How to stop notifications while you focus on a Mac
To silence notifications quickly, turn on the Do Not Disturb Focus in Control Center. For something you will reuse, such as a Work Focus, open System Settings, click Focus, and add one. You then choose who and which apps can still reach you and, if you like, set a schedule.
The quick way
Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar and turn on Do Not Disturb. Apple suggests this when you need to silence all notifications right away. Turn it off the same way.
Make your own Focus
- Open System Settings and click Focus in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
- Click Add Focus, then choose a provided Focus or click Custom.
- For a custom one, enter a name, pick a color and icon, and click OK. You can create up to ten.
Choose what gets through
Click your Focus in the list.
- Click Allowed People, use the Notifications pop up menu to choose Allow Some People or Silence Some People, click the Add People button, pick contacts and click Done.
- Click Allowed Apps, choose Allow Some Apps or Silence Some Apps, click the Add button, pick apps and click Add, then Done.
- To let urgent items through, turn on Time Sensitive Notifications under Allowed Apps.
Schedule it
In the Focus settings, click your Focus, then under Set a Schedule click Add Schedule. Choose Time, Location or App, enter the details and click Done. An app schedule turns the Focus on when you open that app.
Pair it with a timer
A Focus removes the interruptions, and a timer gives the block an end. Start a 25 minute timer in Clock, turn on your Focus, and work on a single task. This is the core of the Pomodoro technique on a Mac.
Version note
Apple’s page lists a version picker for macOS 27, Tahoe 26 and Sequoia 15. Newer versions may add options that depend on your region and language, so your list may differ slightly from the one above.
In NotchStar
NotchStar’s Timers tool does not switch a Focus on or off. It only counts the time and plays a sound at the end, so turn on the Focus yourself before you press play.
