Evie Summers
Apple's Focus feature on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Watch helps users concentrate by reducing distractions and filtering notifications. Focus options include Do Not Disturb, Sleep, Personal, and Work, with the ability to create custom modes. Users can set specific notifications and apps to be silenced and choose to share their Focus status with others. The feature uses on-device intelligence to suggest relevant Focus options and allows customization of screens and auto-replies. It is designed to keep users focused and prevent irrelevant notifications from disrupting their activities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Customization | Users can customize the mode by selecting which people and apps are allowed to notify them. |
| Automation | Users can set up automation to turn the mode on and off at certain times or in certain places. |
| Home Screen | Users can choose a Home Screen for each mode and customize it with relevant apps and widgets. |
| Syncing | Focus settings don't sync across devices when "Share Across Devices" is turned on. |
| Auto-Reply | Users can set up an auto-reply to let people know they are unavailable. |
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What You'll Learn
Customise notifications and screens
Apple's Focus feature on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Watch allows you to customise notifications and screens to help you concentrate by reducing distractions. You can set your device to a certain Focus, such as Personal, Work, Sleep, or create a custom Focus.
To set up a Focus, go to Settings > Focus. Tap the + icon in the top right corner to add a custom Focus mode. Enter a name for your Focus, choose a colour and an icon to represent it, then tap Next. Tap Customise Focus, then set up the options for your custom Focus. You can also access Focus Settings via Notifications in System Settings, accessed via the Apple menu in the top left.
You can choose which people and apps are allowed to notify you when the Focus is active. You can also decide whether you want to share your Focus status, hide the notifications on your homescreen or lock screen, or create an automation that will turn it on and off at a certain time, in a certain place, or with a certain app.
For example, you can allow calls to come in from family members or notifications from your work Slack, while silencing notifications from other people or apps. You can also set up a Focus to automatically turn on and off at certain times.
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Allow important contacts to bypass 'Do Not Disturb'
Apple's Focus feature on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Watch allows you to set your device to a certain Focus, such as Personal, Work, Exercising, Gaming or Sleep. The device will then automatically hide distractions, signal to friends that you are not available and filter notifications.
You can also create a custom Focus, and for each Focus, you can create Home Screen pages with apps and widgets that apply to the respective Focus you have chosen and only display relevant apps to reduce temptation.
When a Focus is blocking notifications, Messages will display your status to users who contact you, showing that you are unavailable at the moment. However, contacts can reply with 'urgent' if they want a message to get through, similar to how Do Not Disturb when Driving works.
You can also allow your favourite contact or a specific contact group to bypass Do Not Disturb and reach you. This setting can be accessed from the Favourite Contacts list. Go to the contact name in the Favourites list and their detail page (click the "i") for the contact you want to allow through the Do Not Disturb barrier. Now, click on Edit at the top right of the Detail screen. Click on the right arrow next to Ringtone. Enable the Emergency Bypass toggle button. Now all calls and messages from this contact will come through despite the universal Do Not Disturb setting on your iPhone.
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Sync settings across devices
Apple devices have a 'Focus' feature that helps users concentrate by reducing distractions. This feature is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Watch. It can be used to set a certain Focus, such as Personal, Work, Sleep, etc. The device will then automatically hide distractions, signal to friends that the user is not available, and filter notifications.
The Focus feature can be accessed via the Settings app on iOS 15. On the main Focus screen, you will find Do Not Disturb, Sleep, Personal, and Work. You can also create custom Focus modes. 'Share Across Devices' is enabled by default, but you can turn it off by tapping the toggle. This allows you to use the same Focus settings on all your Apple devices.
You can also access Focus Settings via Notifications in System Settings, accessed via the Apple menu in the top left. After setting up your Focus, you can return to Settings > Focus at any time and change any of the options. You can turn a Focus on or off manually in Control Center or schedule the Focus to turn on automatically.
