What is Reduce Interruptions and how to use it in iOS 18?

Reduce Notifications – Focus Mode
Apple’s iOS 18 has a new Focus Mode, called Reduce Interruptions. It uses Apple Intelligence, to prioritize notifications in order to reduce them, but not miss any important information. Apple Intelligence’s strength is that its features are integrated into the iPhone, iPad and Mac, rather than being a separate app like ChatGPT. Apple’s inability to specify the exact place of a feature can be confusing. Craig Federighi said at the WWDC launch in 2024 that “your iPhone could prioritize your notifications so as to minimize unnecessary distractions and ensure you don’t forget something important.” Apple Intelligence’s Reduce Interruptions feature is not intended to diminish the benefits it could offer, but rather an extension of Focus Modes. Apple introduced them in 2021. They built on Do Not Disturb and offer a tailored method of deciding who may interrupt you, when. Reduce Interruptions is controlled in the same manner as any Focus Mode. In theory, it can be set up in the exact same place. Tap on the new Reduce Interruptions option in the Focus Modes list. What’s new? There is a difference in Reduce Interruptions from any other Focus Mode that you have set up. You can activate an option called Intelligent Breakthrough and Silencing. This option is at the top of Reduce Notifications. It’s also on the top of any Focus Mode that you create or have. The majority of features are available in Reduce Notifications Focus Mode. However, Intelligent Breakthrough & Silencing must be enabled separately for each Focus Mode. Apple Intelligence must prioritize based on Apple’s interpretation of what is urgent and what isn’t. Siri could already be set to decide when you turn on Focus Mode. You can and will always manually turn on a Focus Mode through Control Center. You can and will set a schedule, or ask Siri to do it. Siri would then turn the Focus Mode on or off based on criteria, such as what you usually do at a certain time of the week. You trusted Siri to do the right thing. You can reduce notifications just like you would any other Focus Mode. It also has the same options. Now you trust Apple Intelligence that it will go further and only push a notification if it deems it important. Siri can turn on Do Not Disturb whenever it thinks you need peace and tranquility. It’s frightening because you can’t predict what it’ll do. You’ll only be able to tell in retrospect if Siri gave you the right advice or if it caused you to miss your dental appointment. Controlling Reduced Interruptions Since this is a Focus Mode, it can be controlled the same as any other Focus Mode. You can set the following: Who can interrupt you
What apps can interrupt?
What wallpaper do you use?
What lock screen and homescreen do you want?
So on. You may not be in a position to stop Siri from working, but you can still make exceptions. You can create a list of people and applications that you want to be notified. Making people whitelists Go into Settings, Focus Made
Tap on a Focus Mode for entry
Turn on Intelligent Breakthrough and Silencing
Tap on People in the next section.
Select whether to Silence Notifications from, or Allow Notifications from
Tap Add People
Silence is not the best option. Silence requires you to manually select yes or no for every contact in your list. When you select Allow Notifications from, you can simply tap on the names you wish to be interrupted. Making app whitelists Instead of selecting People, tap Apps.
Select whether to Silence Notifications from, or Allow Notifications from
Tap Add Apps
You can now set it so that, for example, the Weather app will not bother you with information about light rain starting in 30 minutes. There are many other options for fine tuning, such as turning off notification icons. You can still see the red badges, but they will not have a high number. This is a more relaxing way to know that there are still unread messages and tasks. You are in control. It’s your choice whether to block someone or an app permanently or on a schedule. Apple Intelligence’s workings behind the scenes are not in your hands. Some of it is easy to guess. You can guess some of it. You can also say no to these options for whitelisting apps. Apple Intelligence shouldn’t show you notifications for this man and these ten apps. You can also get lost in the rabbit hole of fine-tuning your options. For example, you could allow Instagram interruptions on Fridays but not text messages on Monday during your exam. Focus Filters can be set up so that your email inbox does not show how many unread emails there are. Apple Intelligence’s Reduce Interruptions may be the real benefit of Apple Intelligence. Yes, peace of Mind when we need to Concentrate, but also peace knowing that we don’t have go through so many options in order to get rid of the interruptions.