How to Control Windows Notifications: Complete Guide to Focus Modes and Per-App Settings

Constant notifications interrupt your work and steal up to 23 minutes of focus time each interruption, according to UC Irvine research. Windows 10 and 11 offer powerful built-in tools to silence distracting alerts while keeping critical notifications active—giving you complete control without isolation.

What is Windows Notification Control?

Windows Notification Control is a built-in feature suite that lets you decide which apps can send you notifications and how they appear. Rather than turning off all notifications (which might make you miss important alerts), this feature gives you granular control—allowing critical work apps through while silencing distracting social media and gaming notifications.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 both offer per-app settings and system-wide focus modes, though they use different names and interfaces. Windows 10 features Focus Assist with three modes (Alarms Only, Priority Only, and Custom), while Windows 11 introduced a redesigned system with Do Not Disturb and Focus Sessions integrated into the Clock app. Both versions allow you to customize notifications at the app level and automate when these modes activate.

Current as of: Windows 10 (build 1803+) and Windows 11 - February 2025

Why Use This Feature?

• Recover 23+ minutes of daily focus: Research by UC Irvine’s Gloria Mark shows that regaining focus after interruption takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds. Blocking distracting notifications directly protects your deep work time.

• Keep critical alerts active: You can allow notifications from work email, collaboration tools, and important contacts through while blocking news, social media, and game alerts—so you don’t miss what matters.

• Available across all Windows editions: Focus Assist works identically in Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Enterprise editions (since the April 2018 Update), making this a universally accessible solution.

• Automate your focus schedule: Set Focus Assist or Do Not Disturb to activate automatically during your work hours—no manual toggling needed once configured.

Things to Consider

• Version differences matter: Windows 10 and Windows 11 have substantially different interfaces and terminology. Windows 11’s Do Not Disturb and Focus Sessions replace Windows 10’s Focus Assist, so settings don’t transfer between versions. When upgrading, you’ll need to reconfigure your notification rules.

• Apps can override system settings: Some applications (particularly Microsoft Store apps) have their own notification controls that can bypass Windows settings. You may need to disable notifications within the app itself—accessing Settings > Notifications inside the app—for complete control.

• Group Policy advanced configuration is Pro/Enterprise only: While Focus Assist works in all editions, advanced registry-based customization (like modifying HKEY_CURRENT_USER notification keys) requires technical knowledge. Home edition users should stick to GUI settings.

How to Control Notifications—5 Methods

Method 1: Access Your Notification Settings

1. Click the Windows Start button (bottom-left of screen)
2. Type Notifications in the search box
3. Select Notifications & actions settings (or Notifications in Windows 11)
4. Review the toggle Get notifications from apps and other senders — ensure it’s ON so you can customize individual apps

Method 2: Disable Notifications Per App (Quick Control)

1. In the Notifications settings page, scroll to Get notifications from these senders section
2. Locate each app you want to control (examples: Games, News, Mail)
3. Click the toggle to OFF for apps like Games, News, or Social Media apps
4. Optional: Click the app name to access detailed controls—you can adjust alerts separately from badges or sounds

Method 3: Enable Focus Assist (Windows 10) or Do Not Disturb (Windows 11)

For Windows 10:

1. Click Start → Type Focus Assist → Select Focus Assist settings
2. Choose your preferred mode:
   • Alarms Only: Shows only critical alerts (best for deep work)
   • Priority Only: Shows pre-selected important contacts and apps
   • Custom: Lets you create your own allow-list
3. Toggle Use Focus Assist to ON

For Windows 11:

1. Click Start → Type Do Not Disturb → Select Do Not Disturb settings
2. Or open the Clock app → Select Focus tab (for the new Focus Sessions feature with timer tracking)
3. Toggle Do Not Disturb to ON
4. You can set which notifications break through by selecting Priority notifications

Method 4: Schedule Focus Assist Automatically (Windows 10) or Do Not Disturb (Windows 11)

For Windows 10:

1. In Focus Assist settings, scroll to Automatically turn on Focus Assist
2. Select During these times
3. Set your work hours (example: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
4. Select which days (example: Monday–Friday)
5. Choose which mode activates automatically (Priority Only or Alarms Only)
6. Windows will now automatically activate your chosen focus mode during these periods without manual intervention

For Windows 11:

1. In Do Not Disturb settings, scroll to Set a schedule
2. Toggle On a schedule to ON
3. Enter your desired times (example: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
4. Select your days (example: Monday–Friday)
5. Windows 11 will automatically activate Do Not Disturb during these hours

Method 5: Fine-Tune Sound Notifications

1. Return to main Notifications settings
2. Scroll to Notification sounds section
3. Toggle Play notification sounds to OFF for silent mode, or
4. Select Change advanced sound options to control volume per app
5. Optional: Toggle Show notifications on lock screen to OFF if you want privacy when away from your desk

What to Do If Notifications Still Appear

If notifications persist after changing Windows settings:

• (a) Unpin less-critical apps: Right-click the app in your taskbar → Select Unpin from taskbar to reduce its visibility and potential for interruption

• (b) Check app-specific settings: Many apps override Windows settings. Open the app → Navigate to Settings → Notifications → Disable notifications directly within the app

• (c) For Microsoft Store apps: Go to Settings → Apps → Apps & features → Select the app → Advanced options → Look for notification controls there

• (d) Restart Windows: Changes don’t always apply immediately. Restart your computer to ensure all notification settings take effect

Your Next Actions: Implementation Checklist

Start with one manageable change today: identify your top 3 most-distracting apps and disable their notifications. Tomorrow, enable Focus Assist (Windows 10) or Do Not Disturb (Windows 11) with your work hours scheduled. Within a week, you’ll establish a notification rhythm that supports deep work without isolation from important alerts.

If you use collaboration tools across your team, consider sharing your notification configuration—consistency across devices (Windows PC, laptop, phone) amplifies productivity gains. Bookmark these settings for quick adjustments when deadlines shift your priorities, and revisit them monthly as you install new apps that might need controlling.

Remember: the goal isn’t silence, it’s control. You’re choosing which interruptions matter, protecting your most valuable resource—your focused attention.

Notification control isn’t a luxury—it’s essential infrastructure for deep work in a connected world. By implementing these five methods, you’ll recover hours of focus time each week while maintaining connection to what genuinely matters. Your productivity will improve, and your stress levels will drop noticeably within days.