Staying focused amidst constant app notifications and messages is truly challenging. Turning them off completely, however, isn’t always an option. We still need to receive certain important alerts—whether they’re from someone close to us, from our workplace, or from apps whose notifications are highly time-sensitive.
This is where Reduce Interruptions Mode comes into play. It helps us manage our notifications more effectively so that we only receive the ones that really matter, leaving the rest for later.
What is Reduce Interruptions Mode and how does it work?
Reduce Interruptions Mode is the ideal middle ground between the extremes of receiving everything or nothing. While Do Not Disturb mode blocks all notifications except those we explicitly allow—and it’s not always easy to consider every exception—this mode automatically filters alerts, prioritizing the ones that require our immediate attention.
This is made possible by Apple Intelligence, which allows the system to evaluate both the content and the context of the notifications. Critical alerts will be shown right away, while less relevant messages are kept in the background, ready for us to check when it’s convenient.
The best part? We don’t have to configure a single rule. There’s no need to think about who might send us an urgent message or which apps we want to allow through. The system takes care of everything with just the press of a button.
How to set up Reduce Interruptions Mode
Just like with other Focus Modes, setting this one up is as simple as following these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Go to Focus Modes.
- Select “Reduce Interruptions.”
- If we want, we can choose the people and apps we’d like to allow through the filter.
Once that’s done, activating the mode is just as easy. From the Control Center, all we have to do is tap the Focus Modes icon and select “Reduce Interruptions.” Alternatively, we can ask Siri with a simple “Hey Siri, turn on Reduce Interruptions mode.”
A smart way to manage our notifications
The true value of Reduce Interruptions Mode lies in its ability to adapt to each moment. It’s not just about silencing notifications, but about prioritizing them dynamically and automatically. Naturally, the system learns from our habits to improve over time.
No more being bombarded with alerts, and no more needing to manually monitor everything to avoid missing something important. With just one tap, we can focus on what we’re doing without becoming disconnected. A feature of Apple Intelligence that truly makes a big difference.
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