Turn off notifications in Windows during certain times (2024)

Do not disturb allows you to avoid distracting notifications when you need to stay focused. It'sset by default to activate automatically when you're duplicating your display, playing a game, or using an app in full screen mode. You can control any or all of these, as well as determiningto what level notifications are suppressed.

  1. Select Start >Settings > System > Notifications .

  2. To turn on Do not disturb, select On.

  3. You can also turn on do not disturb automatically. In Turn on do not disturb automatically, choose specific times to turn it on or specific certain conditions whenyou want it turned on.

  4. When do not disturb is on, the notification center icon will change and hide any incoming notifications.

Focus assist (also called quiet hours in earlier versions of Windows 10) allows you to avoid distracting notifications when you need to stay focused. It'sset by default to activate automatically when you're duplicating your display, playing a game, or using an app in full screen mode. You can control any or all of these, as well as determiningto what level notifications are suppressed.

  1. Select Start >Settings > System > Focus assist, or, in the search box on the taskbar,type Focus assist and then select Focus assist settingsfromthe list of results.

    Turn off notifications in Windows during certain times (1)

  2. To set the current state of focus assist, select Off (receive all notifications), Priority only (see only notifications from a list you can customize to your liking), or Alarms Only (hide everything except alarms).

  3. Under Automatic rules, you can determine the conditions that cause focus assist to activate automatically. Select the item to turn that condition on or off and to determine the time and/or level of focus assist that condition activates, or just select the switch as a shortcut to turning a condition on or off. (To completely deactivate focus assist, turn all of these off.)

  4. Select Show me a summary of what I missed while focus assist was on to be sent a notification when you exit from focus assist about what was redirected to Action Center. Deselect this to deactivate this notification.

  5. When focus assist turns on automatically, by default a notification appears in the action center explaining that focus assist is on and suppressing notifications. If you would prefer not to see this message, click the Change focus assistbutton in the notification, and uncheck Show a notification in action center when focus assist is turned on automaticallyin the Settings page that launches.

I'm an expert in Windows operating systems and features, with a profound understanding of the functionalities designed to enhance productivity and minimize distractions. My expertise is rooted in extensive hands-on experience and a comprehensive knowledge of the intricate details of Windows 10 and its various components.

Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article regarding the "Do Not Disturb" and "Focus Assist" features in Windows 10, which are crucial tools for maintaining focus and minimizing interruptions.

  1. Do Not Disturb:

    • Activation Conditions:
      • Activates automatically when duplicating your display, playing a game, or using an app in full-screen mode.
    • Control Settings:
      • Default settings suppress notifications during specific activities.
      • You can control and customize these settings.
    • Activation Method:
      • Accessible through Start > Settings > System > Notifications.
    • Manual Activation:
      • Toggle the "On" switch to enable Do Not Disturb manually.
    • Automatic Activation:
      • Choose specific times or conditions for automatic activation.
  2. Focus Assist (formerly Quiet Hours):

    • Activation Conditions:
      • Similar to Do Not Disturb, activates during display duplication, gaming, or full-screen app usage.
    • Control Settings:
      • Default settings suppress notifications during specific activities.
      • Three modes: Off, Priority Only, Alarms Only.
    • Activation Method:
      • Accessible through Start > Settings > System > Focus Assist.
      • Alternatively, search for "Focus assist" in the taskbar.
    • Automatic Activation:
      • Customize conditions for automatic activation under Automatic rules.
    • Notification Summary:
      • Receive a summary of missed notifications upon exiting Focus Assist.
      • Toggle this feature on/off.
  3. Additional Settings for Focus Assist:

    • Notification for Activation:
      • A notification appears when Focus Assist turns on automatically.
      • Users can choose to hide this notification.
    • Change Focus Assist Settings:
      • Click "Change focus assist" in the notification to access settings.
      • Disable the notification in the Settings page.

In summary, both Do Not Disturb and Focus Assist are powerful tools integrated into Windows 10 to help users maintain focus and reduce interruptions. These features provide a range of customization options, allowing users to tailor their notification preferences based on specific activities and times. The ability to control these settings manually or automatically adds flexibility to the user experience, contributing to a more productive computing environment.

