DoNotNotify Open Source Transition, A New Choice for Notification Management [2026]

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DoNotNotify: Rule-Based Android Notification Blocker App

  • GitHub Stars: 92
  • Language: Kotlin
  • License: MIT

Why Open Source?

DoNotNotify is an app that blocks unwanted notifications on Android based on rules. Developer Anuj Jain emphasizes privacy as a core value and has released the source code.[DoNotNotify] The intention is to “allow you to directly verify that the app only does what it says.”

The fact that it’s a completely offline app with no network permissions adds to its trustworthiness. By opening the code, anyone can verify this fact.[GitHub]

Key Features Overview

  • Rule-Based Blocking: Filter notifications by setting up blacklists and whitelists. Regular expression pattern matching is also supported.
  • Time-Based Scheduling: Rules can be activated only at specific times. You can use this to block SNS notifications only during work hours.
  • 40+ Preset Rules: Includes pre-defined rules for popular apps. These are automatically applied when the app is installed.
  • Notification History: Logs blocked notifications. You can track which rule blocked which notification.

Quick Start

# Clone the source and build
git clone https://github.com/anujja/DoNotNotify.git
cd DoNotNotify
./gradlew assembleDebug
./gradlew installDebug

Where Can You Use It?

Useful for users who find the focus mode lacking. It allows for more granular control than Android’s basic Do Not Disturb mode. For example, you can block only advertising notifications from a delivery app and still receive order status notifications.[GitHub]

It supports JSON-based rule export/import, so you can use the same settings on multiple devices. It is also possible to distribute it in bulk to company work phones.

Things to Note

  • Only works on Android 7.0 (API 24) or higher.
  • Requires NotificationListenerService permission. This is similar to accessibility permissions, so it should only be granted to trusted apps.
  • The community is still small with only 92 stars. Issue response speed remains to be seen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Which apps’ notifications can DoNotNotify block?

A: It can filter notifications from any app displayed on the Android system through NotificationListenerService. You can set rules using a blacklist or whitelist method, and use text inclusion search or regular expression matching for notification titles and bodies. Preset rules are also provided for over 40 popular apps.

Q: Is there a risk of privacy breaches?

A: DoNotNotify is a completely offline app that does not request network permissions. The structure prevents notification data from leaving the device. The open-source transition allows anyone to verify the source code, and it is released under the MIT license, allowing for free code auditing.

Q: What is the difference between Android’s basic Do Not Disturb mode?

A: The basic Do Not Disturb mode only controls notifications on an app-by-app basis. DoNotNotify filters based on notification content, so you can selectively block only certain patterns of notifications from the same app. Much finer control is possible with time-based scheduling and rule combinations.

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References

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