Start and End Focus Session in Windows 11 (2025)

This tutorial will show you how to start and end a focus session for your account in Windows 11.

Starting with Windows 11 build 22557, Microsoft reimagined focus assist experiences on Windows. Do not disturb makes it easy to silence notifications. Focus is a new experience that enables everyone to stay in the moment and minimize distractions on their PC. To help you stay on track, focus integrates with the Clock app for other focus tools, such as a focus timer and calming music.

Windows integrates with focus sessions in the Clock app, so you can play calming music and see a task list from Microsoft To-Do.

When you're in a focus session, the following will happen:

• A focus timer will appear on your screen
• Do not disturb will turn on
• Apps in the taskbar won’t flash to alert you
• Badge notifications on apps in the taskbar will turn off

When your focus session ends, you will hear an alarm sound and receive a notification letting you know your focus time has completed.

If you need to, you can also end a focus session early.

References:

Starting with Windows 11 build 22593, Microsoft added 5-minute increments for everything under a half hour to focus session length options.

Starting with Windows 11 build 23481 (Dev), build 25393 (Canary), and build 22631.2338 (Beta) Microsoft is beginning to roll out a new Focus Session widget as part of a Clock app update (version 11.2305.6.0 and higher) via the Microsoft Store to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels. With this new widget, you will be able to quickly start and stop focus sessions on your device.

EXAMPLE: Focus session in progress with taskbar badging off, the focus timer on screen, and do not disturb will turn on.

1 Open the Notification Center (Win+N).

2 Do step 3 (start) or step 4 (end) below.

3. Start Focus Session

A) Select the amount of time for your focus session at the bottom left. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on the Focus button at the bottom to start.​

4. End Focus Session

A) Click/tap on the End session button at the bottom. (see screenshot below)​

1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Focus on the right side. (see screenshot below)

3 Do step 4 (start) or step 5 (end) below.

4. Start Focus Session

A) Check (on - default) or uncheck (off) the following settings for what you want while in a focus session: (see screenshot below)​

• Show the timer in the Clock app
• Hide badges on taskbar apps
• Hide flashing on taskbar apps
• Turn on do not disturb

B) Select the amount of time for your focus Session duration.​

C) Click/tap on the Start focus session button.​

5. End Focus Session

A) Click/tap on the Stop focus session button. (see screenshot below)​

6 You can now close Settings if you like.

A Clock app update (version 11.2202.24.0 and higher) has rolled out that fixes the issue where the Clock app was unable to update the Windows Focus state when configuring focus sessions in the Clock app.

1 Open the Clock app.

2 Do step 3 (start) or step 4 (end) below.

3. Start Focus Session

A) Click/tap on Focus sessions on the left side. (see screenshot below)​

B) Adjust the amount of time you want for the focus session.​

C) Check or uncheck Skip breaks for what you want.​

Skip breaks is only available when the time is over 30 minutes.

D) Click/tap on the Start focus session button.​

4. End Focus Session

A) Click/tap on Focus sessions on the left side. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on the Stop focus session button.​

5 You can now close the Clock app if you like.

This option will only be available if you started a focus session with Use focus sessions in the Clock app checked in Option Two.

1 Click/tap on the Stop focus session button in the focus timer on the desktop. (see screenshot below)

This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 23481 (Dev) and build 25393 (Canary).

1 Open Widgets (Win+W).

2 Do step 3 (start) or step 4 (end) below.

3. Start Focus Session

A) Select the amount of time for your focus session in the Focus Session widget. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on the Focus button at the bottom of the widget to start.​

4. End Focus Session

A) Click/tap on the Reset button at the bottom of the Focus Session widget. (see screenshot below)​

That's it,
Shawn Brink