How to Use Focus Assist in Windows 11

Windows added a feature in its operating system knows as Focus Assist or Quite Hours in earlier iteration of Windows. If enabled you can temporary disable notifications, alerts and system sounds for you to retain your focus while working or using the computer.

It is automatically enabled by default when you are using application in full screen mode, sharing the screen or playing a game. You can customize the feature as per program basis which means you can choose what notification to block or hide.

We have listed the methods and process below on how to setup and use focus assist in Windows 11.

How to Activate Focus Assist

1. Open Settings app via Start menu.
2. Now go to System from left menu.
3. Select Focus Assist from right plain.
4. Now Enlarge Focus Assist section and choose one of the modes. The options available are:

• OFF: This means it is disabled and you will get all notifications.
• Priority only: This means you will only get notification from configured app only.
• Alarm only: This mode will hide all the notifications of the applications and will only display Alarms.

5. You can even check all the missed notification if you enable Show a summary of what I missed when focus assist was on feature option.
6. Focus Assist is now activated and now you can close the Settings option.

How to Modify Focus Assist Settings

If you choose the Priority only option from the mode then you can choose the app which will have their notification and alerts enabled and the choose applications that will have their disabled. This will help you manage the apps that are important for certain scenarios and those who are not. To configure the Focus Assist follow the steps given below:

1. Launch Settings app from Start menu.
2. Move to System then Focus Assist and choose Priority only mode.
3. Under the mode, click on Customize priority list.
4. Now select the notifications and alters that you need to see while working or using app in full screen mode.
5. You can choose the people from whole you want the alerts from in People section.
6. Click on Add an app button to choose the apps you want to include receiving notifications and alerts from when Focus Assist is active.

How to Configure Automatic Rules in Focus Assist

If you need Focus Assist enabled automatically rather than going through the process manually all the time, then you can use automatic rules to do the following. This means the Focus Assist feature will switch on at certain times of the day or while doing tasks. Here is how you can do that:

1. Open Settings then move to System
2. Click on Focus Assist and move down to Automatic Rules.
3. Press the slider next to option to turn on the rules you want to use when enabling Focus Assist.
4. Now enable during these times option.
5. To set the Start and the end time click it one more time.
6. You have the option to Show a notification in Action centre when focus assist is turned on automatically.
7. Choose other option which you want to activate like you can get alarm only mode when duplicating your display, or only important message while gaming on full screen.

Conclusion

If you want to use your computer being disturbed while working or gaming then this feature is a must to have enabled. For that reason, if you want to know how to setup or use focus assist in Windows 11 then all the required methods and instructions are listed above.