Windows notifications screws me over..

[Týr]

When I´m playing I´ll hear a notification sound and Skyrim will tab-out, only it gets stuck halfway between fullscreen and desktop. And I can´t do ♥♥♥♥!
Cannot go to Desktop because Skyrim is always on top (blacked out and that "work in progress" icon), can´t open Task Manager because same thing. And I can´t go back into game because now it´s all frozen up.
Is there any way to completely disable all notifications while playing?

[GrimCat]

Might want to go into your task manager properties and toggle it so it's always on top.

[Týr]

alright, I´m now 100% sure it´s Windows Focus Assist. I disabled it but i still get those ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ notifications.

[Halcyform]

Is your system updated and are your updates suspended? Most notifications are update related. I regularly update but I do mine manually. When you aren't updating, updates should be paused (suspended).

The other notifications I'll get are related to microsoft account BS (usually account synch and One Drive). I turn off/disable account synch'ing and One Drive. Don't need it. A cheap external drive can be used to back up what you want to save.

One other source of notifications could be windows defender. If you keep it updated, you shouldn't be getting notifications from it unless something is triggering a response/action.

Outside of those, I have no idea based on what you've provided so far.

[Týr]

What I got was a advert type notification from Focus Assist, despite being off.

[SpeedFreak1972]

probably there's still a service running in the background

[Halcyform]

Try this:

Open windows settings via start menu or Windows key + i key.

In search text line under windows setting, type in automatic rules.

Click on "focus assist automatic rules"

At top, select "off" get notifications from apps, etc

At bottom, you have 4 automatic priority rules. Leave the first one (during these times) off and turn the bottom three on. Check the box that says "show me a summary of what I missed when focus assist was on".

Focus assist notifications shouldn't bother you anymore while you are gaming.

[Týr]

That´s exactly the rules I already have. I still get the "Hey! You wanna use Focus Assist!"

[Halcyform]

One other thing you can try is going back to focus assist menu in settings and at the top, instead of selecting off, select Alarms Only.

At bottom, set your bottom three that you have turned on to Alarm Only as well. This should hide everything unless you are gaming on a laptop.

[lizrdfishr]

All Settings/System/Notifications & actions/Set get notifications from... to off.

The only time Windows is right, is when it's quietly doing what you tell it to do.

I note that a quick Google search of Focus Assist returns for me a page where the top two entries are from Microsoft. The first NON-Microsoft link is "How do I get rid of focus assist".

The meta-data should tell you all you need to know about this Microsoft crap turkey.

[mikaeliby]

I just made a "local account" on my windows computer, and wow how much smoother it is. MS-account is like a virus.