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To play Spotify during a Windows 11 Focus session, open the Clock app, select Focus sessions, and choose Link your Spotify. Sign in, pick a playlist or podcast, set up the session, and start it. Microsoft says the selected audio begins when the session starts.

Enable Spotify in Windows 11 Focus sessions

  1. Open the Clock app and select Focus sessions.

  2. Select Link your Spotify and sign in to the Spotify account you want to use.

  3. Choose a playlist or podcast from the items displayed.

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  4. Choose a session duration and whether to include breaks, then select Start focus session. The selected audio starts with the session, according to Microsoft Support.

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What Windows Focus changes during a session

Focus is more than a timer: it can reduce interruptions while you work. By default, Do not disturb turns on automatically, and taskbar app badges and flashing are temporarily turned off. In Settings > System > Focus, you can configure the session duration, whether the timer appears in Clock, taskbar indicators, and Do not disturb.

If Do not disturb was already on before the session began, Windows leaves it on after the session ends.

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Other ways to start a Windows Focus session

You can also start a session from Settings > System > Focus or from the taskbar clock/notification area. These are alternative entry points for Windows Focus; to link Spotify and choose audio, use Clock > Focus sessions.

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What you need to use Spotify audio

The documented setup requires the Windows Clock app and a Spotify account you can sign in to. Microsoft’s instructions do not say that a paid Spotify subscription is required. The optional Microsoft To Do task-list integration in Clock is separate and is not needed to play Spotify audio during a Focus session.

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