@beeshyams suggestion worked: Google knows where your phone is, even if you don't. From [another user][1], you can also do it with ADB: adb push t.mp3 /sdcard/ adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d file:///sdcard/t.mp3 -t audio/mp3 > (Playing a video file the same way or starting youtube (`adb shell am > start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d > https://www.youtube.com/watch\?v\=oVQqmH4ufCQ`)) will not produce any > sound if the device is locked it seems like) [1]: https://ask.metafilter.com/343287/Activate-Android-Alarm-with-ADB#4922024