How to use Focus mode on a Mac (2026)

What is Focus mode on a Mac?

Focus is a macOS feature that decides which notifications reach you. Do Not Disturb is one of the Focuses. You can add others, such as Work or Sleep, or make your own. Each Focus has its own list of people and apps that may notify you.

Focus is about notifications. It does not close apps, hide websites or stop you opening anything. That matters when you choose a tool, and the last sections cover it.

How do you turn on Focus on a Mac?

Use Control Center in the menu bar. Menu names can differ between macOS versions, but this path works on current releases.

• Shortcut: hold the Option key and click the date and time in the menu bar to switch Do Not Disturb on or off. If your keyboard has a Do Not Disturb key, it does the same.

1. Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, then click anywhere in the Focus section.

2. Click the Focus you want, such as Do Not Disturb or Work. Its icon is highlighted and appears in the menu bar.

3. Optional: choose a duration, such as one hour or until tomorrow. If you are in a calendar event, you can pick Until the end of this event.

How do you create a custom Focus?

Open System Settings, click Focus in the sidebar (scroll down if needed) and click Add Focus. You can pick a ready-made one or click Custom. You can create up to ten custom Focuses.

1. Open System Settings and click Focus in the sidebar.

2. Click Add Focus, then click Custom.

3. Enter a name, pick a color and an icon, and click OK.

4. Set the people and apps that may notify you (next section).

5. Optional: add a schedule and any Focus filters.

How do you choose which people and apps can notify you?

Select the Focus, then use Allowed People and Allowed Apps. In each, the Notifications pop-up menu lets you choose Allow Some People or Silence Some People, and Allow Some Apps or Silence Some Apps. Click the add button to pick contacts or apps, then click Done.

Under Allowed People you can also set who may call you, and turn on Allow repeated calls. Under Allowed Apps you can turn on Time Sensitive Notifications for urgent alerts. Some macOS versions add an Intelligent Breakthrough and Silencing setting that lets important notifications through; specific allowed or silenced items override it.

How do you schedule a Focus or make it turn on automatically?

Select the Focus, go to Set a Schedule and click Add Schedule. There are three kinds of automation:

• Time: set start and end times and the days. The Focus turns on and off by itself.
• Location: pick a place. The Focus turns on when you arrive and off when you leave. Location Services must be on.
• App: pick an app. The Focus turns on when you open it and off when you close it or switch away.

What are Focus filters, and does Focus sync to other devices?

Focus filters change what some Apple apps show while a Focus is on. Under Focus Filters, click Add Filter. You can filter which calendars show in Calendar, which accounts show in Mail, whether Messages shows only people on your list, and which Tab Group opens in Safari. To remove one, select it and click Delete App Filter.

Focus can also be shared across your Apple devices. When you keep Focus up to date across devices, turning a Focus on or off on your Mac changes it on your other devices. Look for this option in the Focus settings.

How do you turn off Focus mode on a Mac?

Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, then click the active Focus again. Its icon is no longer highlighted. You can also Option-click the date and time in the menu bar to toggle Do Not Disturb. To stop a Focus from turning on by itself, select it in System Settings, click its schedule and turn off Schedule or Automation.

Does Focus mode block apps and websites?

No. Focus mode silences notifications, but it does not stop you opening an app or visiting a website. If YouTube or a game is one click away, a Focus will not prevent it.

To block the distracting apps and websites themselves during work, pair Focus with a focus app. Nudge blocks the apps and websites you pick while a session runs, started from the menu bar, and websites are blocked in Safari and Chrome. Read how to block apps on a Mac and see website blocking. Nudge costs $9.99 once, and every Mac gets a 7-day free trial that needs no email, password or card.