How to use the Windows 10 April 2022 Update's Focus assist feature to reduce distractions

On Windows 10, Focus assist is a handy feature that allows you to minimize or completely stop notifications when you need to stay focused to get work done, or yous want to avoid interruptions during a presentation or while playing an heady game.

Focus aid isn't a new characteristic with the Windows 10 April 2022 update (version 1803), and it was previously known as Quiet hours. Notwithstanding, with a new name, you lot're now getting new options to customize the feel, including the power to automatically selection those times when you don't want to be bothered with automatic rules.

In this Windows ten guide, we walk you through the steps to configure and use Focus aid in the April 2022 Update to reduce distractions and stay focused.

How to enable or disable Focus assist on Windows 10
How to set up Focus assist priorities on Windows ten
How to manage Focus assist automatic rules on Windows x

How to enable or disable focus assist on Windows 10

The April 2022 Update allows you to enable or disable focus aid in at least ii different means.

Using Settings

To enable or disable focus assistance on Windows 10, do the following:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Focus assistance.
Under "Focus help," select ane of the three options:
- Off — Disables the feature, and y'all'll meet the notifications from apps and contacts.
- Priority just — The characteristic will only allow notifications depending on the settings yous've configured on your priority list.
- Alarms only — Suppresses all notifications while focus assist is enabled, except for alarms.

Using Action Heart

Alternatively, yous tin can command focus assist using the Activeness Center context card. Here'due south how:

Right-click the Action Center button in the notification area.
Select Focus aid.
Choose from one of the bachelor options:
- Off.
- Priority only.
- Alarms only.

How to set upward Focus help priorities on Windows ten

Using Focus aid, y'all tin also configure a priority list that lets you lot decide which notifications from apps, calls, texts, and people are allowed to bypass the feature to prevent missing out on an of import consequence.

To configure your priority list in the April 2022 Update, do the following:

Open up Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Focus help.
Under "Focus aid," click the Customize your priority listing link.
In the "Calls, texts, and reminders" section, you can permit Cortana to show notifications for missed calls, texts, and messages from apps. Options bachelor, include:
- Show incoming VoIP calls and calls from a linked phone.
- Evidence incoming text from a linked phone.
- Show reminders, regardless of the app used.
In the "People" section, you tin can select the contacts that are allowed to show notifications while focus assist is enabled. To allow a particular contact to show notifications, simply click the Add contacts button, and select the person you lot want.

Quick Tip: If you're using the My People characteristic, and you're pinning contacts to the taskbar, information technology'south also possible to allow or cake the characteristic from showing notifications from pinned contacts.
In the "Apps" section, you can select the apps that are permitted to break through your quiet hours. To let apps to evidence notifications, simply click the Add an app button, and select the app from the list. (You can merely add Microsoft Store apps to your list.)

In one case you lot completed these steps, when enabling Focus assistance using your priority listing, only the calls, apps, and people you accept configured will break through and bear witness notifications.

How to manage Focus assist automated rules on Windows 10

You can use automatic rules to select the times and activities during which y'all don't desire to be bothered, and the feature will kick in automatically.

To manage automatic rules, practise the post-obit:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Focus assist.
Nether "Automated rules," plow on the toggle switch for the rule you want to apply, including:
- During these times.
- When I'one thousand duplicating my display.
- When I'm playing a game.
Afterward enabling the rules you desire, click the dominion to customize it:
- During these times — Allows Focus assist to automatically turn on or off during a specific fourth dimension range. Using the "Repeats" drop-down card, you can set the schedule to repeat daily, weekends, or weekdays.
- When I'm duplicating my display — The enables Focus assist to turn on automatically when it detects that you lot're mirroring the screen. (This is a particularly handy feature that everyone should use during a coming together to prevent notifications from popping up in the middle of a presentation.)
- When I'm playing a game — Focus assist turns on automatically to suppress notifications while playing games in total-screen fashion. (This selection merely works for exclusive games using DirectX.)

In either of the rules setting pages, y'all'll also find a "Focus level" drop-down card that allows notifications using your priority list or alarms to break through. Additionally, there's an option to create a notification in activeness center when the feature turns on automatically.

Finally, you'll meet an pick at the lesser of the settings page to show a summary of the notifications you may have missed while focus aid was enabled.

More Windows ten resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows x, visit the following resources:

Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

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