How To Filter Notifications With Focus On iPhone (iOS 15)

how to Focus with iOS 15

How to Focus with iOS 15


In iOS 15 you can filter notifications on your iPhone with the help of Focus. This new feature allows you to create Profiles according to your daily routine. Instead of blocking all notifications you can permit the ones those that are really important for what you’re currently doing!

How To Configure A Focus

how to configure a Focus
iOS 15 comes with a predefined list of profiles that anticipate your daily routines. The built-in Focuses are: Do Not Disturb, Driving, Sleep, Personal and Work. Each has to be configured independently, with iOS providing helpful suggestions for Allowed Contacts and Apps.
Let’s configure a Focus together:

  • Open the Control Center and tap on Focus. Or, alternatively open Settings and tap on Focus.
  • Choose a Notification Profile that you want to configure. I will tap on Work.
  • The Work Focus splash screen is displayed. Tap Next to move on.
  • Choose which Contacts you want to allow notifications from when this Focus is enabled. iOS 15 provides a series of suggestions. You can keep them, add or remove more. Tap on Allow x People when ready.
  • Next, confirm which Apps you want to allow notifications from. Use the ones suggested by your iPhone or fine tune the list. Tap on Allow x Apps to move on.
  • Decide if you want to allow Time Sensitive notifications. These are alerts that require your immediate attention. Like messages that inform you that an order is available for pickup. Or an alert from your smart doorbell. Tap Allows Time Sensitive or Not Now, to continue.
  • Finally, fine tune other Settings like:
    Share Focus Status: When enabled this feature will tell apps that you have the notifications silenced and allows people to contact you anyway if there’s something important on the line.
    Home Screen: Choose a personalized Home Screen page that will be displayed when this Focus is turned on.
    Options Dim Lock Screen; Delayed Delivery (When enabled Notifications from apps that are not allowed will be delivered directly to the Notification Center while the Focus is active); Hide Notification Badges (When enabled hides the red badges for apps available on Home Screen).
    Smart Activation Focuses can be turned ON/OFF manually or via an Automation. This feature allows you to configure an Automation. You can opt for Time (Triggers at a set time interval), Location (When you reach a certain place) and App (Triggers when you open a chosen app).

How To Create A New Focus

how to create a new Focus
Besides, configuring the iOS 15 predefined Focuses you can also create your own notification profile:

  • Open the Control Center and tap on the + icon (New Focus) available at the bottom of the screen.
  • Select your Focus goal. It can either be: Custom, Fitness, Gaming or Reading. I’ll go for Custom.
  • Name Your Focus. Pick a color and an icon.
    Fact: The icon will be displayed on the Lock Screen, below the clock and in the left status bar, next to the clock, when the Focus is turned ON.
  • Tap Next.
  • Tap on Add Contact, to select the people that you want to allow notifications from when the Focus is ON.
    Tap Allow x People when ready.
  • Go for Add App, to select apps that are allowed to notify you while the Focus is active. Tap Allow x Apps.
  • Allows Time Sensitive or Not Now.
  • Tweak other Settings like: Share Focus Status, Home Screen, Options and Smart Activation.
    Fact: To remove a Focus that you don’t longer need, tap on Delete Focus, available at the bottom of the Focus’ Settings page.

How To Enable Focus

Focus icons in iOS 15
Focuses can be enabled automatically, as explained above, or manually from the Control Center.
All that you have to do is swipe-down from the top-right corner of the screen and tap on Focus.
Next, tap the Focus that you want to enable.
Fact: The Focus’ icon turns green when the Profile is enabled. An active Focus is also confirmed by its icon being displayed in the status bar when the iPhone is unlocked or on the Lock Screen when not.
Perform the same steps to disable a Focus!

Focus Tips & Tricks

Focus across devices: This new iOS 15 is automatically replicated across all your other devices that are used with the your Apple ID.
Focus On Lock Screen – long-press the Focus icon on your iPhone’s Lock Screen to bring up the Focus gallery.
Do Not Disturb Focus – works the same as the former Do Not Disturb mode, blocking all notifications.

What do you think about the new Focus mode? Do you plan to use it? Share your feedback in the comments section available below. Don’t hesitate to ask for more details if needed.

Related: Do you want to check more iOS 15 features? You might be interested in how to add Text from Camera, or check the EXIF Metadata in Photos.