When you press the Focus Mode button in Perplexity, a picker shows all available modes like Web, Academic, Writing, Math, and Video. You may want to remove a mode you never use, such as Math or Video, to keep the list short and reduce clutter. This article explains how to disable a focus mode so it stops appearing in the picker. You will learn the exact settings path and steps to hide unwanted modes without affecting your account or other settings.
Key Takeaways: Hiding a Focus Mode From the Picker
- Settings > Focus Modes: Toggle individual modes on or off to control visibility in the picker.
- Picker appearance: Disabled modes are hidden immediately after saving changes; no app restart needed.
- Account-wide setting: The change applies to all devices where you are signed into the same Perplexity account.
What the Focus Mode Picker Does and Why You Might Disable a Mode
The focus mode picker is a dropdown menu that appears when you click the focus icon next to the search bar in Perplexity. It lists all available modes: Web, Academic, Writing, Math, Video, and any custom modes you have created. Each mode changes how Perplexity processes your query. For example, Writing mode optimizes responses for prose, while Math mode focuses on equations and numeric answers.
If you rarely use a specific mode, seeing it in the picker adds unnecessary steps when switching between the modes you actually need. Disabling a mode removes it from the picker entirely. The mode is not deleted from your account. You can re-enable it at any time. This setting is account-wide, so the change syncs across all your devices.
There is no limit to how many modes you can disable. You can hide all but one mode if you prefer a minimal picker. The disabled mode will not appear in the picker for any new conversations or searches. Existing conversations that used the disabled mode remain unchanged and still show the mode label in the conversation history.
Steps to Disable a Focus Mode From the Picker
Follow these steps to remove a focus mode from the picker. The process is the same on the web app, Windows app, and mobile apps.
- Open Perplexity and go to Settings
Click your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner of the screen. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. - Navigate to Focus Modes
In the left sidebar of the Settings page, click Focus Modes. This section lists every mode available for your account. - Toggle off the mode you want to hide
Find the mode you want to disable. Each mode has a toggle switch on the right side. Click the toggle to turn it off. The switch changes from blue to gray. - Save your changes
Click the Save button at the bottom of the Focus Modes section. A confirmation message appears: Focus modes updated. - Verify the picker no longer shows the disabled mode
Return to the main search page. Click the focus icon next to the search bar. The disabled mode should no longer appear in the dropdown list.
If the disabled mode still appears, refresh the page or close and reopen the app. The change applies immediately after saving, but the picker may cache the previous list.
Common Issues When Disabling a Focus Mode
The toggle is grayed out and I cannot click it
Some modes are locked because they are part of your current subscription plan. For example, if you are on the free plan, the Video mode toggle may be disabled because Video mode requires a Pro subscription. Upgrade your plan or switch to a different mode that is available on your current plan.
I disabled a mode but it still appears in the picker
The picker may be cached in your browser or app. Clear the cache or perform a hard refresh. On Windows, press Ctrl+F5. On Mac, press Cmd+Shift+R. If the mode still shows, sign out of your account and sign back in. This forces the app to reload your settings.
I accidentally disabled the wrong mode
Go back to Settings > Focus Modes and toggle the mode back on. Click Save. The mode reappears in the picker immediately. There is no undo button, but the process is reversible.
Disabled mode still appears in conversation history
This is expected. Disabling a mode only hides it from the picker for new searches. Conversations that used the disabled mode retain the mode label in the history. To change the mode of an existing conversation, open that conversation and select a different mode from the picker.
Perplexity Focus Modes: Default vs Disabled Behavior
| Item | Default (Enabled) | Disabled |
|---|---|---|
| Picker visibility | Appears in the focus dropdown | Hidden from the dropdown |
| New searches | Uses the mode when selected | Cannot be selected for new searches |
| Existing conversations | Mode label remains visible | Mode label remains visible |
| Account sync | Applies to all signed-in devices | Applies to all signed-in devices |
| Re-enabling | N/A | Toggle on and save to restore |
You can disable multiple modes at once. Each mode is independent. Disabling one mode does not affect the others. The picker only shows enabled modes. If you disable all modes, the picker still shows but contains no items, and Perplexity defaults to Web mode for all searches.
After disabling a mode, you can still access its features indirectly. For example, if you disable Writing mode but want a writing-style response, you can add a phrase like write in a formal tone to your query while using Web mode. The result may not be identical, but it offers a workaround without re-enabling the mode.