What is the new Focus Status feature and how to use it on iOS 15 devices?

Notifications on iPhone were updated with the iOS 15 update as it featured features like Focus Modes and Notification Summary. You would have noticed the Focus Status feature in the Focus Modes. In this article, you’ll learn about the Focus Status feature and how to use it on iOS 15 devices.

What is the Focus Status feature on the iOS 15 update?

Are you looking to inform your contacts that your device’s notifications have been turned off? Make use of the Focus Status feature.

For users who didn’t know this already, Focus Modes are a different set of notification profiles allowing you to silence notifications, alerts, messages, and calls on your iPhone. Fitness, Work, Do not disturb, Meditation, and Sleep are some of the pre-made Focus Modes included. Each profile will be tailored to your specific needs by allowing specific apps or people to send notifications. Focus Modes is found under Settings -> Focus on your iPhones.

Focus Modes will allow you to easily customize the properties of your iPhone’s home screen and lock screen. For instance, you’ll be able to display custom home screens, dim the lock screen, disable notification badges, and display silenced notifications on your lock screen. Moreover, it’ll inform people that you aren’t being notified about new notifications as one of the Focus Modes has been activated on your iPhone.

How does Focus Status on iOS 15 work?

Focus Status comes enabled by default in the existing Focus Modes and any new ones that you’re creating. Once you activate a Focus Mode with Focus Status enabled, your contacts will get a banner that says “has notifications silenced” in chat apps like iMessage. This can be useful when someone close to you is trying to message you. They’ll get informed that notifications are being silenced on your end, so you might take a bit longer to respond. However, if someone has to contact you right away, they can make use of the Notify Anyway option.

How to enable/disable the Focus Status feature in iOS 15 devices?

You’ll be able to turn Focus Status on or off for either everyone or individual contacts.

For everyone

For enabling or disabling Focus status for everyone, you should follow these steps –

1. Open Settings on your device
2. Now, tap on Focus and then open the Focus Mode where you’ll enable or disable Focus Status
3. Lastly, tap on Focus Status and turn on the toggle beside Share Focus Status for enabling it or turn it off for disabling it

For specific contacts

1. Launch the Messages app and open the chat thread having the contact where you’re looking to turn off Focus Status
2. Now, tap on the contact name at the top
3. Turn off the toggle beside the Share Focus Status
4. Repeat these steps for other contacts