Share Focus Status allows apps to detect if a Focus mode is active and share your status with chosen contacts attempting to contact you.
Apple’s iOS 15 brings a new Focus mode, which is like an upgraded version of Do Not Disturb.
It helps manage distractions by grouping notifications, hiding distracting apps, and organizing your lock screen.
The settings sync across devices, allowing you to maintain focus whether on iPhone, iPad, or macOS.
Additionally, you can extend this focus to your computer by blocking distracting websites like Facebook on macOS, Windows, or Linux.
If you’ve explored Settings and Messages, you might have come across the “Share Focus Status” toggle, and this article explains what it means and how it operates on the iPhone.
“Share Focus Status” allows apps to detect if a Focus mode is active and share your status with chosen contacts attempting to contact you.
This feature, supported unevenly across apps, informs others, such as texting partners, about your silenced notifications.
How It Works
“Share Focus Status” specifically impacts Focus modes like Do Not Disturb, Work, Personal, and Sleep.
If you don’t use these modes, you needn’t concern yourself with this setting, as it won’t impact your experience.
The purpose of Focus modes is to mute non-urgent notifications and contacts. You can customize which apps and contacts are allowed notifications under Settings > Focus.
To set Focus mode sharing, enable “Share Across Devices,” tap “Focus Status,” and activate “Share Focus Status.” You can then choose specific Focus Modes to share, like Do Not Disturb but not Work.
When sharing, apps only reveal that your notifications are silenced, not the reason or the specific Focus mode.
Contacts using apps like Messages will see a notification, such as “Mr. A has notifications silenced,” with an option to “Notify Anyway” for important messages.
Though not universal, Apple’s apps, including Messages, fully support the Share Focus Status.
Open the Settings app > tap Privacy & security > tap focus > Tap the toggle next to the app you want to share focus status with.
In Messages, you can individually control the share Focus status by opening a conversation, tapping on the contact’s name or photo, and toggling the “Share Focus Status” setting.
Using shared focus status has many benefits:
- Responsibility: Letting others know what you’re focusing on makes you feel responsible for sticking to your goals.
- Productivity: Sharing your goals helps you prioritize and stay focused, reducing distractions.
- Support And Motivation: Others can encourage and support you when they know your goals.
- Collaboration: Sharing your focus can lead to opportunities to work with others who share your goals.
- Feedback: By sharing your focus, you can get helpful advice and insights from others.
- Networking: Sharing your goals can help you connect with people who can provide support or opportunities.
- Celebration: Sharing your progress allows others to celebrate your achievements with you.
In Summary
Share Focus Status on iPhone lets you inform others you’re unavailable when using Focus modes, helping manage expectations and minimize distractions.
When someone tries to contact you through a compatible app while your Focus mode is active, they might see a message indicating you’re using Focus and may not respond right away.
Yes, you have to enable it individually for each Focus mode you want to share the status for.
Yes, within the Messages app, you can choose to share your Focus status individually with specific contacts.
Currently, it mainly works with Apple’s built-in apps like Messages, but it might be integrated into other apps in the future.
Further Reading:
- Can You Call Or Text Someone You Blocked On iPhone? [Answered!]
- What Does “Express Card And Keys Available” Mean On iPhone? [Explained!]
- What Does Notification Silenced On iPhone Mean?
- How To Fix iMessage Is Signed Out Error On iPhone [See Reasons Too]
- What Is Website Data On iPhone And What Will Happen If You Delete It? [Explained!]
