How to mute messages on a Mac computer using its Do Not Disturb feature

Whether it's to give yourself more time to get things done or to simply have time away from other people, sometimes you just need to take a break from constant, virtual interaction with others. 

If you use the Messages app on your Mac to communicate with people who use iMessage on their iPhone or iPad, muting conversations by turning on the "Do Not Disturb" option is a great way to accomplish this.

Here's how to get it done:

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How to mute messages on a Mac

Before you get started, be aware that you can set a general "Do Not Disturb" by going to the "Notifications" section of your System Preferences. 

But keep in mind that this will apply to all of your notifications, not just messages. So if you want to be more selective, another option is to go into specific conversations within iMessage and turn on the "Do Not Disturb" feature.

Here's how:

1. Open the Messages app — it's the blue and white speech bubble icon in your dock; if it's not in your dock, use Spotlight (the magnifying glass icon at the top-right of your screen)  and enter "messages" in its search box to locate the app.

2. Sign in using your Apple ID, if necessary.

3. Select the conversation you want to mute in the left sidebar.

4. Click "Details" in the top-right corner of the conversation.

5. Tick the box next to "Do Not Disturb."

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