Skip to main content
FocusMe is built to resist being removed while a plan is running — that is the point of it. Uninstalling is straightforward once no plans are enabled and the protection settings below are turned off.

​
Before You Start

  1. Stop and disable every plan. FocusMe cannot be quit — and on most platforms cannot be uninstalled — while any plan is enabled. If a plan has Random or Enforced stop protection you will need to complete its challenge, wait for it to expire, or use Assisted Stop.
  2. Turn off the uninstall protections in Settings → System (see below). These can only be changed when no plans are enabled.
  3. Quit FocusMe from the tray or menu-bar icon (Quit).

​
Settings that block uninstalling

​
Windows

Uninstalling FocusMe from Windows Settings

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps
  2. Search for FocusMe
  3. Click Uninstall and follow the prompts
If FocusMe is missing from the list, Protect Uninstall is still on: open FocusMe, go to Settings → System, turn it off (all plans must be disabled) and the entry reappears. You can also run uninstall.exe from the FocusMe installation folder (C:\Program Files\FocusMe for the standard installer; the per-user folder for the non-admin installer). If you installed the Extra Protection Service, remove it from Settings → System first so that nothing tries to relaunch FocusMe during the uninstall.

​
macOS

  1. Turn off Protect Uninstall in Settings → System (only possible when no plans are enabled) — while it is on, macOS will not let you move the app to the Trash
  2. Quit FocusMe from the menu-bar icon
  3. Open Finder → Applications and drag FocusMe to the Trash
  4. Empty the Trash
If you installed FocusMe for Safari, remove it separately from the Applications folder or from Safari → Settings → Extensions.

​
Linux

Uninstall with the same installer file you used to install, which removes the app, the background service, the autostart and menu entries and the browser connection files:
The installer asks for your password (graphically via pkexec where available, otherwise with sudo). If you no longer have the installer, download it again from focusme.com/download/linux.

​
After Uninstalling

Uninstalling removes:
  • The FocusMe application and its background service or watcher
  • Auto-start entries
  • Desktop shortcuts and Start Menu / application menu entries
Uninstalling does not remove:
  • Your settings and plan data on the computer — they are picked up again if you reinstall
  • Your plans, tasks and activity stored in your FocusMe account
  • The browser addon — remove it from your browser’s extensions page
  • Your FocusMe account, licence or subscription — see Manage Your Account