Turn off Distractions With Focus Assist in Windows 10

Focus assist (formerly known as Quiet hours) is a Windows 10 feature that aims to help you become more productive by reducing distractions or interruptions. It does this by allowing you to block specific notifications while you use your PC.

Although Focus Assist isn’t new to the April 2018 update (version 1803), some new features and improvements have been introduced, including the ability activate Focus Assist automatically based on specific criteria.

In this guide, we will go through the steps on how to enable and customize Focus Assist to minimize distractions as you work.
 
1. Enter the Focus Assist Settings
Go to Settings -> System. In the left pane of the system menu, click Focus Assist to bring up the Focus Assist menu.


2. Select the Appropriate Focus Assist Setting for Your Needs
Under Focus Assist, there are three different options:
• Off – This is the default setting. When set to off, Focus Assist is disabled and all notifications are allowed. No further action is required.
• Priority Only – This allows notifications to be seen based on a user-customized list.
• Alarm Only – All notifications, except alarms, are disabled. No further action is required.


3. Customize Focus Assist Priorities
Select Customize Your Priority List under the Priority Only option to open the priority list. Here you can manually select which notifications you would like to allow when Focus Assist is switched on. All other notifications will go straight to the Action Center. Simply check the boxes for all that apply.
• Calls, text, and reminders – If enabled, these settings allow Cortana to notify you of incoming calls, missed calls, SMS messages etc.
• People – Allow notifications from your contacts in Mail, Skype, Messaging etc. while focus assist is turned on. Use the Add contacts button to select contact you would like to see notifications from.
• Apps – See notifications from selected apps while Focus Assist is enabled. Use the Add an app button to choose an available app from the list.



4. Set Automatic Rules (Optional)
In the Focus Assist menu, select Automatic Rules. Here you can set Focus Assist to turn on automatically during specific times or activities. Click on each option for more customization options.
• During these times – Choose the times you would like Focus Assist to be automatically turned on. This setting can also be set on repeat (daily, weekends, weekdays).
• When I’m duplicating my display – Switch on to automatically disable notifications when duplicating your screen, for instance, during a presentation.
• When I’m playing a game – Switch on to automatically hide notifications when playing a full-screen DirectX game.