Customize Focus modes

Create schedules to avoid unwanted distractions

- PHIL KING

WHETHER YOU'RE WORKING or relaxing, unwanted interruptions can be annoying. Fortunately, the Focus option that's built into macOS has your back. You can set up a selection of Focus modes that, when active, will silence notifications and only allow specific ones to come through.

In this guide, we'll show you how to add new Focus modes, choosing from presets such as Mindfulness, Gaming, and Work, or set up a custom Focus mode from scratch. You'll learn how to set a schedule based on a time period, location or an app being opened, such as Books for the Reading mode. You can also opt to only allow notifications from certain people and apps, and add a filter for those from some Apple apps, such as only allowing notifications from particular Mail accounts.

Focus modes have been given new superpowers in macOS 15.1 (Sequoia) with Apple Intelligence, which can interpret your notifications and only allow those it deems to be important enough to pass.

HOW TO Set up Focus modes

1. Built-in modes

To help you get started, macOS comes with several preset Focus modes: Gaming, Mindfulness, Personal Reading, and Work. Go to System Settings > Focus, then click Add Focus to see the list. Select a mode to view its options.

2. Add a custom mode