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To manage badges during a Windows 11 Focus session, open Settings > System > Focus and change Hide badges on taskbar apps. To let selected notifications through while Do Not Disturb is active, go to Settings > System > Notifications > Set priority notifications. These controls do different jobs: Focus can hide taskbar indicators for a session, while priority notifications set exceptions to Do Not Disturb.
For app-by-app notification ordering or badges outside a Focus session, use the separate notification and taskbar settings below. Microsoft notes that labels can vary across Windows 11 builds; if a label differs, look for the equivalent setting in the same area.
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How do Focus, Do Not Disturb, priority access, and badges differ?
Windows 11 separates these controls by scope and duration. A Focus session can hide taskbar badges and flashing, and can turn on Do Not Disturb. Do Not Disturb controls which notifications are silenced or allowed through. App priority orders notifications, while the taskbar setting controls badges generally.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →| Control | What it changes | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Hide badges on taskbar apps | Hides taskbar app badges during a Focus session. | While that Focus session is active. |
| Set priority notifications | Allows selected apps, calls, or reminders through Do Not Disturb. | While Do Not Disturb is active. |
| Top, High, or Normal app priority | Orders an app’s notifications in Notification Center; it is not a Do Not Disturb exception. | For the selected app’s notifications. |
| Show badges on taskbar apps | Controls general taskbar badge visibility. | Outside the Focus session-specific override. |
| Widgets badge settings | Controls Widgets badges separately from general app badge settings. | According to Widgets settings; Widgets announcements and badges are not shown on the taskbar during a Focus session. |
Microsoft describes a taskbar badge as “an alert to let you know that some activity is happening, or needs to happen, with that app.” Microsoft’s taskbar guidance explains the general badge switch.
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Hide or show taskbar badges during a Focus session
- Open Settings > System > Focus.
- Select or clear Hide badges on taskbar apps.
- Set the other Focus options independently: session duration, whether to show the timer in Clock, whether to hide taskbar flashing, and whether to turn on Do Not Disturb.
- Start the session from the Focus settings page, the taskbar clock or notification area, or the Clock app.
Microsoft says Do Not Disturb turns on automatically when a Focus session starts if that option is enabled. Notifications received during the session can still be reviewed in Notification Center. If Do Not Disturb was already on before the session, it remains on when the session ends. See Microsoft’s Focus guidance.
Allow selected notifications through Do Not Disturb
- Open Settings > System > Notifications.
- Select Set priority notifications, or the equivalent priority-settings section shown on your Windows 11 build.
- Under Calls and reminders, allow the categories you need.
- Under Apps, add the apps that may send notifications while Do Not Disturb is on.
This is an exception list for Do Not Disturb, not an ordering preference. Other notifications are sent to Notification Center. The available controls and Do Not Disturb behavior are documented in Microsoft’s Notifications and Do Not Disturb guide.
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Change an app’s notification priority
- Open Settings > System > Notifications.
- Select the app you want to adjust.
- Change its notification options, such as banners, Notification Center display, sounds, and priority.
Microsoft lists three levels: Top, High, and Normal. Only one app can be set to Top; High notifications appear above Normal notifications in Notification Center. This changes ordering, not which apps are permitted to bypass Do Not Disturb.
Turn taskbar badges on or off outside Focus
- Right-click the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings.
- Expand Taskbar behaviors.
- Toggle Show badges on taskbar apps.
This is the general taskbar badge control. For the Focus-session-specific behavior, use the separate option under Settings > System > Focus. Microsoft’s steps are in Customize the Taskbar in Windows.
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Manage Widgets badges separately
Widgets has its own badge controls, so changing Show badges on taskbar apps should not be treated as a universal Widgets setting. Open Widgets settings to adjust its badge behavior. Microsoft says Widgets announcements and badges do not appear on the taskbar during a Focus session. See Microsoft’s Widgets guidance.
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