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What's the keyboard shortcut to quickly turn off all notifications in Windows 10?

I'll be working or showing someone something on my computer and need a way to mute all incoming notifications from the notification center. This is especially important now that Windows 10 allows you to receive your phone's text message notifications in Windows notifications--not to mention Slack, calendar, and email notifications.

Almost all computing platforms I've ever used have a quick way to enable a Do Not Disturb mode (e.g. Android: volume button->bell icon, iPhone: dedicated side switch), so I was surprised when Googling "Windows 10 do not disturb keyboard shortcut" yielded nothing.

I looked at the focus assist settings in Settings -> System -> Focus Assist, but there's nothing there to help turn it on quickly.

The closest I've found is you open the notification sidebar with Win+a and click "Focus assist" to toggle between Priority only, Alarm only, and Off. Is this the best Windows 10 can do?

Patrick
  • 753

5 Answers5

11

I understand that this question is about Windows 10 but if you are in Windows 11 you can accomplish this in 3 keystrokes:

  1. Windows Key + N - Opens Notification Center with the "Do not disturb" icon selected (see picture below)
  2. Enter

Notification Center Flyout

For more Windows 11 shortcuts see https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-11-keyboard-shortcuts/4c810ff5-7524-4cfe-93bc-f38c893ccf21

Fred
  • 351
3

The closest I've found is you open the notification sidebar with Win+a and click "Focus assist" to toggle between Priority only, Alarm only, and Off. Is this the best Windows 10 can do?

I spent some time with this and yes, for Keystrokes, that is the best you can do with V1909. Future versions may improve.

I just turn all mine OFF to avoid the interruptions. That works best in the end.

There is no keyboard shortcut except the one above for this to the best of my knowledge.

2

There are two ways to do it entirely on the keyboard.

First way:

Win + B to focus in the System tray

Left arrow to move from the fist item in the system tray to the last, which should be the notification area

Win Menu (right of space and Alt Gr keys) and use the underscored menu shortcuts to open the focus assist menu and select an item.

In english that would be F for Focus assist, then:
Off,
Priority only
or
Alarms only

Second way:

Win + A to open the Action Center

2 x Shift + Tab to move to the quick actions

Arrow keys to select the Focus Assist Quick action.

Enter to Cycle through the 3 states

Sam Hasler
  • 143
2

See here https://tdalon.blogspot.com/2023/09/ahk-focus-assist.html for a unique solution implemented in AutoHotkey and using UIAutomation.

This allows you to really set the focus mode, not only toggle it.

See code also available in a Gist linked in the blog post:

FocusAssist(sInput){

; Open Focus Assist Settings
Run, ms-settings:quiethours


; Wait for WinTitle=Settings
WinWaitActive,Settings


UIA := UIA_Interface()


WinId := WinActive("A")
UIAEl := UIA.ElementFromHandle(WinId)


Switch sInput
{
Case "f","-": ; Off
    Filter := "AutomationId=Microsoft.QuietHoursProfile.Unrestricted_Button"
Case "p","+": ; Priority Only
    Filter := "AutomationId=Microsoft.QuietHoursProfile.PriorityOnly_Button"
Case "a": ; Alarm Only
    Filter := "AutomationId=Microsoft.QuietHoursProfile.AlarmsOnly_Button"
}


Btn := UIAEl.WaitElementExist(Filter)
Btn.Click()


Send !{f4} ; Close settings window


} ; eofun
Thierry Dalon
  • 518
0

Right clicking the notification icon notification icon and pressing t satisfies me.

EDIT: Let me check what build version I have but this is what it looks like on right-click notif button

EDIT 2: Windows 10 Build version "Version 1709 (OS Build 16299.2166)"

Quer
  • 101
  • 3