How to Enable Focus Mode on Mac

Apple has introduced a new feature called Focus mode on Mac, which allows you to create a distraction-free environment and block notifications and calls from selected apps and contacts. In this article, we will discuss how you can enable Focus mode on your Mac and make the most out of this feature.

Turn on Focus from the Control Centre

Apple has made it easy to enable Focus mode on Mac through the Control Centre. Simply click on the Control Center icon in the menu bar and enable Focus mode. By default, it is set to turn on the Do Not Disturb mode on Mac. However, if you want to enable a different Focus profile, you can click on the arrow beside the Focus menu and select the desired profile.

focus mode on mac

Enable Focus from System Preferences Menu

You can also enable Focus mode on Mac through the System Preferences menu. Here's how:

  1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen.
  2. Go to the System Preferences menu.
  3. Select Notifications & Focus.
  4. Move to the Focus tab in the menu.
  5. Select the Focus profile you want to enable and turn on the toggle for it.

enable focus mode

Share Focus Across Devices

The best part about Focus mode is that it works seamlessly across all your Apple devices. If you enable Focus mode on your Mac, it will automatically enable the same Focus profile on your iPhone or iPad, provided you are using the same Apple account on both devices. To ensure a seamless experience, make sure you have enabled the “Share Across Devices” toggle in the Settings app on your iPhone.

Automatically Enable Focus on Mac

You can also automate the enabling of Focus mode on your Mac based on time, location, and app. For example, you can set the Work Focus profile to automatically enable at a specific time and disable it at another specified time. You can also use location-based automation to enable Focus when you arrive at work with your Mac. Additionally, you can automate Focus based on the app you have open on Mac, such as enabling the Writing focus profile when you open Microsoft Word.

To set up these automations, follow these steps:

  1. Open System Preferences on your Mac.
  2. Go to Notifications & Focus > Focus menu.
  3. Select the Focus profile you want to automate.
  4. From the “Turn On Automatically” menu, click on the + icon and select the automation.

Based on your selected automation, follow the on-screen instructions to set it up.

Wrap Up: Start Using Focus on Mac

With the new Focus mode on Mac, Apple has provided a powerful tool to help you stay focused and be more productive. Make sure to exclude important work apps from the Focus profile to avoid missing any essential notifications. Give Focus mode a try on your Mac and create a distraction-free environment for maximum productivity.