Windows 11 Focus temporarily reduces distractions and provides timed work sessions. Configure a focus duration, adjust notification behavior, and verify that the timer works.
Open Settings > System > Focus, choose a session duration, and configure the focus options. Start a session to temporarily reduce notifications and track work time.
Open the Start menu and search for **Clock**. Launch the Windows Clock application and confirm that **Focus sessions** is available. Windows Focus uses the Clock application for its timer functionality.
Open **Settings > System > Focus**. Review the session duration and available focus behavior settings. This page controls how Windows behaves when a focus session starts.
Find **Session duration** and select a suitable work interval, such as 25 minutes. This determines how long a session runs before the timer ends. Short sessions are useful when working through one clearly defined task.
Under **Focus**, review the option to turn on **Do not disturb**. Keep it enabled if you want Windows to reduce notification interruptions during sessions. Important notifications allowed by your separate Do not disturb settings may still appear.
Review the options to **Hide badges on taskbar apps** and **Hide flashing on taskbar apps**. Enable them if you want fewer taskbar alerts while focusing. These changes apply during active focus sessions rather than permanently changing ordinary taskbar behavior.
Select **Start focus session** under **Settings > System > Focus**. Windows should display a focus timer and activate the selected distraction controls. Confirm that the timer begins counting down.
Open the **Clock** application and view the active focus session. Confirm that its timer is running and the selected notification settings are active. End the session using the available stop control, then verify that normal notification behavior returns.
Search for and launch the Clock application. If it has been removed, reinstall Windows Clock from Microsoft Store.
Open Settings > System > Notifications > Do not disturb and review its priority notification settings. Focus respects the notification exceptions configured in Windows.
Check whether the Clock app is functioning correctly and restart it if necessary. Start a shorter test session to confirm that the timer and focus controls work.
No. It manages distraction-related Windows behavior but does not function as a website blocker.
Yes. Use the notification area or the Focus sessions feature inside Windows Clock.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/focus-stay-on-task-without-distractions-in-windows
End any active focus session and return to Settings > System > Focus. Restore the previous duration and focus behavior settings. If Do not disturb remains active, disable it through Settings > System > Notifications.
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