Enable sound alerts for your number. Swipe “Alarms” to the right. 
5 Go to their Contacts list and edit your number's info. Select “Sound” and choose an alert that will get their attention every time you call. Advertisement 
1 Give the Galarm app a go for helpful reminders. Galarm allows someone to create group chats, “buddy alarms,” and urgent alerts. Members can configure alarms in their apps or on a web browser. [9] 
2 Install the Snoozle app so they can receive audio messages. If you and other mutual friends also have Snoozle, you can record yourselves talking and send this person voice memos as a fun alternative to a standard alarm tone.[10] 
3 Use the WakieChat app’s “social alarm clock” feature. This allows a random stranger to give someone a wake up call. They both have to be in the same region that speaks the same language, and their numbers will be hidden from each other.[11] 
4 Give the WakeMe app a shot for a fun surprise. WakeMe gives users a chance to record their own alarm tones and send them to strangers to change up their wake up routine. If someone wakes up within 90 seconds of the new alarm, they have a chance to chat with whoever sent it.[12] 
5 Try out the Air Horn app. Grab their attention with an exciting sound effect. Install an “Air Horn” app on your phone’s friend. Choose one of the app’s sound effects as your ringtone when you call. If you’re able to walk up to them while they’re sleeping, play one of the app’s alerts to surprise them and get them out of bed.[13] 
6 If they live with you, set up a WiFi-activated sunrise alarm. Use a special app to connect your phone to the alarm. Place a sunrise alarm near this individual—on their nightstand, for example. Install an app that’s compatible with the sunrise alarm and connect the alarm to your phone. Use the app to select the time this person wants to wake up.[14]