Protection determines how hard it is to stop, pause, or edit a plan once it’s running. This is what separates FocusMe from a simple browser extension — when you set strong protection, you genuinely cannot bypass blocking, even if you want to.
Stop Challenges
A stop challenge is what you must complete to stop or disable a plan. FocusMe lets you set separate challenges for when the plan is active (blocking) and non-active (outside schedule hours).
None
No challenge. You can stop the plan with a single click.
Good for: Testing plans, flexible schedules, low-stakes blocking.
Password
You set a password when creating the plan. To stop the plan, you must enter the password.
Good for: Mild accountability. Adds a speed bump that makes you pause and think before disabling blocking.
Give your password to a trusted friend or family member so you can’t easily disable it yourself. Or use a password manager to generate a random password you don’t memorise.
Random Chars
FocusMe generates a string of random characters that you must type out exactly. The length is configurable — longer strings take more effort.
Good for: Discouraging impulsive bypassing. The friction of typing random characters gives you time to reconsider whether you really need to disable the plan.
Forced
The plan cannot be stopped by any means until the schedule allows it. There is no password, no override, no escape hatch.
Good for: Maximum willpower support, serious commitments, parental controls.
Forced mode is serious. Once a forced plan is active, the only way to unblock is to wait for the schedule to end. Make absolutely sure your plan is configured correctly before enabling forced protection. Test your plan without protection first.
Protection Settings
The Protection step (Step 5) in the Plan Wizard has these settings:
| Setting | Description |
|---|
| Stop challenge when active | Challenge required to stop the plan while it’s blocking |
| Stop delay when active | Wait period after requesting to stop (e.g., 15 minutes). Gives you time to reconsider. |
| Stop challenge non-active | Challenge required to stop/edit the plan outside schedule hours |
| Stop delay non-active | Wait period for stopping outside schedule hours |
| Pausing | Enable or disable the ability to pause the plan |
| Add to Whitelist | Enable or disable adding exceptions while the plan is active |
- Stop challenge when active: Forced (can’t stop the plan while it’s running)
- Stop challenge non-active: Password (need a password to edit outside schedule)
- Pausing: Disabled (no pausing allowed)
Tips for Effective Protection
-
Start mild, increase gradually. Begin with Password protection. Once you’re comfortable, try Random Characters. Only use Forced when you’re confident in your schedule.
-
Test before committing. Run your plan with no protection for a day to verify the schedule, targets, and rules are correct. Then add protection.
-
Set up your schedule first. With Forced mode on a Weekly Schedule, blocking activates and deactivates automatically. Make sure the schedule has gaps for when you need unrestricted access.
-
Use pause limits as a middle ground. Instead of going straight to Forced, use Password protection with 2-3 pause limits. You can still take breaks, but the friction prevents mindless disabling.
-
Emergency codes. FocusMe provides emergency unlock codes for genuine emergencies. These are single-use and limited — they exist for safety, not convenience.
Emergency Stop Codes
If you’re locked out by a Forced plan and genuinely need to regain access (e.g., an urgent work situation), FocusMe provides emergency stop codes as a last resort.
How to Request a Stop Code
- Right-click the active plan → Request Stop Code, or click the Request Stop Code button on the Break Screen
- A dialog appears showing your Device ID — copy this
- Contact FocusMe support with your Device ID to request a stop code
- Enter the stop code you receive into the dialog
Stop Code Responses
| Response | Meaning |
|---|
| Success | The code is valid — the plan is stopped immediately |
| Already used | This code has already been redeemed and cannot be used again |
| Invalid / Expired | The code is incorrect or has expired. Request a new one. |
Emergency stop codes are single-use and time-limited. They exist for genuine emergencies, not as a regular bypass method. If you find yourself requesting stop codes frequently, consider adjusting your plan’s protection settings.
