Focus Assist in Windows 10: Setup & Use

Focus Assist (called Quiet Hours in earlier builds) automatically hides notifications and silences alerts so you can concentrate on a task, a presentation, or just get some uninterrupted sleep. This guide walks you through turning it on, setting automatic rules, and customizing what still gets through.

What You’ll Need

• A PC running Windows 10 (version 1709 or later, which includes the Focus Assist feature).
• You must be signed in with an account that has administrator privileges to change some settings, though basic toggling works for any user.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Focus Assist settings. Click the Start button, then the Settings gear icon. Go to System > Focus assist. Alternatively, right-click the notification icon in the taskbar (bottom-right) and select Focus assist settings.
2. Understand the three modes. You’ll see Off, Priority only, and Alarms only. Off shows all notifications. Priority only shows only those from apps and contacts you’ve pinned to your priority list. Alarms only shows just alarms (like the Clock app) and hides everything else.
3. Turn it on manually. Click the notification icon in the taskbar (the speech bubble), then click the Focus assist tile. It cycles through Off, Priority only, and Alarms only. Or use the quick action in the Action Center (swipe from the right or press Win + A).
4. Set automatic rules. In the Focus assist settings page, you’ll see Automatic rules. Toggle on During these times. Set a start and end time, and choose the repeat (daily, weekends, etc.). You can also enable When I’m duplicating my display (great for presentations) and When I’m playing a game (full-screen games only).
5. Choose what happens during automatic rules. For each rule, decide whether to show a notification when Focus Assist turns on, and whether to hide notifications from the Action Center while active. The default is to show a summary of what you missed when it turns off.
6. Set your priority list. In the Focus assist settings, click Customize your priority list. Here you can add specific Contacts (from your Microsoft account or phone link) and Apps (like email or messaging) that will still notify you even in Priority only mode.
7. Allow alarms. Under Alarms only, alarms from the built-in Clock app will always come through. You can’t change this, but you can ensure your important alarms are set in that app.
8. Check the Action Center. When Focus Assist is on, the notification icon in the taskbar gets a small moon icon. Click it to see a summary of missed notifications when you turn it off.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to set the time zone. Automatic rules use your local time. If you travel, the times may not match your new location unless you update your time zone in Settings > Time & Language.
• Not adding apps to the priority list. Many users expect Priority only to let through all their important apps, but it only lets through the ones you explicitly add. Check your list.
• Confusing Focus Assist with Do Not Disturb on other devices. Focus Assist only affects Windows notifications, not phone calls or texts unless you’ve linked your phone and configured the priority list.
• Leaving automatic rules on when you don’t want them. If you set a daily rule and then work late, you might miss notifications. Turn off the rule or adjust the times.

Tips

• Use the keyboard shortcut. Press Win + A to open Action Center, then press the Focus assist tile to cycle modes quickly.
• Set a schedule for work hours. If you have a routine, set the automatic rule to match your workday. You’ll never see distracting notifications during your focus blocks.
• Use Priority only for presentations. Turn on the “When I’m duplicating my display” rule. It will automatically hide notifications when you connect a projector or second screen.
• Customize the summary. In automatic rules, you can choose to show a summary of what you missed when Focus Assist turns off. This is useful so you don’t miss anything important.
• Combine with quiet hours on your phone. If you have a Windows phone link, you can set your phone to mirror the same quiet hours, but you’ll need to set that up separately in the Phone Link app.

Troubleshooting

• Focus Assist doesn’t turn on automatically. Check that the automatic rule is toggled on and that the time range is correct. Also, make sure your PC’s time and time zone are set correctly.
• I still get notifications from an app in Priority only. Open Focus assist settings > Customize your priority list > Apps. Make sure the app is not listed. If it is, remove it. Also, some system apps (like Security and Maintenance) may bypass the list.
• Alarms don’t sound. Only alarms from the built-in Clock app are guaranteed. If you use a third-party alarm app, it won’t work in Alarms only mode unless you add it to the priority list.
• The moon icon is missing. The moon icon appears only when Focus Assist is on. If it’s not there, Focus Assist is off. Click the notification icon and toggle it on.
• Focus Assist settings are grayed out. This can happen if your organization manages the PC via Group Policy. Contact your IT admin.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does Focus Assist block all notifications? No. In Priority only, it blocks all except those from your priority contacts/apps and alarms. In Alarms only, it blocks all except alarms.
• Can I schedule Focus Assist for specific days? Yes. In the automatic rule, you can choose “Daily” or pick specific days of the week.
• Will Focus Assist stop Windows updates from restarting my PC? No. Focus Assist only affects notifications, not system updates. You still need to manage update hours separately.
• How do I see missed notifications after Focus Assist turns off? When the rule ends, you’ll see a summary in the Action Center. You can also click the notification icon at any time to see what’s been collected.
• Can I use Focus Assist while playing a game in windowed mode? The “When I’m playing a game” rule only works for full-screen games. For windowed games, use a manual mode or set a time rule.
• Does Focus Assist work with Cortana or third-party assistants? No, it only manages Windows notification banners and sounds. Voice assistants have their own settings.

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