Focus Assist is a feature in Windows 11 designed to help users minimize distractions and stay focused on tasks by controlling notifications. It allows you to suppress or prioritize notifications based on your preferences, ensuring that you can work or relax without interruption when needed. Here’s how to use Focus Assist in Windows 11:
Enabling Focus Assist
- Access Settings: Click on the Start button and select the gear icon to open Settings, or press
Windows key + Ion your keyboard. - Navigate to System Settings: In the Settings window, click on “System” in the left sidebar.
- Open Focus Assist Settings: In the System settings, select “Focus Assist” from the menu on the left.
- Customize Focus Assist Settings: You’ll find different options to customize how Focus Assist works. Here are the available settings:
- Off: This option disables Focus Assist entirely, allowing all notifications to come through.
- Priority Only: This mode suppresses most notifications, except for those you’ve marked as priority.
- Alarms Only: In this mode, only alarms will be allowed to interrupt you, suppressing all other notifications.
- Choose Automatic Rules (Optional): You can set up automatic rules to enable Focus Assist during specific times or when certain conditions are met. Click on “Automatic rules” and configure the rules according to your preferences.
- Toggle Focus Assist On/Off: Once you’ve selected your preferred settings, toggle the switch at the top of the Focus Assist page to turn it on.
Quick Settings
You can also quickly toggle Focus Assist on or off using the Quick Settings menu:
- Open Quick Settings: Click on the Notifications icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of the screen) or press
Windows key + Ato open the Quick Settings menu. - Toggle Focus Assist: Look for the Focus Assist button (it looks like a moon icon) and click on it to toggle Focus Assist on or off. You can choose between “Priority only,” “Alarms only,” or turn it off completely.
Using Focus Assist
- When Focus Assist is enabled, notifications that match your chosen settings will be suppressed, helping you maintain focus.
- You can still view missed notifications by opening the Action Center. Click on the Notifications icon in the system tray or press
Windows key + Ato open the Action Center, where you can see all missed notifications.
By utilizing Focus Assist in Windows 11, you can tailor your notification experience to suit your needs, allowing you to work or relax without interruptions when necessary.