# Browser Extension Source: https://docs.focusme.com/advanced/browser-extension Install the FocusMe browser addon, understand Addon Verification, and customise the block page. The FocusMe browser addon works alongside the desktop app to give accurate, real-time website blocking and time tracking. The desktop app can block websites on its own by watching window titles, but the addon sees the actual page address, blocks instantly, and shows the FocusMe block page instead of closing your tab. ## Supported Browsers Open **Settings** → **Browsers**. The **Browser Addon (Recommended)** row shows a button for every supported browser that is installed on your computer; clicking a button opens the right extension store in that browser. | Browser | Install from | | ------------------------ | -------------------------------------- | | **Chrome** | Chrome Web Store | | **Edge** | Chrome Web Store | | **Brave** | Chrome Web Store | | **Opera** / **Opera GX** | Chrome Web Store | | **Vivaldi** | Chrome Web Store | | **Wavebox** | Chrome Web Store | | **Firefox** | Firefox Add-ons | | **Zen** | Firefox Add-ons | | **LibreWolf** | Firefox Add-ons | | **Waterfox** | Firefox Add-ons | | **Safari** (macOS) | Mac App Store — **FocusMe for Safari** | FocusMe also recognises other Chromium- and Firefox-based browsers such as Arc, Yandex, Whale, DuckDuckGo, Slimjet, Mullvad and Aside. They do not get their own button, but the Chrome or Firefox addon installs into them from the matching store. Browsers that only run inside another app (embedded web views) are not treated as browsers and do not need the addon. ## Installation 1. Open **Settings** → **Browsers** and click the button for your browser 2. The browser opens on the FocusMe addon's store page — click **Add** / **Install** 3. The FocusMe icon appears in the browser toolbar (pin it if you like) 4. The addon connects to the desktop app automatically — no configuration is needed You can also visit [focusme.com/download/addon](https://focusme.com/download/addon/), which detects your browser and sends you to the right store. ### The install offer You do not have to remember to install it. When you use a browser without the addon for a short while, FocusMe shows a **Browser Addon** notification — *We recommend the FocusMe addon for Chrome - it gives the most accurate website blocking and time tracking.* — with **Install addon** and **Not now** buttons. If a plan is already running the wording changes to warn you that the plan may not block accurately in that browser. If an addon that used to be connected disappears, the notification instead offers **Check extensions** (opens the browser's extensions page so you can re-enable it) and **Reinstall**. ## Checking the Connection Click the FocusMe icon in the toolbar. The popup shows the addon version and its status: | Status | Meaning | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Connected** | The addon is talking to the desktop app. Blocking and tracking are active. | | **Connecting...** | The addon is looking for the desktop app. Make sure FocusMe is running; this normally clears within a few seconds. | | **Disconnected** | The addon cannot reach the desktop app. See [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting). | The toolbar icon carries a small coloured dot that mirrors this status, so you can see at a glance whether the browser is protected. The popup also has two quick toggles, **Block YouTube Shorts** and **Block Facebook Reels**, which block those short-form feeds in this browser without editing a plan, plus a link to the support page. The popup also has a **Demo Mode** switch. With it on, the status reads **Connected (Demo)** and the addon blocks a few sample sites on its own — useful for checking that the addon itself works in a browser before the desktop app is connected. ## Incognito and Private Windows Browsers disable extensions in Incognito / InPrivate / Private windows unless you allow them. Open your browser's extensions page, find FocusMe and enable *Allow in Incognito* (Chrome-based browsers) or *Run in Private Windows* (Firefox-based browsers). Without this, FocusMe cannot see which site a private window is on; under the **Standard** and **Strict** verification levels it will warn you — *Browser will be closed soon — the URL cannot be verified. If using Incognito/InPrivate, please enable the extension for private browsing.* — and then close the window. ## Addon Verification The **Addon Verification** setting in **Settings** → **Browsers** decides what FocusMe does when its addon cannot see which website you are on. Click the info icon next to it for the same summary inside the app. | Level | Behaviour | | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Off** | The browser is never closed as an extra protection mechanism. Websites may go unblocked while the addon is missing or cannot see the page. | | **Basic** | If a browser is running without the addon, FocusMe warns you and then closes it, so blocked websites cannot slip through. | | **Standard** | Like Basic, and also steps in when a page cannot be checked at all (for example Incognito windows where the addon is not allowed). You always get a warning first. | | **Strict** | Maximum discipline. The browser closes within seconds, and only the pages needed to set the addon up (the install page, the browser's extensions and settings pages) stay open. Waiting it out does not help: the timer is remembered even across restarts. | What you will see under Basic and Standard is a countdown notification — *Addon is not found. Browser will be blocked in N seconds.* — with an **Install addon** button. Install the addon before the countdown ends and nothing is closed. **Strict** goes further: * Unverified tabs are closed within a couple of seconds, and the addon install page is opened for you * The countdown is remembered across restarts, so quitting the browser does not reset it * **Block Browser When Website Block Fails** is forced on (the setting shows *Always on while Addon Verification is set to Strict.*) Addon Verification cannot be lowered while any plan is enabled. Pick the level you want before you start protected plans. Whatever the level, when a plan blocks a website in a browser that has **no** addon connected, FocusMe closes the tab straight away rather than showing the block page. ### Related Browsers settings | Setting | Description | | ------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Block Browser When Website Block Fails (Caution!)** | Closes the whole browser if it does not close a blocked website when told to. Can cost you unsaved work. Locked on under Strict. | | **Block Secondary Browser Windows (Caution!)