How to share your Focus status with select contacts in iOS and iPadOS 15

How to share your Focus status with select contacts in iOS and iPadOS 15

Let others know when your notifications are disabled.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

It’s now possible to share your Focus status with select contacts in the latest iOS and iPadOS 15 developer betas. Here’s how you pick and choose who sees that your notifications are disabled while you’re busy.

Focus is a new feature in iOS and iPadOS 15 that lets you create certain notifications profiles. You can have one for work, one for play, one for sleep and more — each with their own notifications preferences.

Your Focus modes can be triggered automatically if you want, and now you can decide who gets to see when you have Focus enabled.

How to share Focus status in iOS and iPadOS 15

To share your focus status with individual contacts using the below method, you first need to be running the iOS or iPadOS 15 beta 3 or later. But we’ll also show you another method that works in all iOS or iPadOS 15 versions.

Once you’re running the third beta release, follow these steps:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Find a select a conversation with the person you want to share your Focus status with. Start a new conversation if necessary.
3. Tap the person’s image at the top of the screen.
4. Tap Share Focus Status to enable.

Share your Focus status with whoever you link.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

It’s as simple as that. Your contact will now see when you have Focus mode enabled, so they won’t think you’re ignoring their messages when really you’re just not getting any notifications because you’re busy.

Alternatively, you can choose who to share your Focus status with when setting up a new Focus mode. You’ll be prompted to select contacts — your favorites appear by default — who can see when your notifications are blocked.

Or, you can change Focus status sharing preferences after you’ve created a Focus mode by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Focus.
3. Select the Focus mode you want to change.
4. Tap People and the contacts you want to share your status with. Also ensure that sharing is enabled under Focus Status.

You can also share your Focus status from inside the Focus section in Settings.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

iOS and iPadOS 15 out this fall

iOS and iPadOS 15 are scheduled to make their public debuts this fall, and they’ll be free to download on all compatible devices. If you don’t want to wait, you can get your hands on the public betas now.