An iPhone sends users all kinds of information, but not all of it is necessarily clearly visible. While many likely have little trouble understanding their basic notifications and messages, some symbols Apple uses as indicators may be more obscure. In the same way that some users might not know what the blue arrow on their iPhone means, they might want to know what the little person icon next to the time on their device means. Luckily, we can tell you why it’s there and what it’s for.
If you see a small silhouette of a person at the top of your status bar next to the time, that means that Focus mode is currently enabled on your device and set to Personal. This is a feature available on iPhones since iOS 15, and it’s a way for users to avoid potential distractions from their devices. We can show you how to take full advantage of Focus mode, as we often find it to be a game-changer.
It’s worth noting that you may also see a similar icon on your lock screen if any of Focus’s other options are enabled, and those options may have different icons as well. Focus also allows you to share your status with other users. If you see one of these icons on your smartphone or notice that some notifications you’re used to receiving aren’t coming through, it’s likely that Focus Mode is working as it should.
How to get rid of the person icon on iPhone
Opening Control Center, tapping Focus, then tapping Do Not Disturb can be a quick way to turn off notifications with Focus mode. Besides Do Not Disturb, there are also focus modes for Sleep, Work, Personal and more. Within this feature, Personal Focus mode can be adapted to your specific needs, such as the choice of notifications to receive. When the mode is enabled, users will see a person icon next to their clock in the menu bar. Naturally, there are ways to turn it off.
Users have several different options for turning off a Focus, including Personal. First, they can always ask Siri to turn it off, but turning it off from the lock screen is also an option. Simply tap and hold the Focus icon, then tap the Focus On to turn it off. Disabling the mode can also be done in Control Center by pressing Focus and then selecting the type from the menu. You can also repeat these steps to enable the feature from Control Center.
The icon you see on the lock screen or menu bar depends on which Focus you are using. Personal shows a person, obviously, but Sleep mode shows a bed, while Work mode shows an ID badge. If you feel this is a feature you want to continue using, you might also be interested in what Share Focus status means on an iPhone. This is very useful because it’s that message to users to let them know that you’re using a Focus.
