Focus Assist on Windows 10, called Focus on Windows 11, temporarily hides notification banners and sounds while keeping notifications available to review later.
This applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11, though the name and location changed between versions.
Does This Affect You?
Use Focus when notifications interrupt work, presentations, games, meetings, or timed work sessions. Unlike turning notifications off completely, Focus is temporary and reversible.
Turn On Focus in Windows 11
- Open Notification Center or Quick Settings from the taskbar.
- Click the Focus tile if shown.
- Choose a session length if prompted.
- While active, notifications are quiet and a focus indicator appears.
- Turn it off from the same tile when finished.
Turn On Focus Assist in Windows 10
- Open Settings > System > Focus assist.
- Choose Priority only to allow chosen alerts, or Alarms only for the quietest mode.
- You can also use the Action Center Focus assist tile to cycle modes quickly.
Set Automatic Rules
- Open Focus/Focus assist settings.
- Enable During these times for a recurring schedule.
- Enable quiet mode while duplicating your display for presentations.
- Enable it while playing games if offered.
- Choose the notification level for each rule.
Useful Focus Details
Build a Priority List
In Priority only mode, add apps or contacts that are allowed to interrupt you. Everything else waits in Notification Center.
Notifications Are Not Deleted
Focus only suppresses pop-ups and sounds. Open Notification Center later to review what arrived.
Focus Sessions
On Windows 11, the Clock app can run timed focus sessions and enable notification silencing for that work block.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Turn Focus assist on or off in Windows
- Microsoft Support: Use Focus sessions in the Clock app
- Microsoft Learn: Notifications and Focus assist settings