01
Open the Clock app's Focus Sessions
Press **Start**, type **Clock** and open the app. In the left sidebar pick **Focus sessions**. The main pane shows the timer, daily goal and task list.
Open the **Clock** app, start a **Focus Session**, link **Spotify** and **Microsoft To Do** and run 25/5 **Pomodoro** cycles with Do Not Disturb on.
Requirements
- Windows 11 25H2 with the built-in Clock app
- Microsoft account to sync tasks and session history
- Optional: Spotify account (free or Premium) at https://www.spotify.com
- Optional: Microsoft To Do at https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nblggh5r558
Instructions
02
Set your daily focus goal
Click the **gear icon** next to **Daily goal** and set a realistic target like **2 hours** at first. Streaks and stats encourage consistency without being pushy.
03
Configure session length for Pomodoro
Set the session to **25 minutes** with a **5-minute break**. For every 2+ hour block, Focus Sessions auto-adds a longer break. This matches a standard Pomodoro cycle.
tipClick Skip break if you are in flow - the next work block starts immediately.
04
Link Microsoft To Do for tasks
In Focus Sessions, click **Add a task**. Sign in with your Microsoft account. Tasks you add here appear in **To Do** on all your devices via https://todo.microsoft.com.
05
Link Spotify for a focus playlist
Click **Link your Spotify**. Sign in and authorize the Clock app. Pick a focus playlist (the app surfaces Spotify's curated **Focus** category). Playback starts when a session starts.
06
Enable Do Not Disturb during sessions
In the Clock app, open **Settings** (gear icon, bottom left) and make sure **Turn on do not disturb** is enabled for session duration. Windows auto-silences notifications until the break.
⚠ warningPriority notifications (phone, Teams calls) still break through unless you tighten Priority settings in Settings then System then Notifications then Set priority notifications.
07
Start a session and verify
Pick a task, click **Start focus session**. The timer counts down, Spotify starts playing and the taskbar bell icon turns on. When the timer ends, you hear the break chime.
Common issues
Spotify link button does nothing
Make sure the Spotify desktop app is installed and signed in, then restart the Clock app. The Microsoft Store page is https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9ncbcszsjrsb
Focus sessions page is missing from Clock
Update the Clock app from the Microsoft Store. Older versions on upgraded machines sometimes lag behind.
Tasks do not sync to Microsoft To Do
Sign out of the Clock app, sign back in with the same Microsoft account used by To Do, and reconnect.
Notifications still interrupt me
Open Settings then System then Notifications and under Set priority notifications remove apps you do not need alerts from.
Frequently asked
Does this cost anything?
No. Clock, Focus Sessions and To Do are free. Spotify Free works too, with ads between tracks.
Can I change the break length?
Partly. The session length is adjustable in 15-minute steps; breaks auto-scale.
Does it work offline?
The timer works offline. Spotify playback and task sync need an internet connection.
How to undo this
Open the Clock app's Settings, disconnect Spotify and sign out of your Microsoft account under Account. Turn off Do Not Disturb in Settings then System then Notifications if you enabled it manually. Nothing needs to be uninstalled.
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