At the 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple announced its new iOS 15 features. One of the standout additions was Focus, which allows users to toggle their notifications to best suit their needs.

Focus is Apple’s most extensive overhaul of push notifications to date. With this feature, you can choose who’s allowed to contact you at certain times, the apps you see on your screen while you’re working, and much more.

Apple also helps to improve user experiences with this feature through automation. But since talking about Focus in an introduction alone is impossible, we’ve created this article to explain everything you need to know.

Which Devices Is Focus Available On?

Focus is available on all iPhones that support iOS 15 or higher. Apple is also adding the Focus tool to all iPadOS 15 devices.

Related: Everything Apple Announced at WWDC

In addition to iPhones and iPads, Apple will integrate Focus with computers supporting macOS Monterey and a selection of Apple Watches running watchOS 8.

What Is the Point of Apple Focus?

Apple chose to introduce Focus to give users more control of their phones. The feature also enables you to adapt to different situations, such as only receiving work-related notifications during office hours.

Beyond customization, the idea of Focus is to help users avoid distractions. The tool helps people achieve this by not showing irrelevant notifications until a time that suits you.

How Does Focus Work?

Apple’s new solution lets you choose what you want to “focus” on at various points throughout the day. You can pick from a selection of default options, such as:

  • Work
  • Personal time
  • Sleep

During times of a particular focus, your device’s interface will adapt to match it. For example, you can choose to only receive work-related notifications while you’re in the office.

Customized home screen for Focus on iPhone
Image Credit: Apple WWDC

Similarly, you can make only fitness-related apps visible while you’re working out.

If you don’t want to receive any notifications whatsoever during specific periods, Focus also gives you an option for that.

When you have Focus switched on, users trying to contact you via Messages will see a notification at the bottom of your conversation. If they need to contact you urgently, they can push the message through so that you see it.

Screenshot showing Apple Focus message notification on iPhone
Image Credit: Apple WWDC

Is Focus Automated or Customized?

Focus offers a mixture of automation and your own personal selections.

Apple uses intelligence to help you customize the feature in various ways. One of these is location: your device will ask you if you want to turn on the work version of Focus when you get to your office, fitness if you’re close to the gym you regularly use, and so on.

Related: How iOS 15 Uses Intelligence to Make Your iPhone Smarter Than Ever

Another way that intelligence drives Focus is when it comes to specific times. If you usually work out at 7am, for example, Apple may suggest turning on the related Focus mode on your phone.

Screenshot showing suggestion for Apple Focus
Image Credit: Apple

Despite Apple using intelligence to help customize Focus better, you can still add your own twist. Beyond creating custom modes, you can choose which apps you want to be included in each mode.

Focus feature allowing you to choose which apps appear
Image Credit: Apple WWDC

By default, Focus syncs across all supporting devices you’re signed in on with your Apple ID. But if you only want certain settings to feature on your iPhone, for example, you can toggle these so they don’t cross-sync.

Gain Better Focus With Apple’s New iOS 15 Feature

Apple has mixed intelligence with personal preferences to give users more control over the notifications they receive on their devices.

Through customizing notifications, Home Screens, and more, those who make the most of Focus could find that they boost their productivity and limit distractions.

If you have any of the qualifying Apple devices, give Focus a try and see if it helps you gain more control.