How timed app blockers work
A timed app blocker keeps an app blocked, but lets you open it for a set number of minutes when you ask. When the timer runs out, the block comes back on its own. You don't need willpower to close the app. The system closes it for you.
Updated
Interactive demo: tap a protected app, then choose Go Back or Use a Pass and watch the Pass expire and relock. Nothing on your phone is blocked.
Why timed access instead of a hard block
Hard blocks often fail because life needs the app now and then: a message to answer, a map to check, a post to publish. When the only way out is turning the blocker off, people turn it off and don't turn it back on.
Timed access keeps the block in place and gives you a short, planned exception. Each exception has a clear end.
What happens when the timer expires
In FocusPass, starting a Pass schedules the relock with iOS before the app opens. When the time is up, iOS puts the shield back, even if FocusPass isn't running. If you're inside the app, the shield appears.
You can end a Pass early at any time. An optional Reset Window adds a short cooldown before the next Pass.
Designing a good Pass plan
Start small and adjust after a few days:
- 3 Passes of 10 minutes a day is a good middle ground.
- Use shorter Passes (5 min) for apps where you tend to lose track of time.
- Add a Reset Window of 15–30 minutes so one Pass doesn't turn into three in a row.
- Keep essentials, like maps and banking, out of the blocked list.
Common questions
What happens when an app-blocking timer expires?
The shield comes back on the app. With FocusPass, iOS handles the relock through Screen Time, so it still happens if FocusPass is closed.
Can I end a Pass early?
Yes. Ending early locks the app again right away. The Pass still counts as used.
What is Task Access?
Task Access is a separate, very short route (up to 3 minutes, one stated task) for when you're out of Passes. It doesn't use a Pass, and it's limited so it can't become an endless loop.
What is timed app access?
Timed app access means a blocked app stays blocked by default, and you can open it for a set number of minutes when you choose to. In FocusPass this is a Pass: pick a length, use the app, and the shield returns automatically when the time is up.
Get FocusPass free on the App Store