Focus filters do not get synced across devices when you have 'Share Across Devices' turned on. However, you can create a custom Focus by going to Settings > Focus and tapping the 'Custom' option. Choose a name, color, and icon for your custom Focus, and then tap 'Next'. Tap 'Customize Focus' and set up the options following the instructions in 'Set up a Focus'.
You can also allow important people in your life to bypass your 'Do Not Disturb' setting, especially for emergencies. You can do this by opening a contact, tapping 'Edit', tapping 'Ringtone' or 'Text Tone', and then tapping 'Emergency Bypass'.
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Set up auto-replies
Setting up auto-replies on your phone is a great way to ensure that you are not disturbed during personal time, work, or sleep. This feature is available on both iPhones and Android phones, although the steps to enable it may vary slightly between devices. Here is a detailed guide on how to set up auto-replies for different scenarios:
Setting Up Auto-Replies on iPhone:
- Using the Focus Feature: The latest versions of iOS, including iOS 15, have introduced the Focus feature, which allows you to set custom modes for different scenarios like work, sleep, driving, etc. To access this, go to Settings > Focus, and tap the Add button. Here, you can choose from various options, including Do Not Disturb, Driving, Sleep, and Work. Tap on your desired option and customize the settings, including allowed notifications and contacts. You can also set up an auto-reply message within this feature, which will be sent to anyone who messages you while the Focus mode is active.
- Using Third-Party Apps: If you are unable to find the required Focus options or want more customization, you can use third-party apps like SMS Auto Reply, which is available on the Apple App Store. These apps allow you to create your own auto-response rules and send personalized messages to specific contacts.
- Using Siri: When you have the Driving Focus set up, you can use Siri to read your messages and notifications aloud, so you don't have to look at your iPhone while driving. You can also allow incoming calls only when your iPhone is connected to CarPlay or a hands-free accessory.
Setting Up Auto-Replies on Android:
- Using Built-in Features: Android phones do not have a built-in auto-reply feature for messages by default. However, some Android phones may offer specific features like the Driving Mode, which can be used to set up auto-replies while driving.
- Using Third-Party Apps: You can use third-party apps like SMS Auto Reply, available on the Google Play Store, to set up auto-replies on Android phones. These apps allow you to create custom auto-response rules and send personalized messages to selected contacts.
By setting up auto-replies, you can ensure that you can detach from your phone and focus on your personal time, work, or sleep without worrying about constantly replying to messages.
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Create a custom focus
Apple's Focus feature helps you concentrate by reducing distractions. It works by using on-device intelligence to suggest a Focus based on a user's context, such as working hours. The feature then suggests people and apps that are allowed to notify you when a Focus has been set.
You can set your device to a certain Focus, such as Personal, Work, Exercising, Gaming, or Sleep, and your device will automatically hide distractions, signal to friends that you are not available, and filter notifications. You can also create a custom Focus.
To create a custom Focus, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > Focus.
- Tap the + icon in the top right corner.
- Tap Custom.
- Enter a name for your Focus, such as "Do Not Disturb Personal Work Sleep".
- Tap Return.
- Choose a color and an icon to represent your Focus.
- Tap Next.
- Tap Customize Focus.
- Set up the options for your custom Focus, following the instructions in Set up a Focus.
- You can use the same Focus settings on all your Apple devices where you're signed in to the same Apple Account. Go to Settings > Focus.
- Turn on Share Across Devices.
Note that when you turn on Share Across Devices and turn on Share Focus Status, your Focus can show that you have notifications silenced. For example, if you silence notifications when you set up a Focus, people who text you will see that your notifications are silenced.
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Frequently asked questions
Go to Settings > Focus and tap on 'Do Not Disturb'. From there, you can choose settings separately for People and Apps under 'Allowed Notifications'.
You can allow anyone in your 'Favourites' list in the Phone app to bypass the 'do not disturb' setting for calls. To allow someone to bypass the setting for texts, open their contact, tap 'Edit', tap 'Text Tone', and then tap 'Emergency Bypass'.
Yes, you can automate 'do not disturb' to turn on and off at certain times or in certain places.
