How do I turn on a Focus automatically when I start a StrongLifts workout?

A Focus is an iPhone feature that silences notifications and calls for a time. Turn on a Focus for your StrongLifts workout, so that messages and calls do not interrupt your training.

Your iPhone can turn on a Focus each time you open StrongLifts. You set this up once in the Settings app on your iPhone.

Turn on a Focus when you open StrongLifts

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Focus.
  2. Tap the Focus that you want, for example Do Not Disturb or Fitness.
  3. Tap Add Schedule, then tap App.
  4. Find StrongLifts in the list and tap it.

Now the Focus turns on when you open StrongLifts. It stays on while you use StrongLifts.

To choose the notifications that can still come in, tap People and Apps on the same Focus screen.

Let the "Rest done" alert ring during the Focus

Allow StrongLifts notifications in the Focus. Then you still hear the "Rest done" alert when your rest time ends.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Focus.
  2. Tap the Focus that you use for your workout, for example Do Not Disturb.
  3. Tap Apps (or tap Choose Apps).
  4. Tap Allow Notifications From, tap the Add button (+), then select StrongLifts.

If your workout runs on your Apple Watch, your iPhone sends no "Rest done" alert. Your Apple Watch taps your wrist when your rest time ends, also during a Focus.

Keep the Focus on until you turn it off

The Focus from Add Schedule follows StrongLifts on the screen. If you want the Focus to stay on when you open other apps, use the Shortcuts app.

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. Tap the back button at the top left to see Library, then tap Automation.
  2. Tap the Add button (+). If you see "Describe a shortcut", tap Edit at the top right.
  3. Tap Automation above the action list. Scroll down to Apps, then tap App.
  4. In "When App is Opened", tap App, then tap StrongLifts in the list. Keep Opened.
  5. Tap the search field at the bottom, search for "Set Focus", then tap it.
  6. The action says "Turn Do Not Disturb Off". Tap Off to change it to On. The action now says "Turn Do Not Disturb On until Turned Off". To use a different Focus, tap Do Not Disturb.
  7. Tap the back button. Your automation shows in the Automation list, with its switch on.

To turn off the Focus after your workout, open Control Center, tap Focus, then tap the Focus that is on.

Apple Watch

Your Apple Watch uses the same Focus as your iPhone. When the Focus turns on on your iPhone, you see the Focus icon on your watch face. To turn on a Focus from your watch, press the side button to open Control Center, then tap Focus.

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