iPhone has Focus Mode that can reduce notifications and distractions so you can focus on what you’re doing.
Part of this mode is an option to let others see that focus mode is on and that you are not currently receiving notifications.
But if you’re not sure if this happens, or if you want to turn it on or off, there is a setting you can tweak.
You can share focus state on iPhone 13 by going to Settings > Focus > Focus state > and turn on Share focus state.
How to let others see your focus status on iPhone
- I open Settings.
- Touch focus.
- Select the focus mode.
- Turn on the “Share focus state” option.
Our guide continues below with more information on how to share Focus Status on iPhone 13, including pictures of the steps.
Text messaging has become such an important means of communication on iPhone and Android devices that many people use it as a method of communication instead of making phone calls.
Also, since everyone knows your phone is near you almost all the time, they can expect you to respond to notifications in a timely manner.
But if you’re trying to get some work done, or if you’re busy doing something and can’t check your phone, you might not want other people to think they’re being ignored.
By sharing your Focus State from your iPhone, they will see that your iPhone notifications are disabled, which means they will know that you did not see their text message and are not actively responding.
Related: You can read our guide on how to put your iPhone into Do Not Disturb mode to learn more about it.
How to enable focus state sharing on iPhone
The steps in this article were done on an iPhone 13 running iOS 16.
Step 1: Find and open the Settings app.
Step 2: Select the “Focus” option.
Step 3: Click on the “Focus Status” button at the bottom of the list.
Step 4: Turn on the Share Focus Status option.
Note that you can individually choose whether your focus state is shared in each of the individual focus modes you have set up on your iPhone.
Now that you know how to share Focus Status on iPhone 13, you’ll be able to choose if other people can see that your notifications are disabled because you’re busy.
What does focus mode on iPhone do?
Focus Mode is an iPhone option that allows you to reduce distractions while you’re driving, working, or just wanting to take a break from your phone.
There are many different ways to configure and manage this setting on your device. For example, you may not want to receive text notifications while you’re driving, but you may need to allow them while you’re at work.
You can also specify which contacts and apps can still contact you when focus mode is enabled, and you can set a schedule for focus modes to automatically turn on at a specific time or when you’re in a specific location.
What is Focus State on iPhone?
Your iPhone’s Focus status tells your contacts that Focus mode is on.
This is important because Focus mode is designed to limit the notifications and distractions you receive, so you might get a text message from someone that you might not respond to for hours.
If they normally expect you to respond quickly and you don’t, they may be upset or worried that you didn’t turn on the option to tell them to turn off your notifications.
What does Share Focus status mean on iPhone?
While focus status can be useful for letting others know that you may not be dating them for some time, it is not very effective if it is not shared with your contacts.
There is an option in the focus menu that allows you to decide whether others can see your focus status, and you can choose which focus modes information is reported.
You can also customize Focus mode even further by sharing your Focus mode with only certain contacts if you don’t want everyone to see it.
Frequently asked questions about sharing focus state on iPhone
Why do I have to share my Focus State?
Sharing your iPhone’s focus status is a good idea as a courtesy to people trying to contact you. This lets them know that you are not currently receiving notifications and will return to them once you get out of focus mode.
How do I disable sharing focus state on iPhone?
If you decide you don’t want others to know that you’re in focus mode, you can turn it off in the same way you turn it on.
Go to Settings > Focus > Focus State > and disable Share Focus State.
Can I share my Focus state only with some of my iPhone contacts?
If you open the Messages app, select a text message with a contact, and tap their name at the top of the screen, you will find the Share Focus Status option in this menu.
You can turn this on or off depending on whether you want that contact to see your notifications as disabled.
Is Focus Mode different from Do Not Disturb?
They’re very similar, and the old Do Not Disturb mode has been combined with Focus mode.
But they are different, and there are many more settings in Focus mode than the old Do Not Disturb option.
You can now select specific contacts and apps to allow, and you can also use the focus state option from the article above to alert other people that you’re using it.
Can anyone override focus mode in an emergency?
Yes, if you have focus mode turned on and share your focus status, people will be able to notify you anyway if something happens that needs your immediate attention.
Can others see my focus mode name?
No, this is not part of the information that appears when you share your focus state.
All other contacts will see an indication that you are in focus mode and that your notifications are currently muted.
Will I still receive phone calls in focus mode?
You can make this decision when setting the focus mode.
You can also set things up so that some people can contact you.