"Focus Mode" can't be turned off after Command Center update

[smh73]

"Focus Mode" dims all windows except the one in use. I turned it on just to see if I liked it (I didn't). My timing was terrible, because right after I turned it on there was an update to HP Command Centre that removed the toggle switch that controls this feature (WHY). 

Spent an hour with HP Support, they could not figure out how to turn it off. Support ticket has since been getting moldy for 10 days after they promised me a 72h resolution. 

Anyone have any ideas? 

[Nal_NR]

Hi @smh73,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be happy to help you! 

If the toggle for "Focus Mode" has been removed in the latest HP Command Center update, you might still be able to disable it through alternative methods. Here are a few options to try:

1. Revert to an Older Version of HP Command Center:

• Uninstall Current Version:
  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
  2. Find HP Command Center, click on it, and select Uninstall.
• Download Previous Version:
  1. Visit the HP Support website and search for your laptop model.
  2. Look for an older version of HP Command Center in the software and driver downloads section.
  3. Download and install the older version.

2. Check for Any Remaining Settings in HP Command Center:

• Sometimes, even if the toggle is gone, there might be hidden or less obvious settings.
  1. Open HP Command Center.
  2. Go through all the available settings and tabs to see if there is an option related to "Focus Mode".

3. Check Windows Settings:

• It's possible that "Focus Mode" or similar features might be influenced by Windows settings.
  1. Go to Settings > System > Display.
  2. Look for any settings related to brightness or focus that might be affecting your display.

4. Registry Editor:

• Be careful when editing the registry. Incorrect changes can cause system instability.
  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER and look for any entries related to HP Command Center or display settings.
  3. Look for keys or values related to "Focus Mode" and change their value to disable it.

5.Use System Restore:

• If you have a restore point from before you enabled "Focus Mode" or before the update to HP Command Center, you can use it to revert your system.
  1. Press Win + S, type System Restore, and select Create a restore point.
  2. Click on System Restore and follow the prompts to choose a restore point before the changes were made.

6.Clean Install of HP Command Center:

• If uninstalling and reinstalling doesn’t work, try a clean install.
  1. Uninstall HP Command Center.
  2. Remove any remaining files or folders related to HP Command Center in C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86).
  3. Reinstall HP Command Center from the HP Support website.

If none of these methods work, it might be best to wait for an update from our HP that addresses this issue or consider using a different utility.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

[smh73]

Hello Elohi,

Thanks for these suggestions, but none of them worked. I've now been waiting for a solution from HP for two weeks. 

Michael

[Nal_NR]

Hi @smh73 ,

We apologize for the inconvenience, but it seems that the issue persists even after attempting the troubleshooting steps mentioned above.

This might require one-on-one interaction to fix the issue via remote assistance. 

I've sent you a private message with further instructions. In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile Name or simply click on this link.

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution button, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

[smh73]

As I said in the original post, HP support spent an hour remote accessing my machine and could not figure out how to turn off Focus Mode. 

Here is an easy question: how do you turn Focus Mode on or off on the computer you are using right now, since the HP Command Center update that removed the toggle switch? I have asked this of 5 HP employees and none of them will answer me.