Focus modes let you control which people, apps, and notifications can interrupt you during activities such as work, sleep, driving, or personal time. You can use Apple’s built-in Focus options or create a custom one.
Create a new Focus
- Open Settings.
- Tap Focus.
- Tap the plus button.
- Choose a suggested Focus or select Custom.
- Name and configure the Focus.
- Choose which people and apps should be allowed or silenced.
- Add a schedule or automation if you want the Focus to turn on automatically.
Review notification choices carefully
A Focus can silence notifications you actually need. Check allowed people, apps, repeated calls, and time-sensitive notification behavior before relying on a new Focus during an important period.
Customize screens when useful
Supported iOS versions can associate Lock Screens and Home Screen pages with a Focus, helping you show work-related apps during work time or reduce distractions during personal time.
Focus can sync across Apple devices
If Share Across Devices is enabled and your devices use the same Apple Account, Focus status and behavior can synchronize across compatible Apple devices. Turn that option off if you want a Focus to affect only one device.
The title refers to iOS 17, but Focus remains available in newer iOS versions and some menu details can change between releases.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.