# Focus

> Available on: Mac, Windows

Stay in flow and get more done by blocking out distracting apps and websites for a set period of time.

Raycast Focus helps you stay in flow and get more done by blocking out distractions on your computer. Define a goal, set a duration, and block (or exclusively allow) distracting apps and websites for the length of your session.

You can group apps and websites into reusable Focus Categories (e.g. "Social Media", "News"), then drop a whole category into a session instead of re-picking everything each time. Sessions live in a panel and can be tucked into the menu bar (macOS) or taskbar (Windows) while you work.

## Getting Started

Open Raycast and run **Start Focus Session**. Fill in the form:

- **Goal**: what you're focusing on (e.g. "Write the report")
- **Duration**: pick a length, or leave it as `No Limit` for an open-ended session
- **Mode**: `Block Apps & Websites` (block the listed items) or `Allow Apps & Websites` (block everything except the listed items)
- **Block / Allow**: add apps, websites, or saved Focus Categories

![Start Focus Session form in Raycast showing goal, duration, mode, and block list](/images/app/core/mac-core-focus-startsession.png)

Submit the form (`⌘`/`Ctrl` `↵`) to begin. The most-used commands:

- **Start Focus Session**: opens the configuration form
- **Toggle Focus Session**: starts with your last-used setup, or stops the current session
- **Complete / Pause / Resume / Edit Focus Session**: control a running session
- **Search Focus Categories / Create Focus Category**: manage reusable app/website groups
- **Ask Focus (@focus)**: the AI extension for Focus

> [!TIP]
> Assign a Hotkey or Alias to **Toggle Focus Session** for one-keystroke start/stop.

## How It Works

While a session is running, Raycast enforces your block/allow list at the system level. Launching or switching to a blocked app, or visiting a blocked website, is intercepted. A session panel shows your goal and a countdown (for timed sessions).

Sessions are sleep-aware: if your machine sleeps, the running session is paused automatically and reconciled when you wake. Timed sessions auto-complete when the timer runs out; No Limit sessions run until you complete them manually. Maximum session length is 24 hours.

From the session's action panel (`⌘`/`Ctrl` `K`) you can Restart, Complete, Pause, Resume, or Cancel the session, and move it to / detach it from the menu bar.

### Commands

- **Start Focus Session**: opens the session configuration form where you set your goal, duration, mode, and what to block or allow.
- **Toggle Focus Session**: starts a new session using your last-used setup, or stops the current session if one is running. Ideal for a single hotkey that drops you in and out of focus.
- **Create Focus Category**: creates a reusable group of apps and websites you can drop into any session.
- **Search Focus Categories**: browse and manage your saved Focus Categories.

While you're in a session, there are additional commands:

- **Edit Focus Session**: add more time, change the block/allow list, or adjust the goal without stopping.
- **Complete Focus Session**: ends the session early with a celebratory green glow and toast.
- **Pause Focus Session**: temporarily suspends blocking so you can step away. Pick a predefined break duration and Focus nudges you when it's time to return.
- **Resume Focus Session**: picks up a paused session where you left off.

### Custom Focus Categories

Categories are reusable groups of apps and websites you can drop into any session. Create one with **Create Focus Category**, then find it later with **Search Focus Categories**. There are two kinds:

- *Built-in*: curated by Raycast and not editable, but you can duplicate one and save it under a new title.
- *Custom*: your own categories, created with **Create Focus Category**.

Categories work in both Block and Allow modes. For example, group your work apps and apply them in Allow mode, or group distractions and apply them in Block mode.

![Create Focus Category form in Raycast showing a News category with apps and websites](/images/app/core/mac-core-focus-createcat.png)

### Tracking

**Focus Bar**: a window that floats above your other windows, subtly reminding you to stay focused. It shows your progress and lets you pause, complete, or manage the session.

**Menu Bar**: prefer something more discrete? Hover the Focus Bar and choose Move to Menu Bar (on Windows, Move to Taskbar) under the more menu to show the session there instead.

### Blocking

When a session starts, blocked apps quit immediately and blocked websites redirect to a block page. In Block mode the blocked items are the apps and websites you listed; in Allow mode it's everything except the ones you listed, so your allowed apps and sites stay open. If you stumble onto a blocked app during a session, you get an orange glow and a toast to notify you.

If you really need to access blocked content, you can snooze it (3 minutes by default, configurable in **Raycast Settings → Raycast Focus**). After the snooze period you see the blocked overlay, and the app quits once you switch focus.

### Editing

Need to add more time or block additional apps and websites? Edit a session at any time with **Edit Focus Session**, or hover the Focus Bar and pick Edit under the more menu.

### Taking a Break

Something urgent come up, or time for a brew? Pause the session and pick one of the predefined break durations. Focus steps away and nudges you when it's time to jump back in.

### Completing

Finished before the clock hits zero? Complete the session manually for a celebratory green glow and toast. Otherwise it auto-completes when the timer ends, giving you the option to extend or wrap up.

