Approach: Know when to Connect

Connecting is hard.

You want more of it — more calls that aren't about anything, more "are you around?", more someone just showing up. But you're never sure when a good time is. And sometimes you need to connect and asking is the hardest part: you don't want to interrupt, you don't want to be a bother, you don't want to say out loud that today is a lot.

Approach is for that.

It shows you, in simple blocks of color, when the people closest to you are free — without showing you their business. And when you'd welcome company, you set yourself to Please Approach. You don't have to ask anyone. The people you've chosen simply know: now is a good moment. Come closer.

Set your availability. In the hours you'd like to connect, let the people who matter know. Your family, your friends, your support circle — everyone you add will know when to approach.

WHO CAN I TALK TO RIGHT NOW?
The Now screen answers one question. Everyone you've added is sorted by how approachable they are this minute: Please Approach, Available, Working, Approach with Caution, Do Not Disturb.

YOUR STATUS, YOUR WAY
• Automatic — worked out from your calendar and your approachable hours
• Or set it by hand: Available to Approach, Please Approach (for 30 minutes, an hour, until you turn it off, or scheduled for later), Do Not Disturb
• Approachable hours: weekly bands like "Work, Mon–Fri 9–5" or "Approach, evenings" that shade your week and tell people how approachable you are

SEE YOUR WHOLE LIFE IN ONE PLACE
Every calendar already on your iPhone — iCloud, Google, Outlook, Exchange — plus any shared calendar link. Day, 3-day, week and month views. Flip between anonymous blocks and event titles with one tap. Mark anything private and it stays private everywhere.

FAMILY, FRIENDS, YOUR SUPPORT CIRCLE
Add the people who matter and group them — Family, Close Friends, Work, a support group, the trip crew. Connect with someone who also has Approach and you'll see each other's real status, live; choose what you share: status only, status and hours, or anonymous busy blocks too. For anyone else, paste the calendar link they share with you.

PLAN THE TRIP WITHOUT THE 80-MESSAGE THREAD
A weekend away, the family reunion, a friends' trip that's been "we should really" for two years. Tap Plan, pick the group and what you're after — a day, an evening, a weekend, a long weekend, a