Staying aware of your surroundings matters. That includes hearing smoke alarms, appliance beeps or a knock at the door. Still, real life gets busy. You wear headphones. You get focused. Sounds slip by ...

Google's next big Android version has an extremely useful new nuisance-reducer — and with a teensy bit of crafty configuration, you can bring a similar superpower to any Android device this instant.

Zach was an Author at Android Police from January 2022 to June 2025. He specialized in Chromebooks, Android smartphones, Android apps, smart home devices, and Android services. Zach loves unique and ...