How to show different Left widgets per Focus mode

iOS Focus modes let you switch between different Home Screen and Lock Screen layouts automatically. Here's how to show a work-specific Left countdown during Work Focus — and a personal one the rest of the time.

How Focus mode + widgets work

Each Focus mode in iOS (Work, Personal, Sleep, Do Not Disturb, and any custom ones you create) can have its own dedicated Home Screen pages and Lock Screen. When a Focus activates, iOS switches to that layout — including any widgets on it. This means a Left widget pinned to your Work Focus Home Screen will only appear during Work Focus.

Step 1 — Create your Left events

1. Open Left and create the events you want per context — for example, "Project deadline" for work and "Holiday" for personal.
2. Tap Save on each.

Step 2 — Create Focus-specific Home Screen pages

1. Go to Settings → Focus and tap the Focus you want to customise (e.g., Work).
2. Tap Customize Screens.
3. Under Home Screen, tap Choose and select which Home Screen pages appear during this Focus — or create a new one specifically for it.
4. Tap Done.

Step 3 — Add a Left widget to each Focus Home Screen

1. Activate the Focus mode (Control Centre → Focus, or schedule it in Settings).
2. Go to the Home Screen page assigned to this Focus.
3. Long-press an empty area → tap + → add a Left widget.
4. Long-press the widget → Edit Widget → choose the event relevant to this Focus (e.g., the work deadline).
5. Tap Done.

Step 4 — Repeat for each Focus

Do the same for your Personal Focus (or any other), pointing the Left widget at a different event. Now when Work Focus is active, you see the work deadline; when Personal Focus is active, you see the holiday countdown.

Focus-specific Lock Screens

You can also link a specific Lock Screen (with its own Left widget) to a Focus mode:

1. Long-press your Lock Screen → Customise → add Left to the widget strip.
2. Tap Done, then tap Focus at the bottom of the Lock Screen gallery to link it to a specific Focus.

Automatic switching

Set Focus modes to activate automatically by time, location, or app — so your Left widgets switch context without any manual action. Go to Settings → Focus → [Focus name] → Add Schedule.