Apple’s Focus feature tells other iPhone users when you’re using Do Not Disturb mode, giving them the option to notify you anyway.
Do Not Disturb is a helpful feature that makes sure your iPhone won’t notify you of calls, texts, or any other alerts. It’s perfect for sleeping, going to movie theaters, driving, working, and so much more.
However, some people will know if you have it on. iPhone users will have the option to “Notify Anyway” when they send you an iMessage. While this is helpful to some, especially in case of an emergency, it can be annoying to receive messages when you’re busy.
If you want to learn how to turn off Notify Anyway, we will show you how.
Step 1. Open Your Focus Settings
To turn this feature off, you’ll first need to head to Settings > Focus. The Focus feature controls your Do Not Disturb settings—including your custom settings for sleep and work. You can also set it up to activate Do Not Disturb mode while driving.
Here, you can edit each setting individually. You can also set up each mode if you haven’t yet. You can also create your own Gaming mode with these settings.
Step 2. Turn Off Focus Status
Once you see all your Focus modes, tap on your desired setting and scroll down to Focus Status. Focus Status is what alerts other iPhone users that you have notifications silenced, giving them the option to Notify Anyway, if they have an iPhone.
To turn Focus Status off, just toggle the setting. Once this is off, other iPhone users will no longer know if you have notifications silenced. And they won’t have the option to Notify Anyway despite using Do Not Disturb mode.
You can also set up your Focus Status to turn off Notify Anyway on certain Focus Modes but not others. If you have Share Focus Status on, you can toggle it on or off for certain modes. That way, you can have it off for Sleep or Personal but have it on in other cases.
Should You Turn Off Your Focus Status?
If you turn on Do Not Disturb mode when you’re busy, it most likely means that you don’t want notifications. With iPhone users being able to Notify Anyway, you can get distracted or even get woken up while you’re sleeping. This feature is helpful if there’s an emergency, but some people might abuse this feature. If you’re worried about this happening, it’s safe to turn it off.
In case of emergencies, you can always allow notifications from certain people, even if you have Focus Status off. This allows you to block everyone except people you trust. That way, you won’t miss something important and remain free from distractions.