On your Mac, use Focus settings to set up a Focus that can minimise distractions by pausing and silencing all notifications or allowing notifications only from certain people or apps. Learn how to set up a Focus.
To change these settings, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Focus in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
The list shows each Focus you add or create on your Mac and on your other Apple devices (if you turn on “Share across devices”). The Do Not Disturb Focus is always available.
Click a Focus to change its settings or to remove it. See Focus profile settings, below.
Add Focus
Create a new Focus.
Add a provided Focus: Click Add Focus, then click the name of the provided Focus you want to use (such as Gaming or Work).
Create a custom Focus: Click Add Focus, click Custom, enter a name for the Focus, choose a colour and an icon, then click OK.
Let contacts who send you a message know that you have silenced notifications. If something’s important, they can choose to notify you anyway.
To share your status, click “Focus status”, turn on “Share Focus status”, then turn on each Focus you want to share your status from.
If you don’t want to share your status, click “Focus status”, then turn off “Share Focus status”.
Focus profile settings
Option
Description
Focus Name
Click the icon to change the name, colour or icon of a custom Focus. You can’t change these settings for a provided Focus.
Allow Notifications
Lists the people and apps whose notifications are allowed when the selected Focus is active.
Do any of the following:
Allow or silence notifications from selected people: Click Allowed People, click the pop-up menu next to Notifications, then choose Allow Some People or Silence Some People. Click Add People, Command-click the people you want to add, choose settings for calls, then click Done.
To remove a person you added, click the person you want to remove, then click the Remove button.
Allow or silence notifications from selected apps: Click Allowed Apps, click the pop-up menu next to Notifications, then choose Allow Some Apps or Silence Some Apps. Click Add, Command-click the apps you want to add, then click Add. Turn the VPN service on or off.
To remove an app from the list, move the pointer over the app, then click the Remove button .
Set a Schedule
Have the Focus turn on automatically at a set time, location or while using a certain app.
Do any of the following:
Add an automation: Click Add Schedule, then choose to schedule the Focus based on time, location or app. In the Automation window, choose times and days, search for a location or select an app, then click Done.
You must have Location Services enabled in Privacy settings to use a location. The Gaming Focus is set by default to turn on whenever a Bluetooth wireless controller is connected with your Mac.
Edit an automation: Click the automation in the list, change the settings, then click Done.
Temporarily stop using an automation: Click the automation in the list, then turn it off. To use the automation again, turn it back on.
Delete an automation: Click the automation in the list, then click Delete Schedule.
Focus Filters
Customise how Calendar, Mail, Messages or Safari behave when this Focus is on.
Do any of the following:
Add a Focus filter: Click Add Filter, click the app you want to set up a Focus filter for, choose options, then click Add.
Remove a Focus filter: Click the filter, then click Delete App Filter.
Edit a Focus filter: Click the filter, make changes, then click Done.
Temporarily stop using a Focus filter: Click the filter, turn it off, then click Done. To use the Focus filter again, turn it back on.
Delete Focus
Remove a Focus.
A custom Focus is deleted. A provided Focus, such as Reading or Mindfulness, is removed from the list but is still available to add again later.
in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
button.