How to Use Focus Mode on Android.
Is your Android phone a constant source of distraction? This is where focus mode can help you. Here’s how to set up and use Focus Mode on Android.
Focus Mode is part of the Android Digital Wellbeing feature set. The name sums up what it is, but in short, focus mode helps you focus by pausing distracting apps and their notifications.
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If your Android device is running Android 10 or later, you can enable Focus Mode manually or set it to activate automatically on a schedule. Read on to learn how to set up and use Focus Mode on Android.
What Is Focus Mode on Android?
It is a digital wellbeing feature that pauses distracting apps and notifications on your Android device, allowing you to go about your business. It works similarly to Do Not Disturb but is more focused on stopping visual triggers from distracting your attention. It’s also quick to set up and less confusing than Apple’s iPhone and Mac version of Focus Mode.
Whenever you turn on Focus Mode on Android or set it to activate on a schedule, any apps you add to your distraction list will be greyed out. You will also not receive notifications from these apps until you disable this feature.
Even so, Focus Mode doesn’t completely restrict you from using the apps you choose to pause. You can always “take a break” for a few minutes or disable Focus Mode at any time, so you still need to exercise some self-discipline to get the most out of it.
How to Set Up of Android Focus Mode
You can customize the focus mode through the Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls settings panel on your Android phone. The following instructions demonstrate the process on a Google Pixel running a stock version of Android.
1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Check the app drawer if it doesn’t show up on the home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls > Focus Mode.
3. Select the apps you want to lock in focus mode, such as social media apps like Instagram and WhatsApp. You can’t lock core apps like Phone, Play Store, Settings, etc.
Tip. View the device usage graph at the top of the Digital Wellbeing page (go back one screen) to get a clearer picture of the specific apps that are taking up the most screen time.
Optionally, click Set Schedule if you want the focus mode to automatically activate on a schedule. Then select the start and end times, select the days you want the focus mode to turn on automatically, and click Set.
4. Click Turn On Now to activate focus mode.
5. Focus mode is now active. Exit the Settings app.
Note. Focus mode may work differently or include additional options if your phone is running a special version of Android. For example, in Samsung Galaxy devices with a single user interface, focus mode allows you to create groups of applications that you can select when you activate this feature.
How to Use Focus Mode on Android Phones
With focus mode active, any apps you choose to restrict will be greyed out on the Android home screen and app drawer. Your phone also pauses notifications and alerts from these apps; they will not appear in your notification area.
If you tap on an inactive app, select OK to acknowledge the “Focus mode enabled” notification, or select the “Use app for 5 minutes” option to use the app for five minutes. To take a longer break, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Break on the Digital Wellbeing Persistent notification. You can also click Disable Now if you wish to disable this feature.
You can always add or remove focus mode apps and change its schedule by going back to Settings > Digital wellbeing and parental controls > Focus mode.
How to Add a Focus Mode Tile to Quick Settings
By default, when setting the focus mode, your Android phone is prompted to automatically add the focus mode tile to the quick settings bar or device notification bar.
This makes it easier to turn on focus mode manually and allows you to quickly navigate to focus mode settings by tapping and holding a tile.
If you don’t see the focus mode tile, you can add it manually. To do this, open the quick settings panel and tap the pencil icon. Then drag the focus mode to the hot tile group.
Stay Focused
Focus Mode is a great addition to your Android phone and a great tool to help you get rid of procrastination while you’re doing other things. For best results, consider pairing it with other digital wellness features on your Android.