How to Create Custom Focus Modes on iPhone and Mac

Focus modes help you stay present by filtering notifications and customizing your device experience based on what you’re doing. Whether you’re working, sleeping, or spending time with family, I’ll show you how to create Focus modes that match your needs.

Quick Start: Create Your First Focus Mode

Here’s how to set up a basic Focus mode in five steps:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone (or System Settings on Mac)
2. Tap Focus
3. Tap the + button and choose a Focus type (or select Custom)
4. Name your Focus and choose an icon
5. Tap Done

You’ve created your first Focus mode. Now let’s customize it.

Customize Notifications and Apps

Focus modes let you control which apps and people can reach you:

1. In Settings > Focus, tap your Focus mode
2. Under Allow Notifications, tap Apps or People
3. Select which apps or contacts can send notifications
4. Toggle Time Sensitive Notifications if you want urgent alerts to break through

Tip: Start with a short allowed list. It’s easier to add apps later than to figure out which ones are distracting you.

Set Up a Custom Home Screen

You can show different home screen pages when a Focus mode is active:

1. Long-press an empty area on your home screen
2. Tap the page dots at the bottom
3. Check the pages you want visible during this Focus
4. Tap Done

To link this to your Focus mode:

1. Go to Settings > Focus and select your Focus
2. Scroll to Customize Screens
3. Tap Choose and select your home screen setup

This keeps work apps visible during Work Focus and hides them during Personal Time.

Add Focus Filters

Focus Filters let you adjust system settings when a Focus activates. Available filters include:

• Dark Mode: Switch to dark appearance
• Low Power Mode: Conserve battery automatically
• Always On Display: Dim or turn off the always-on screen (iPhone 14 Pro and later)
• Silent Mode: Mute all sounds

To add a filter:

1. In your Focus settings, tap Add Filter
2. Choose a system setting or app
3. Configure how it should behave during this Focus

Note: Focus Filters don’t sync across devices, even when Share Across Devices is enabled. You’ll need to set them up separately on each device.

Automate with Schedules and Locations

Focus modes can turn on automatically based on time or place:

Time-Based Automation

1. In your Focus settings, tap Add Schedule
2. Select Time
3. Set your start and end times
4. Choose which days to repeat

Location-Based Automation

1. Tap Add Schedule
2. Select Location
3. Choose Arriving or Leaving
4. Search for and select your location

Tip: Keep automation rules simple to maintain predictable behavior.

Three Ready-to-Use Focus Workflows

Work Focus

What to set up:

• Allow notifications from: Work email, calendar, Slack, and your manager’s contact
• Block: Social media apps, personal messaging
• Home screen: Show only productivity apps
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM

Sleep Focus

What to set up:

• Allow notifications from: Selected important contacts only
• Block: All apps except Phone (for emergency calls)
• Filters: Enable Dark Mode, turn on Silent Mode
• Schedule: Daily, 10 PM to 7 AM

Personal Time Focus

What to set up:

• Allow notifications from: Family and close friends
• Block: Work email, Slack, LinkedIn
• Home screen: Show entertainment and personal apps
• Location: Activate when arriving home

Sync Across Your Devices

To use the same Focus modes on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac:

1. Go to Settings > Focus
2. Tap Share Across Devices
3. Toggle it on

Your Focus modes will now activate on all your Apple devices simultaneously.

Apple Intelligence Reduce Interruptions Focus

If you have a device with Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro or later, iPad with M1 or later, Mac with Apple silicon), you can use the Reduce Interruptions Focus. This mode uses AI to filter notifications, allowing only potentially important ones through.

Reduce Interruptions requires iOS 18.1 or later, iPadOS 18.1 or later, or macOS 15.1 or later.

To enable it, select Reduce Interruptions when creating a new Focus mode.

What Syncs and What Doesn’t

When Share Across Devices is enabled:

Syncs:

• Focus mode on/off state
• Allowed apps and contacts
• Home screen configurations
• Automation schedules

Doesn’t sync:

• Focus Filters (Dark Mode, Low Power Mode, etc.)

You’ll need to configure filters separately on each device.

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