Lock hours
Block apps during the hours that matter
Lock hours keep your chosen apps locked during the days and times you pick, such as school days from 8 to 3, and leave them free the rest of the time. You earn a 5-minute break for every 30 minutes locked, and three emergency unlocks a day are always there behind a 5-second hold.
Updated
Set your hours once
Pick the days and the window: weekdays 9 to 5 for work, school days 8 to 3, or evenings for homework. iOS starts and ends the lock on schedule, even if you never open Screenwage.
For a one-off, press Lock now to lock your apps for one to four hours starting immediately.
Breaks you earn
Every 30 minutes your apps stay locked earns a 5-minute break. Take one from the lock screen when you need it and the apps open for those five minutes, then lock again by themselves.
Emergency unlocks
Three times a day you can open your apps for 5 or 15 minutes without a break, by holding a button for 5 seconds. The hold is long enough to interrupt an automatic reach for the phone and short enough for a real need. Calls, Messages and Maps are never locked unless you choose them.
Lock hours or Earn mode?
| Lock hours | Earn mode | |
|---|---|---|
| When apps are locked | Only during the hours you set | All the time, until you spend grains |
| How you get time | Free outside your hours; earned breaks inside them | Focus sessions earn grains |
| Best for | Fixed schedules: school, work, bedtime | Building a habit of earning your scrolling |
One mode is on at a time. You can switch in Profile → Mode whenever no lock or session is running, and your grains wait for you while another mode is on.
Questions
- Can I set different hours for different days?
- Yes. Each lock window has its own days, so you can lock school days during the day and every night before bed.
- Can I turn Lock hours off early?
- You can take a break you have earned or use one of three emergency unlocks a day. If you truly need out, Profile → Safety turns all blocking off at once.