Accomplishing tasks in front of a screen can be a major struggle due to the moment-to-moment distractions from messages and app notifications. Focus, a feature released by Apple in macOS Monterey and iOS 15, aims to help block unwanted notifications so you can work peacefully.

Here's how you can use Focus on your Mac.

What Is Focus in macOS?

With Focus, you can choose the notifications you want to silence and selectively allow only those you want to receive. For example, you can choose to receive only urgent alerts and calls from workmates or family.

It is essentially an upgrade to the Do Not Disturb feature, with Focus allowing you to create more than multiple profiles to suit different activities, like Work, Sleep, Driving, and Studying.

To access and turn on a Focus, just head to the menu bar, open the Control Center, then click on the Focus section and select the specific Focus you want to activate.

Focus on Control Center

You can also modify your Dock preferences, so you can always access Focus there. To do that, open the Apple menu and go toSystem Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar, then select Focus on the sidebar. Tick Show in Menu Bar option and choose whether you always want to see the icon or only when actively using Focus.

Focus to Show on Menu Bar Option

How to Set Up Focus on Your Mac

Apple already has a preset of provided Focus for you. However, you also have the option to create your own. To set up Focus, open the Apple menu and go to System Preferences > Notifications & Focus.

Select the Focus tab, then do any of the following:

  • Add a suggested Focus: Not all suggested Focus option will appear in the options. Click the Add (+) button below to show other provided Focus.
  • Remove a Focus: Select a Focus, then click the Remove (–) button below. Your custom Focus are permanently deleted, while suggested Focus option will be removed from the list but can still be accessed.
  • Create a custom Focus: To create your own Focus, click the Add (+) button, then select Custom. Select a color and icon and enter a name for your Focus.
  • Modify a custom Focus: You can change the icon, color, and name of your custom Focus. Simply select your Focus, then click Edit.

You can make up to 10 custom Focus modes for yourself. Some cool Focus ideas to set up include Exercise, Mealtime, and Spending Time With Loved Ones.

If you choose to sync Focus across your devices, any changes you make to Focus on your Mac will also apply to your Focus on your iPhone or other Apple devices.

How to Customize Focus on a Mac

You can choose which notifications from people and apps come through with each Focus mode, opting for time-sensitive notifications, calls, or messages.

Related: iOS Introduces Time-Sensitive Notifications: Here's How to Make Them Work for You

Select a Focus, then, on the right side of the window, head to Allow Notifications From and do any of the following:

  • Add or remove people: Click the People tab, click the Add (+) button, then select a contact you want to receive notifications from while Focus is turned on. Remove a person by selecting a contact, then clicking the Remove (–) button.
  • Add or remove apps: Click the Apps tab, then add or remove an app by clicking the Add (+) or Remove (–) button. Apps in this list can send you notifications while that Focus mode is turned on.
  • Allow certain notifications to break through Focus: Head to Options and tick Allow time-sensitive notifications to allow high-priority notifications to reach you even when that Focus mode is on. However, you should also choose which apps can send you time-sensitive notifications. To do this, head back to Notifications & Focus, select an app, then tick Allow time-sensitive alerts.
  • Allow calls from certain people: You can allow everyone or only specific people to reach you, even while Focus is turned on. Select a Focus mode, click Options, tick Allow calls from, and select from Everyone, All Contacts, and Favorites.
  • Allow repeated calls: While calls from other people are blocked, you can still allow them to reach you if they make a second call within three minutes. This can be useful in allowing urgent calls to pass through the Focus. Just head to Options, then select Allow repeated calls.
Notification Options

Schedule Focus Modes on a Mac

If you have a routine, you can allow your Focus modes to automatically turn on at a specific time, or when you're using a specific app, or when you're in a certain location. To schedule a Focus mode:

  1. Open the Apple menu and go to System Preferences > Notifications & Focus.
  2. Click the Focus tab, then select a Focus.
  3. Under the Turn On Automatically list, click the Add (+) button, then select an option based on your preference:
    • Add Time Based Automation: Select a time and day when you want Focus to turn on automatically. The Gaming Focus will turn on by default when a Bluetooth game controller is paired to your Mac.
    • Add Location Based Automation: Type a location in the search bar and select it for the Focus to turn on whenever your device detects that you are in this specific location. Be sure to enable Location Services under your Privacy Preferences to use this feature.
    • Add App Based Automation: Select an app from the list to activate the Focus whenever you use it.
Focus Automation Type

Tell Others You're Trying to Focus

To let people know that you've silenced notifications, you can let your Mac send an automatic message when they try to reach you. This normally just says that you've got notifications disabled, and gives them the option to notify you anyway, like in serious or urgent situations. To do this, just tick the Share Focus Status box.

Use the Same Focus Across Devices

If you have more than one Apple device and you're signed in on the same Apple ID on all of them, all your Focus settings on one device are reflected across the others. This feature is turned on by default.

It also means that if you enable Focus on your Mac, it'll also enable it on your iPhone, and vice versa.

To turn this option on or off, just go to Focus, then toggle Share across devices at the bottom of the window.

Share Across Devices Option

Get Into the Flow With Focus

Get more things done or enjoy some time to yourself with minimal distractions and interruptions using Focus. Take some time exploring, crafting, and automating the best Focus modes to suit your needs and schedule. Automating Focus modes is so effective, in fact, that eventually you can just forget about it and let it do its thing.