The situation when a smartphone suddenly stops making sounds of incoming calls or messages often takes you by surprise. Device owners Honor and Huawei face this regularly, especially after operating system updates. Most often, the reason lies in the accidentally activated mode Do Not Disturb, which blocks all external sounds and vibration.
This feature is useful during sleep or important meetings, but its accidental activation can lead to missing critical calls. Users begin to panic, believing that the speaker is broken or there is a system failure. In fact, you can return the sound profile to normal operation in a few clicks if you know where to look for the necessary switches.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the ways to deactivate the silent mode on Honor smartphones. You'll learn how to manage settings through the Quick Access Toolbar, System Menu, and even your voice assistant. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to always stay in touch.
Quick deactivation through the control panel
The simplest and most obvious way to return sound is to use the notification curtain. This is the standard Android interface, which is adapted by the shell Magic UI or EMUI. Just swipe your finger down from the top edge of the screen to open the quick settings panel.
In the menu that opens, you need to find the icon labeled as “Do not disturb”. It usually looks like a crossed out month or moon. If the icon is highlighted in blue or orange, it means the mode is active. Pressing the icon again will turn off the function and the phone will start ringing again.
Sometimes the required icon is not on the first screen of the curtain. In this case, you should swipe left or tap the edit button (often looks like a pencil or three dots) to add the switch to the visible area. This action will return control over sound profiles in one tap.
If the “Do Not Disturb” icon is missing in the curtain even after editing, check if the “Energy Saving” mode is enabled, which may block some interface functions.
It is worth noting that on some firmware versions there is an extended menu for this switch. A long press on the “Do Not Disturb” icon can immediately open the schedule or exception list settings, which allows you to flexibly manage contact access.
Settings through the system settings menu
If the quick method does not work or the interface behaves incorrectly, you should turn to the deep system settings. The path to the desired menu may differ slightly depending on the version Android and shell, but the general logic remains the same. You will need to open the application Settings on the main screen.
Next, the algorithm of actions is as follows:
- 📱 Find the section "Sounds and vibration" in the list of main parameters.
- 🌙 Select the item "Do not disturb", which is usually located at the top of the menu.
- 🔘 Switch the slider to the "Off" position to completely deactivate mode.
Detailed settings for the behavior of the smartphone are available in this section. You can allow interruptions for selected contacts or repeat calls. This means that if a person calls you twice within 5 minutes, the phone will make a sound even if the silent mode is turned on.
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may change after major system updates. If you do not find the “Sounds and vibration” item, use the search bar at the top of the settings menu by entering the query “Do not disturb.”
Particular attention should be paid to the section "Schedule". Often, users forget that they have the silent mode set to automatically start at night. Check if the “Turn on by schedule” switch is activated, and if necessary, delete or edit time intervals.
☑️ Checking system settings
Using a voice assistant
Modern smartphones Honor equipped with advanced voice assistants such as YOYO or standard Google Assistant. This is ideal if the screen does not respond to touch or you are in a situation where you cannot take out your phone. Simply say an activation phrase, such as “Hey YOYO” or “Okay Google.”
After activating the assistant, clearly say the command: “Turn off Do Not Disturb mode” or “Unmute.” The system will recognize the request and instantly change the notification profile. This is faster than manually searching through menus and eliminates human error when navigating.
Voice control is especially useful for people with disabilities or when their hands are full. However, for correct operation, a stable Internet connection is required, since the request is often processed on the manufacturer’s servers.
What to do if the voice assistant does not understand the command?
Make sure that the correct recognition language is selected in the language and input settings. Also check if the assistant application has access to the microphone and system settings in the “Applications” section.
In such cases, it is better to use physical buttons or a touchscreen.
Control through physical buttons
The classic method, familiar to every phone user, is adjusting the volume. On the side of the smartphone Honor there are sound control keys. Press the volume up or down button to bring up the on-screen slider.
Below the main media volume slider there is often a bell or gear icon hidden. By clicking on it, you will open an additional menu where you can select the mode "Sound", "Vibration" or "Silent". Make sure that the mode with sound is selected, and not the crossed out speaker.
On some models, long-holding the volume down button when the screen is locked can also activate or deactivate the vibration mode and silence. This depends on the settings specified in the section: Settings → Accessibility → Buttons Action Settings → Accessibility → Buttons.
| Action | Result | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Single button press volume | A slider appears on the screen | On any screen |
| Click on the bell icon | Change sound profile | In the menu that appears |
| Long press the power button | Shutdown/reboot menu | On the locked screen |
| Button combination (model dependent) | Screenshot or assistant | System settings |
Physical buttons are the most reliable control method, as they work even when the interface partially freezes. If the screen does not respond, it is through them that you can try to return at least vibration.
Automation and smart scenarios
Smartphones Honor have the “Smart Scenarios” function, which allows you to automate the phone’s actions depending on conditions. For example, the phone itself can turn on the “Do not disturb” mode when you come to the cinema or go to bed.
You can check these settings in the application Smart assistants or through the section "Digital well-being". Rules that have been created by the system or the user are displayed here. If you notice that the phone goes silent at a certain time without your participation, look for the reason here.
- 🕒 Sleep time: Check the "Digital Well-being" settings, where the sleep mode can be set.
- 📍 Geolocation: The phone can respond to your location (office, cinema).
- 📅 Calendar: Calendar appointments can automatically switch the device to quiet mode.
Disabling automatic scripts requires care. Make sure you don't disable really useful features like blocking calls while driving. It is better to edit the rule than to delete it completely.
Problems after updating and resetting settings
Sometimes Do Not Disturb mode can get stuck due to software errors, especially after a firmware update. In this case, simple switches may not work. The first step should be a banal but effective action - reboot the device.
If rebooting does not help, you should check for updates for system applications. Go to Settings → System → Software update. Manufacturers often release patches that fix bugs with notifications and sound profiles.
⚠️ Attention: If the problem persists, you can try resetting all applications. This will not delete your personal data (photos, contacts), but will return system preferences to factory defaults. Path:
Settings → System and updates → Reset → Reset settings.
In extreme cases, when the software failure is critical, a full reset to factory settings helps. However, before doing this, be sure to create a backup copy of your data, since all information from the phone will be deleted.
Rebooting the device eliminates 90% of software conflicts associated with freezing sound profiles after a system update.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the phone not ring even when the "Not" mode Disturb" is turned off?
Check whether silent mode is set for specific applications in the "Manage notifications" section. Also make sure that the mechanical switch (if your model has one) is not activated by vibration, and the media/call volume is not turned down to zero.
Is it possible to set exceptions for contacts in Do Not Disturb mode?
Yes, in the Do Not Disturb mode settings there is an “Exceptions” or “Allow notifications from” option. There you can select specific contacts from whom calls will always go through, or allow repeated calls.
Does Do Not Disturb mode affect the alarm clock?
By default, the system alarm should sound even when silent mode is turned on. However, third-party alarm apps may be blocked. It is recommended to always check the alarm clock after turning on the Do Not Disturb mode.
How to disable the moon icon in the status bar?
This icon means that the Do Not Disturb mode is active. To remove it, you must follow the instructions for turning off the mode described at the beginning of the article (through the curtain or settings). While the mode is active, the icon will be displayed.