Unable to disable Focus Assist

I am using a preview build of Windows 10 (currently build 18361.1) and I seem to have a similar issue (maybe a little different). I have reported it in the Windows Feedback Hub, and I uploaded a video capture on the Hub of me reproducing this error. I have not yet had any responses.

In my situation, Focus Assist activates every time I click the Show Desktop button , OR if I minimize all windows so that only the desktop background is showing. Every time I do this, Focus Assist activates. I can repeat the issue by going to the notification bar and turning off Focus Assist, then clicking the Show Desktop button or opening up a window and then minimizing all windows again.

I have narrowed it down to an option in Focus Assist called "When I'm using an app in full screen mode". If I turn this OFF, then problem no longer occurs.   However, you may not have this option as I think it is only currently in the preview version of Windows.

In my situation, Windows thinks that when the desktop background is the only thing on the screen, it thinks it's in "full screen mode" and activates Focus Assist.

For the record, I am using an nVidia RTX 2060 with the latest nVidia drivers (currently 419.35, however I have used previous drivers and had the same issue). I mention the video card and driver as this issue seems to be display/full screen related and I thought there might be a connection.

The below screenshot shows the option I'm talking about. If I disable this option, then the problem goes away, but Windows should not been treating the desktop background as a "full screen" app to begin with.  Something is wrong.

I HATE Microsoft's "focus" features. At least in Outlook when I disable it it stays off. With Focus Assist, I keep turning off in settings or via action center and it keeps turning itself back on, especially if I maximize a window/program. I want to permanently disable or uninstall this feature. Microsoft stop trying to help me focus on what you think is important to me!

Upgrading to 1903 broke this for me. Have an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q and Windows thinks the desktop is a full screen app and enables Focus Assist for all profiles.

There is a possible workaround for this. If you have GeForce Experience installed, open it up and disable "in-game overlay" in the General settings. When I do this, it stops Windows 10 from thinking the desktop is 'full screen' mode.

Myself and many others have reported this problem in the Microsoft Feedback Hub.

I've been able to disable focus assist many times! Ya - every time I reboot, it works for at least 2 minutes. The problem is that Windows, after the 2-minute "reboot honeymoon" is over, these malfunctions recur and persist until the next reboot. I can't disable focus assist. I believe the persistent malfunction may be related to the overwhelming Notifications failures. During those failures, the hover-over text for the notifications icon tells me I have a number of new notifications; however, opening the notifications pane causes Windows to report erroneously that there are no new notifications. These persistent errors and malfunctions can be quite frustrating. That's when I get it on with Microsoft Support. My favorite is when they tell me the problem is fixed just because rebooting the PC makes the Windows malfunctions disappear for a moment or two. . . It makes my anger gauge go out the roof.

Hi Nikhar,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I created a new user id. Unfortunately, it's still doing the same thing. 

Those are my settings. I recorded a video of the focus assist icon changing in the notifications section (https://youtu.be/h8T6ZVE1y9o). I have tried many different settings. I have even activated focus assist to run for one minute 4:00am to 4:01am without any luck.  

Thank you for your time and assistance, 

Best Regards,

Greg