Apple in iOS 15 introduced Focus mode, a Do Not Disturb expansion that lets you set different permissions for apps, contacts, and more depending on what you do. You can have separate tasks for when you are at work, when you are studying, when you are at home and more.
In iOS 16, Apple has improved Focus with new features, and this guide covers everything you need to know about using Focuses in iOS 16.
Improved focus settings
Setting up a Focus is easier than before, with a new custom setup experience for each Focus you create.
Apple used to introduce you directly to a confusing variety of options for doing things like allowing people and apps to receive notifications, but now there’s an account that lets you know how all Focus features work and a simplified process for selecting your options.
With the Mute Notifications section, you can choose which apps and people can contact you when a Focus is activated, and Apple has added options to allow or mute notifications from selected people, which was not an option before. With iOS 15, you could only choose allowed apps and allowed people, instead of specific people and apps to mute.
Note: Silent lists are only available on devices with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. Devices with iOS 15 and earlier cannot access the silence lists.
Apple will also guide you in choosing who to allow calls from, as well as being able to go through the screen customization interface, set Focus programs, and add filters to block certain email inboxes in Mail, Tab Groups. Safari and more, which we explain in the following sections.
Customize screens
With OSiOS 16, you can customize your entire Focus, including the look of your home screen, lock screen, and the face of your Apple Watch. You can select any of the lock screens you have created by linking it to a Focus mode. You can also create a new lock screen from the Gallery.
To customize your Home screen, you can select any of the pages in your existing applications to serve as the main Home screen for Focus mode. Therefore, if you want to create a Home Screen with specific applications for a Focus, you must first set up an application page by rearranging your applications.
As for the Apple Watch, if you own an Apple Watch, you can select one of the faces on the Apple Watch to activate it on the wrist for a specific Focus mode.
If you have set up a custom lock screen, Home screen, or Apple Watch for your Focus and change your mind, just tap the “-” symbol to clear it.
Linked lock screens and focus modes
You can create custom lock screens in iOS 16 and each lock screen can be associated with a different focus. This means that you can set a lock screen to match a focus, giving your phone a different look throughout the day.
If you have a work approach, for example, you can set up a lock screen with the style and widgets that are useful for your job, and then, when you’re at home, you can have a completely different setup.
To associate a focus with a lock screen, open the lock screen interface by long-pressing the unlock screen of an unlocked Iphone, scroll to the lock screen you want, and then tap “Focus.” to choose which approach to associate the lock. Screen with.
After that, the lock screen will have a small icon at the bottom that lets you know which focus it is linked to. Then, to turn on focus, you can only switch to this lock screen, so it’s very easy to change focus modes.
Note that you can also follow this setup process in the Focus section of the Setup application. Just open it, select the focus you want to use for a lock screen, and choose the “Customize screens” option described above.
Lock screen and home page tips
When you’re creating a Focus, Apple says iOS can suggest lock screens for the Focus option, such as a photo lock screen when you’re at home, and a more centralized set of options for data when you’re at home. work. Apple also offers suggestions for “Home Screen” pages that have the most relevant apps and widgets for the focus you select.
Focus filters
Focus filters are a completely new feature in OSiOS 16. With this option, you can choose to filter the content of applications, showing a specific email account or calendar, if you have several. When using a Focus with a set of filters, the application with the filter will only show what you have selected, hiding everything else.
Here’s what you can filter with Focus Filters:
- Calendar: If you have different calendars set up for work and family, you can only associate a calendar with a Focus so that you only see relevant events when that Focus is on.
- Mail: You can choose any of your email accounts to associate with a Focus, and when enabled, when you’re in that Focus, the Mail app will only show the accounts you’ve selected. It is useful if you want to filter personal emails while you work and vice versa.
- Messages: The Messages application can be set to hide all messages except the messages in the People list that you created for the specific Focus mode. Therefore, if you have a “personal” focus that filters all work contacts, you won’t see their messages in the Messages app with personal focus turned on.
- Safari – Safari can be configured to display only a specific tab group when focus is on. You will need to set up the tab group in advance in the Safari application.
- Dark mode: You can choose dark mode or light mode for a focus.
- Low-power mode: You can choose to turn low-power mode on or off with a Focus.
Focus Filter API
Apple created a Focus Filter API for developers so that third-party applications can allow the same specific filtering options within a Focus as Apple’s own application. If you use a third-party email application, for example, you can select a mailbox to display within that application, as long as the developer adds the Focus Filter API.
Focus state
Apple has made it easier to control whether apps can let people know that you have Focus turned on and that you mute notifications. With the “Focus Status” section, you can choose which focus modes are allowed to share if you have muted notifications.
You can block a Focus mode from sharing this information, so people won’t be notified that your notifications are turned off if they try to send you messages. This could be configured in iOS 15, but in OSiOS 16 it is easier to access and manage.
Silence and allows lists
As mentioned above, the silence and allow lists are available in the Focus app on iOS 16, which may be one of the most notable quality of life improvements. Instead of selecting only people or apps that have permission to notify you, you can also select people or apps that don’t have permission to notify you with a specific focus.
If you wanted to block a specific person or app before iOS 16, there was no easy way to do it because you could only allow contacts and apps. For example, if you want to block only the Messages app on iOS 15 while leaving everything else accessible, you should “allow” all other apps. This is not the case in iOS 16, as you can choose apps (or people) to mute.
Guide feedback
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