Do Not Disturb or Focus keeps turning on by itself on your Mac

Why it happens

A Focus can turn on at set times, at a place, or when you open a certain app. With Share across devices on, turning on a Focus on your iPhone, or its bedtime Sleep Focus, also turns it on on your Mac. None of these ask first, so it looks random.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Focus in the sidebar. You'll see every Focus you have, such as Do Not Disturb, Sleep and Work.

2. Click the Focus that keeps turning on and look at Set a Schedule. Click each schedule or app listed there and turn it off or delete it.

   Focus›Do Not Disturb›Set a Schedule

3. Go back to the main Focus page and turn off Share across devices. Your iPhone and iPad stop switching Focus on for your Mac, and the other way round.

   Focus›Share across devices

4. Repeat the schedule check for every Focus in the list. Sleep and Work Focus often have their own schedules.

Still not fixed?

1. Want your devices fully separate? Turn off Share Across Devices on your iPhone as well, in its Settings app under Focus.

2. If a Gaming Focus is in the list, it turns on by itself when you connect a wireless game controller. If you never use it, click it and choose Delete Focus at the bottom.

   Focus›Delete Focus

3. Check for a key you may be hitting by accident. Some Mac keyboards have a moon key in the top row that turns Do Not Disturb on or off.

4. If a Focus still switches on with no schedule, no trigger and sharing off, restart your Mac and your iPhone. If it keeps happening after that, contact Apple Support.