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How to use Focus Mode on Android 10

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Google has designed a new Focus Mode to help you minimize distractions and get things done. It's baked right into Android 10. Here's how to use it.

Whether you are studying for exams or just want to turn off the constant ping of notifications and messages coming from your smartphone, Android's new Focus Mode can help you resist distractions. Not looking at your phone when you have decided to focus on another task sounds easy, but with the frequency with which our modern devices try to pull us back in, the temptation is always there. "I'll just check this message really quickly", you'll think, and before you know it you've spent 20 minutes browsing Twitter.

Focus Mode is part of Google Digital Wellbeing toolset on Android. It can temporarily pause apps that are the best at distracting you, such as social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook. With Focus Mode, you can silence those apps so your smartphone will not ping with notifications. This is slightly different to Do Not Disturb, which will silence your entire phone. After all, you may want to leave the door open for important work apps such as Slack to distract you, whilst shutting off others that are less important at that moment in time.

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Focus Mode can be found under Android's Digital Wellbeing & parental controls. / © NextPit

You can also set schedules that will automatically turn on Focus Mode at certain times of the day, such as when you are at school or work. You can also opt to 'take a break' from your focused activity and turn notifications back on for 5, 10 or 30 minutes. Here's how to use the feature.

  1. Go to Settings and then Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
  2. Find Focus Mode under Ways To Disconnect.
  3. Select the apps you want to refrain from distracting you from the list.
  4. Tap Turn on now.
focus mode android 10
You can select the apps that you find the most distracting. / © NextPit

Once Focus Mode is switched on, you can select two options to turn it back off. Turn off now will completely turn off Focus Mode and go back to your phone's default notification settings. Take a Break will allow you to select a period of time you'd like to reopen notifications for your selected apps. You can see what I mean in the screenshot below.

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You can take a break from Focus Mode for 5, 15 or 30 minutes. / © NextPit

Have you tried Android's Focus Mode yet? What do you think about this new feature? Share your thoughts below the line.

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David McCourt

David McCourt
Editor

David enjoys staying abreast of the latest technology and newest Android apps. Outside of the office, he can be found playing snooker and writing bad 00s indie songs.

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  • marco sarli 39
    marco sarli
    • Admin
    Jan 28, 2020 Link to comment

    As soon as I get 10...


  • 2
    natelive Jan 25, 2020 Link to comment

    I got the Android Q update on my pixel 3 earlier today.

    I've been seeing videos of youtubers having Focus mode in the Digital Wellbeing section in the settings but I'm not able to find it.

    Is it just me or is there another update which i haven't got?