Turn off notifications in Windows during certain times (2024)

FAQs

Turn off notifications in Windows during certain times? ›

Click on Start > Settings > Easy Of Access. You should now be in the Display section. Under Show notifications for you can choose from 5, 7, 15, 30 seconds or 1 and 5 minutes. Keep in mind that if you receive many notifications, your screen could become filled if you use longer times.

How do I temporarily disable Windows notifications? ›

Turn off notifications in Windows during certain times
  1. Select Start > Settings > System > Notifications .
  2. To turn on Do not disturb, select On.
  3. You can also turn on do not disturb automatically. ...
  4. When do not disturb is on, the notification center icon will change and hide any incoming notifications.

How do I set Windows notification time? ›

Click on Start > Settings > Easy Of Access. You should now be in the Display section. Under Show notifications for you can choose from 5, 7, 15, 30 seconds or 1 and 5 minutes. Keep in mind that if you receive many notifications, your screen could become filled if you use longer times.

How do I control Windows notifications? ›

Action Center in Windows 10 is where you'll find your notifications and quick actions. Change your settings at any time to adjust how and when you see notifications and which apps and settings are your top quick actions. Select Start . Select Settings > System > Notifications & actions.

How do I reduce notification time in Windows 10? ›

Click Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Other options. Click on the “Show notifications for” list box. You can choose from 5 seconds, 7 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 5 minutes.

Is there a way to temporarily turn off notifications? ›

Set up Do not disturb
  1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Do not disturb.
  2. Toggle on Do not disturb.
  3. Determine how long you want DND on – Until I turn it off, For 1 hour, or Ask every time. To set exceptions, scroll down to Allowed during Do not disturb, then choose among the following:
Sep 19, 2023

Is there a way to turn off all notifications temporarily? ›

Touch and hold the notification, and then tap Settings . Choose your settings: To turn off all notifications, turn off All notifications. Turn on or off notifications you want to receive.

How do I set active hours in Windows? ›

Select your own active hours
  1. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update , then select Change active hours.
  2. Next to your current active hours, select Change. Then choose the start time and end time for active hours.

How do I set an hourly reminder in Windows? ›

To set up a reminder in Microsoft To Do, select a task followed by Remind me. Choose a date and time to have your reminder go off, or have it repeat on certain days. Microsoft Outlook is another great Microsoft tool for setting reminders.

How do I silence notifications? ›

There are two ways users can receive silent push notifications on Android. Users can long press on a notification to get an option to display notifications silently. Users can also enable silent notifications by heading to Settings > App & Notifications > Search for app and choose> Notifications, and turn it off.

How do I turn off all notifications? ›

On an Android
  1. Open the Settings app and tap "Sounds." This menu might also be called "Sounds and vibration." Abbey White/Business Insider.
  2. In the menu that opens, tap "Do Not Disturb." Tap the "Do Not Disturb" option. ...
  3. You'll be able to edit its settings, including which notifications, if any, can get through.
Feb 24, 2021

What are quiet hours in Windows 11? ›

Quiet Hours lets you mute notifications and other interruptions so that you can focus on your work without distractions. But if you don't want to go through all this trouble, why not check out Windows' Focus Assist instead?

What is the quiet hours for notifications in Windows 10? ›

To do so, right-click the Action Center icon at the bottom of the system taskbar and select Turn on Quiet Hours or Turn off Quiet Hours from the appears menu. If you are using a version that is Windows 10 2018 update or later, you can follow the steps below to enable or disable “Quiet Hours Windows 10”.

How do I set time limits on Windows apps? ›

Web
  1. Visit family.microsoft.com. ...
  2. Find your family member's name and go to the respective platform: Windows/Xbox/Mobile.
  3. Select Apps and games tab. ...
  4. Click the app or game you want to set limits on.
  5. Set the amount of time your family member can spend on the app or game each day and when they're allowed to use it.

Where is Windows Notification Center? ›

Notifications at a glance

Select the date and time in the taskbar to open the Notification Center. (You can also swipe in from the right edge of your screen, or press Windows logo key + N.) Select the notification to read more or take action.

Where is the notification area in Windows? ›

The notification area is located at the right end of the taskbar. It contains icons you might find yourself selecting or pressing pretty often: battery, Wi-Fi, volume, Clock and Calendar, and action center.

What is the hotkey for Windows notification? ›

On a touchscreen device, swipe in from the right edge of the screen. Press the Windows logo key + N.

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