How to use Focus Mode on Android

Digital tools are an important part of modern smartphones. These add-ons aim to create healthier usage habits. Focus Mode is one such tool and is available on all Android devices.

Focus Mode will work a little differently depending on the Android device you have. The following article will show you how to use Focus Mode on Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices.

What is Focus Mode?

As the name suggests, Focus Mode is a tool for eliminating distractions. It is similar to Do Not Disturb but less complicated and more focused. You can set Do Not Disturb mode on a schedule, while Focus Mode is mostly turned on manually whenever you need a break.

The general idea is that you select some apps and then when Focus Mode is on, you can't open or receive notifications from them. It's a simple way to quickly block the most distracting apps.

Focus Mode on Google Pixel phones

Focus Mode on Google Pixel phones is almost identical to the "default" implementation you'll see. The same goes for non-Samsung Android devices. First, swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon to open Settings.

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Next, go to the Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls section.

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Select Focus Mode.

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The first thing to do is select the apps you want to block in Focus Mode. Scroll down and select the apps to block.

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Next, at the top, you can tap Set a Schedule to set a schedule for when Focus Mode will automatically turn on and off. This is not required.

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You can turn on Focus Mode from the Settings screen, but this is not very convenient. The better method is to add it to the Quick Settings tile. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap the pencil icon to edit the tile layout.

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The tiles in the top section are in the Quick Settings area. Scroll to the bottom and find the Focus Mode tile. Press and hold, then drag the tile to the top area. Lift your finger to drop the tile.

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Tap the back arrow in the top left corner when you're done.

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Now, to enable Focus Mode, just tap the tile from Quick Settings. You can also turn off the feature from the tile or tap Take a Break from the notification to pause it for a while.

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That's all there is in Focus Mode on Google Pixel phones.

Focus Mode on Samsung Galaxy phones

Focus Mode on Samsung Galaxy devices is a bit different. You can create multiple Focus Modes, and instead of choosing apps to block, choose apps that are allowed to show notifications.

First, swipe down once from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon to open Settings.

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Scroll down and select Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls.

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You'll notice a few pre-made modes in the Focus Mode section. You can choose one to edit or click Add to start from scratch.

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If you're creating a new Focus Mode, give it a name and click Save.

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There are some apps that will always be allowed in Focus Mode. To add more content, tap Edit.

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Select all the apps you want to allow in Focus Mode, then tap Done.

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If you want this Focus Mode to stay on for a predetermined amount of time, tap Duration and use the plus and minus buttons to set the time.

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You can start any of these Focus Modes from the Digital Wellbeing page, but it's much easier to do from the Quick Settings buttons.

Swipe down from the top of the screen twice to see Quick Settings, then swipe right until you see an empty space with a + button.

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Find the Focus Mode button at the top and drag it down to Quick Settings. Tap Done when the button is in the correct position.

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You can now tap the Focus Mode button and select the mode you want to use.

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End Focus Mode by tapping the Quick Settings button again. You will see a summary of the notifications that have been blocked.

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Tools like these can really help create better usage habits if you feel like your phone is becoming a distraction.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 05 February 2022