How to Use the Focus Assist Feature in Windows 10

The Focus Assist feature in Windows 10 helps you limit notifications and distractions, allowing you to concentrate on your current tasks. This function is particularly useful for work, study, or any situation where you need maximum focus. In this guide, we’ll explore how to enable and customize Focus Assist for optimal productivity.

Step 1: Open Focus Assist Settings

  1. Open the Start menu and select Settings (gear icon).
  2. In the Settings window, go to the System section.
  3. On the left menu, choose Focus Assist.

Step 2: Choose a Focus Assist Mode

Windows 10 provides three Focus Assist modes, each with a different level of notification restriction:

  • Priority only: Only notifications from apps on your priority list will appear. You can customize this list manually.
  • Alarms only: All notifications except alarms will be silenced.
  • Off: In this mode, notifications arrive normally without restrictions.

Step 3: Set Up Automatic Rules

You can configure Focus Assist to activate automatically under specific conditions by using the Automatic Rules section:

  • When I’m playing a game: Focus Assist will automatically enable while gaming to prevent notifications from distracting you.
  • When I’m using an app in full screen: Useful for watching videos or presenting slides.
  • During specific times: Set a schedule, such as work or study hours, for automatic focus.

Step 4: Customize the Priority List

To add apps and contacts whose notifications you want to receive even when Focus Assist is on, go to the Customize your priority list section. Here, you can specify which apps and people are prioritized and can notify you during focus times.

Step 5: Enable and Disable Focus Assist from the Notification Panel

To quickly toggle Focus Assist on or off:

  1. Click on the Notifications icon in the taskbar (bottom-right corner of the screen).
  2. Select Focus Assist. Click the icon to switch between modes (such as "Priority only" and "Alarms only").