Android 16 Developer Preview

Notification Cooldown tames repeated alerts in Android 16 DP1

Andrew Romero | Nov 19 2024 - 11:56 am PT

Android 16 is now available in its first Developer Preview phase. One of the new features found on Pixel devices in Android 16 DP1 is Notification Cooldown, which will minimize vibration and noise if too many notifications come in at once.

Notifications are a part of using a phone, but when too many come in at one time, it can be frustrating and even embarrassing if your phone isn’t on silent. In the new Android 16 Developer Preview 1, Pixel phones are seeing a new “notification cooldown” feature.

Notification cooldown can be found under Settings > Notifications in the General section. It finds itself next to other useful tools like notifications snoozing. In effect, notification cooldown will count the number of notifications you receive in any two short periods. If the number of alerts is over the threshold set, which can not currently be changed, your Pixel phone will “lower its volume and minimize alerts for up to 2 minutes.” The feature looks to be on by default in the Developer Preview.

This tool is more than welcome for Pixel phones and Android in general. For those who dislike getting too many alerts at one time, the feature will quiet down the device. Notification cooldown will not silence high-priority alerts, calls, or alarms. Any notifications that are received in that cooling off period will still be visible in the notification tray and shade.

This feature was seen in a previous beta, though Android 16 DP1 looks to have cemented it for the upcoming OS. Be sure to follow 9to5Google‘s coverage as more of Android 16 DP1 is broken down.