### Create a Focus Filter
_(Only on Mac)_

macOS Ventura (13) and later supports Focus filters, which adjust app behavior based on your active system Focus. Raycast Focus ships a filter that starts a Raycast Focus session whenever a system Focus turns on.

1. Open **System Settings → Focus** and select the Focus you want to customize.
2. Scroll down to **Focus Filters** and choose **Add Filter**.
3. Select **"Raycast – Start a focus session"**.
4. Configure the session that starts with the Focus, including the goal and the categories of apps and websites to block.

### Apple Shortcuts
_(Only on Mac)_

Raycast Focus ships two Apple Shortcuts actions: **Start Focus Session** and **Complete Focus Session**. Find them in the Shortcuts app sidebar and chain them into larger automations, for example playing music and turning on Do Not Disturb alongside a focus session.

The duration is optional. Leave it out to start a session with no timer, then end it manually or with the **Complete Focus Session** action.

## Platform Differences

| Feature               | macOS              | Windows         |
| --------------------- | ------------------ | --------------- |
| Stash the session UI  | Move to Menu Bar   | Move to Taskbar |
| App/website blocking  | ✅                 | ✅              |
| Focus Categories      | ✅                 | ✅              |

Functionally Focus is equivalent on macOS and Windows; the only real difference is the menu bar vs. taskbar wording.

## Tips & Tricks

- Use Allow mode for deep work: list only the 2-3 apps/sites you need and everything else is blocked.
- Build Focus Categories once (e.g. "Distractions") and reuse them across sessions.
- Toggle Focus Session reuses your previous setup, so a single hotkey can drop you back into your usual config.
- Move the session to the menu bar/taskbar to keep the countdown visible without the panel in your way.
- **Deeplinks**: control sessions from scripts or other apps, e.g. `raycast://focus/start?goal=Deep%20Focus&categories=social,gaming&duration=300&mode=block`. Also `raycast://focus/toggle` and `raycast://focus/complete`.
- **Natural-language duration**: type a timeframe like `until 4:30pm`, or pick anything from 5 minutes to a full day.

## Settings

**Raycast Settings → Raycast Focus**:

- **Snooze Duration**: choose how long blocked apps and websites stay snoozed (default 3 minutes).
- **Play Sound**: play sounds for Focus notifications (on by default).
- **Restore Terminated Apps**: reopen apps Raycast Focus terminated when the session ends (off by default).
- **Allow all Websites**: allow all websites when a browser is allowed but no specific websites are listed (off by default).

![Raycast Settings showing Raycast Focus options including Snooze Duration, Play Sound, Allow all Websites, and Restore Terminated Apps](/images/app/core/mac-core-focus-settings.png)

Each Focus command (Start, Toggle, Pause, Resume, Complete, Edit, Search Focus Categories, Create Focus Category, and the Ask Focus AI extension) can be enabled or disabled, and given an alias or hotkey, in **Raycast Settings → Raycast Focus**.

![Raycast Settings showing Focus commands with alias and hotkey options](/images/app/core/mac-core-settings-commands.png)

## FAQ

### Can I focus with no time limit?

Yes, leave Duration as `No Limit`; the session runs until you complete it.

### What's the difference between Block and Allow mode?

Block blocks the items you list; Allow blocks everything except the items you list.

### What happens if my computer sleeps mid-session?

The session auto-pauses and is reconciled on wake.

### Is there a maximum session length?

Yes, 24 hours.

### Is Focus available on iOS?

No, Focus is macOS and Windows only.

### What happens if I need to access an app while in focus?

Snooze blocking for that specific app or website to access it while everything else stays blocked, or pause the session to temporarily disable blocking.

### Is Raycast Focus free?

Yes, it's completely free and available to all users.

### What permissions does Focus need?

Automation and Accessibility permissions in **System Settings → Privacy & Security**. If blocking misbehaves, toggle them off and on again.

### Does Focus work in every browser?

It supports all major browsers (Little Arc is not supported).

### I can't see my session in the menu bar.

With an active session, detach it from the menu bar via the bar's more menu, or Cmd-drag menu bar items to the left until Focus appears.

## Troubleshooting

If Focus isn't working as expected, here are some common issues and steps to resolve them.

### A blocked app keeps reopening / blocking feels off after sleep

The session pauses on sleep and resumes on wake. Edit or Restart the session to re-sync.

### Website not blocked

Check the host pattern was parsed (an invalid URL shows a "Failed parsing website URL" toast) and that it isn't already covered by a selected category.

### Apps didn't reopen after finishing

That's expected unless **Restore apps when session ends** is enabled in **Raycast Settings → Raycast Focus**.


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## Need Help?

Contact Raycast Support if you have any questions or would like help with Focus. Use the **Send Feedback** command directly in Raycast to report bugs and billing issues, log feature requests, or any other queries you would like to speak to us about.

You can view all Raycast Support contact options at https://manual.raycast.com/contact-support