How to set up an automatic game mode on Android

An automatic game mode on Android switches on your play settings, such as Do Not Disturb and a fixed brightness, the moment a game opens, and puts everything back when you leave. You can set one up with your phone's built-in game launcher if it has one, with a schedule, or with an app that detects when a game starts. Each type of game mode Android offers, built-in or app-based, has its own trade-offs.

What should an automatic game mode do?

A good automatic mode handles the boring parts so you do not have to remember them. Typically it will:

• Turn on Do Not Disturb when a game starts.
• Keep the brightness from changing during dark scenes.
• Set media volume to your preferred level.
• Restore your normal settings when you exit the game.

The last point matters as much as the first. A mode that silences your phone and then forgets to turn notifications back on can make you miss messages for hours.

Option 1: the built-in game launcher or dashboard

Many phones come with a game launcher, game space or game dashboard built into the system. On Google Pixel phones, for example, the Game Dashboard can appear over supported games. This is the most common game mode Android phones ship with, and these tools often:

• Detect games automatically or let you add them.
• Block notifications while a game is open.
• Offer a screen recorder or screenshots.
• On supported phones and games, let you choose between performance and battery-saving profiles.

To find it, open Settings and search for "Game", "Game mode" or "Game dashboard". Names and features vary a lot between brands, and some phones have none at all.

Pros: built into the system, no extra app. Cons: features differ widely, and some only work with certain games.

Option 2: a Do Not Disturb schedule

If you play at regular times, a schedule is simple and reliable:

1. Open Settings and search for "Do Not Disturb" or "Modes".
2. Look for Schedules or the option to add a new mode.
3. Create a schedule for your usual gaming time, for example weekday evenings.
4. Choose what is allowed through, such as starred contacts and alarms.

Pros: no app needed, works on most phones. Cons: it is based on time, not on whether you are actually playing.

Option 3: an app that detects when a game opens

Some apps can watch which app is in the foreground and switch on a game mode for Android as soon as a game appears. To do this, they need usage access, which lets them see which app is open, and Do Not Disturb access to change notification settings. Only grant these to apps you trust.

Pros: works with any game, starts and stops on its own. Cons: needs special permissions, and some phones' battery settings may stop the app running in the background.

How to set up app-based automatic switching

The exact steps depend on the app, but they usually look like this:

1. Install the app and open it.
2. Grant Do Not Disturb access when asked. Android takes you to a settings page where you switch it on for that app.
3. Grant usage access so the app can tell when a game opens.
4. Choose which apps count as games, or let the app suggest them.
5. Choose what the mode should change, such as Do Not Disturb, brightness and volume.
6. Open a game to test it, then leave the game and check that your settings came back.

If the mode stops working after a while, check your phone's battery settings. Many phones restrict background apps to save power. Setting the app to "Unrestricted" or excluding it from battery optimisation usually fixes this, though the option name varies.

What about brightness?

Auto-brightness adjusts the screen to the room's light, but in a game it can also react to dark scenes and dim the screen just when you need to see. Locking brightness while a game is open avoids this. We explain why in why auto-brightness gets in the way when you game.

Test your setup

After setting up any automatic game mode, Android or app-based, run this quick check:

1. Open a game.
2. Ask someone to message you, or send yourself a test notification.
3. Confirm nothing pops up.
4. Play a dark scene and check the brightness stays steady.
5. Exit the game and confirm notifications and brightness are back to normal.

If you only want the Do Not Disturb part, our guide on how to stop calls and notifications interrupting your games covers it step by step.

Can a game mode Android phones offer make games faster?

Built-in modes on some phones can switch to a performance profile for supported games, within the limits the phone maker sets. Apps from the store cannot change performance. An app-based automatic mode makes your sessions calmer, not faster.

How CyberBoost does it

CyberBoost has an Auto Game Mode that silences calls and notifications when a game opens and restores them when you leave. Its presets, Ranked, Long Play, Offline and General, apply Do Not Disturb, a brightness lock and media volume, and you can build your own or assign one per game. For a walk-through, see the CyberBoost getting started guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does Android have a built-in game mode?

Many phones include one, often called a game launcher, game space or game dashboard. What it can do depends on the phone maker and Android version.

Why does my automatic game mode stop working?

The phone's battery settings may be stopping the app in the background. Allow it to run unrestricted in battery settings and check its permissions are still granted.

Will an automatic game mode block emergency calls?

That depends on your Do Not Disturb exceptions. Allow starred contacts or repeat callers if you want important calls to get through.

Can I have different modes for different games?

Some apps and launchers let you set a mode per game, for example strict silence for ranked shooters and lighter settings for casual games.