How to use Focus in iOS 15
With iOS 15, Apple is introducing a new feature called Focus that allows users to cut down on the number of notifications they receive during certain times of the day.
Say, for example, you are at work and want to limit the number of notifications you receive during work hours, with iOS 15 you can create a Focus that limits the number of notifications that show throughout the day, with users able to specify which apps they receive notifications from when Focus is on, and share their Focus status with friends in Messages.
Users can also create Home Screen pages with apps and widgets that apply to certain Focus statuses. For example, when a user is at work and has their Focus set accordingly, work apps will appear on the Home Screen, but when the work Focus is turned off, they disappear and the user’s regular Home Screen will show.
Focus statuses are located in Control Center. To access Focus and change your setting, open Control Center and tap the Focus button. A list of default Focuses will show including, Do Not Disturb, Sleep, Personal, and Work.
How to create a custom Focus
- Open the Settings app and select Focus
- Tap the + button and select Custom
- Name your Focus and choose an icon
- Choose who, if anyone, can contact you when your Focus is set
- Select which apps you want to receive notifications from when your Focus is on
- Choose whether to Allow Time Sensitive notifications or tap Not Now to decide later
- Tap Done to save your custom Focus
After you’ve created a custom Focus it will appear in the Focus tab in Control Center. You can edit your custom Focus at any time in the Settings app and create additional Focuses by repeating the steps above.
When Focus is set on one Apple device, such as an iPhone, it automatically applies to other Apple devices, like iPad and Apple Watch.