Windows 11 includes a feature called “Do Not Disturb” (previously known as Focus Assist). When active, it silences all incoming notifications and sends them directly to the Action Center, preventing annoying pop-ups from interrupting your work.
However, by default, Windows 11 tries to be “smart” and automatically turns Do Not Disturb on and off based on your current activity. For example, it will automatically mute your notifications when you duplicate your display, when you play a game, or during specific hours of the evening. If you prefer to manually control when you receive notifications, these automatic rules can cause you to miss important emails or messages without realising it.
How to Disable Automatic ‘Do Not Disturb’ Rules
You can turn off the automated scheduling while keeping the ability to manually toggle Do Not Disturb on whenever you actually want it.
- Click the Start button and select the Settings gear icon (or press Windows Key + I).
- In the left-hand navigation pane, click on System.
- In the main window, click on Notifications.
- Scroll down and click on the section labelled Turn on do not disturb automatically to expand its options.
- You will see a list of checkboxes representing the automatic rules. You need to Uncheck the boxes for the automated triggers you want to disable:
- During these times: (Uncheck to stop scheduled evening muting)
- When duplicating my display: (Uncheck if you want notifications while presenting)
- When playing a game: (Uncheck to keep notifications active during gameplay)
- When using an app in full-screen mode: (Uncheck to receive alerts while watching videos)
Once you uncheck these boxes, Windows 11 will stop guessing when you want privacy. You will receive all your notifications normally, regardless of what application you are running. If you need peace and quiet, you can simply click the clock in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar and manually click the “Do Not Disturb” bell icon.