If you find yourself constantly interrupted by notifications while working on your Mac, the Do Not Disturb feature can be a lifesaver. With Do Not Disturb enabled, you can focus on your tasks without being bothered by incoming calls, messages, or app notifications. In this tutorial, we will show you how to turn on Do Not Disturb on your Mac.
Step 1: Accessing System Preferences
To get started, click on the Apple icon located in the top-left corner of your screen. From the drop-down menu, select “System Preferences.” This will open a new window with various system settings.
Step 2: Navigating to Notifications
In the System Preferences window, locate and click on the “Notifications” icon. This will take you to the Notifications settings panel.
Step 3: Enabling Do Not Disturb
Within the Notifications settings panel, you will see a sidebar on the left-hand side. Scroll down until you find “Do Not Disturb” and click on it.
Now, look for the checkbox that says “Turn On Do Not Disturb.” Clicking on this checkbox will activate the Do Not Disturb feature immediately.
Additional Options
Besides simply enabling Do Not Disturb, there are additional options available for customization:
- Schedule: If you want to automatically enable and disable Do Not Disturb at specific times of the day or night, check this option. You can set a start and end time for when you want your Mac to be undisturbed.
- When the display is sleeping: By default, this option is checked to ensure that notifications are silenced when your Mac is in sleep mode.
You can uncheck this option if you prefer to receive notifications even when your display is off.
- When mirroring to TVs and projectors: If you connect your Mac to an external display or projector, you can choose whether to enable or disable Do Not Disturb while mirroring. This way, your notifications won’t interrupt presentations or movie nights.
Once you have adjusted the Do Not Disturb settings according to your preferences, simply close the Notifications settings panel. Now, you can work on your Mac without any distractions!
Turning Off Do Not Disturb
If you want to disable Do Not Disturb and start receiving notifications again, follow these steps:
Method 1: From the Notification Center
In the top-right corner of your screen, click on the Notification Center icon (shaped like three stacked lines). This will open the Notification Center.
Scroll up until you see a “Do Not Disturb” toggle button. Click on it to turn off Do Not Disturb.
Method 2: From System Preferences
If you prefer using System Preferences, open it again by clicking on the Apple icon and selecting “System Preferences.” Within System Preferences, click on “Notifications” as before.
In the Notifications settings panel, find “Do Not Disturb” in the sidebar and uncheck the “Turn On Do Not Disturb” checkbox. This will deactivate Do Not Disturb.
You have now learned how to turn on and off the Do Not Disturb feature on your Mac. It’s a powerful tool for maintaining focus and productivity while working or enjoying media on your computer.
Note: Keep in mind that enabling Do Not Disturb will silence all notifications on your Mac. If you want to receive urgent calls or messages, ensure that you have alternative notification methods in place.