** (macOS) | Allows only one window per browser; extra windows from the same browser are closed. | ## The Block Page When the addon blocks a site it replaces the page with the FocusMe block page — **Time To Focus** and a motivational quote. ### Customising the page Click **Preview and Customise** under **Block Page Look** in **Settings** → **Browsers** to open the block page in your browser and adjust its look: * **Classic** / **Dark** / **Custom colour** swatches set the background — pick Custom colour to choose any colour * **Your message (optional)** adds a line of your own text to the page * **Done** closes the drawer Your choices are saved to the desktop app and applied to the block page in every browser and on every device where you are logged in, so you only need to set them once. ### Block Page settings The **Block Page settings** group in **Settings** → **Browsers** controls the quotes and opens the page for customising: | Setting | Description | | ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Quotes** | **Built-in quotes**, **My own quotes** or **Both** | | **My Quotes** | Your quote list — **One per line, as: quote \| author** | | **Block Page Look** | **Preview and Customise** opens the block page in your browser so you can customise it | You can also set the plan's website action to **Close the tab**, **Open new tab** or **Go to home** in the wizard's **Advanced** → **Blocking behaviour** panel if you would rather not see a block page at all. See [Blocking Websites](/concepts/blocking-websites). ## Safari (macOS) The Safari addon is distributed through the Mac App Store as **FocusMe for Safari**. Click **Safari** in **Settings** → **Browsers** to open it, install it, then enable the extension in **Safari** → **Settings** → **Extensions**. See the [macOS](/platforms/macos) page. ## Linux and Flatpak Browsers Firefox-based browsers installed as Flatpaks — Firefox, Zen, LibreWolf — work with the addon. Chromium-based Flatpaks (Chrome, Brave, Chromium and so on) cannot host the FocusMe addon; FocusMe will tell you *The Flatpak version of this browser can't support our addon* and, under Basic or higher verification, close the browser. Install the standard (`.deb`) package of the browser instead. Snap builds of Firefox and Chromium are supported. See the [Linux](/platforms/linux) page. ## Troubleshooting ### The popup says Connecting... or Disconnected 1. Make sure the FocusMe desktop app is running (look for the tray or menu-bar icon) 2. Restart the browser 3. Check the addon is enabled on the browser's extensions page — the **Check extensions** button on the FocusMe notification takes you straight there 4. Reinstall the addon from **Settings** → **Browsers** 5. If it still will not connect, reinstall FocusMe; the installer refreshes the connection between the browser and the app ### Websites still not blocked See [Troubleshoot: Websites Not Blocked](/guides/troubleshoot-websites-not-blocked). # CLI Plan Control Source: https://docs.focusme.com/advanced/cli-plan-control Start, stop, restart and list FocusMe plans from the command line for scripting and automation. FocusMe accepts command-line options so you can start, stop and list plans from scripts, scheduled tasks or cron jobs without opening the FocusMe window. ## Options | Option | Description | | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `--start ` | Start a plan by name or UUID | | `--stop ` | Stop a plan by name or UUID | | `--restart ` | Start a plan, or extend its time if it is already active (Quick Timer plans only) | | `--time ` | Session length in minutes, used with `--start` or `--restart` (Quick Timer plans only) | | `--list` | List all plans with their status | | `--password ` | Password for a password-protected plan (used with `--stop`) | | `--help` | Print the option summary | Plans can be addressed by **name** or by **UUID**. Plan names are matched case-insensitively; `"Work Mode"` and `"work mode"` refer to the same plan. Use `--list` to see each plan's UUID — it is handy when you have plans with similar names. ## Syntax ```powershell theme={null} & "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" --start "Work Mode" & "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" --start "Deep Work" --time 90 & "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" --restart "Deep Work" --time 120 & "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" --stop "Work Mode" & "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" --stop "Work Mode" --password "mypass" & "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" --list ``` In `cmd.exe` drop the leading `&`. If you installed with the non-admin installer, use the path shown in your Start Menu shortcut instead of `C:\Program Files\FocusMe`. ```bash theme={null} /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --start "Work Mode" /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --start "Deep Work" --time 90 /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --restart "Deep Work" --time 120 /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --stop "Work Mode" /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --stop "Work Mode" --password "mypass" /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --list ``` ```bash theme={null} ~/FocusMe/FocusMe.sh --start "Work Mode" ~/FocusMe/FocusMe.sh --start "Deep Work" --time 90 ~/FocusMe/FocusMe.sh --restart "Deep Work" --time 120 ~/FocusMe/FocusMe.sh --stop "Work Mode" ~/FocusMe/FocusMe.sh --stop "Work Mode" --password "mypass" ~/FocusMe/FocusMe.sh --list ``` The installer places FocusMe in a `FocusMe` folder inside your home directory. `FocusMe.sh` is the launcher that sets up the bundled libraries and passes your options through to the app. ## How It Works * **If FocusMe is already running**, the command is handed to the running instance. The result is printed to your console and the command returns immediately. * **If FocusMe is not running**, it launches, processes the command once it has finished loading, prints the result and then stays running to enforce the plan. You can therefore call these commands whether or not FocusMe is open. On Windows the output appears in the console you ran the command from (PowerShell or Command Prompt). In `cmd.exe` the prompt may be drawn over the output line — this is cosmetic only. ## Listing Plans `--list` prints one line per plan with its name and current status (for example `Active`, `Standby`, `Paused`, `Disabled`). When the command is answered by a running instance, a third column shows each plan's UUID. ``` Plan Name Status UUID -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Work Mode Active 3f1c9c0e-... No Games Disabled 9b7d2a11-... ``` ## Quick Timer Plans: `--restart` and `--time` `--restart` and `--time` only work with plans whose timing is **Quick Timer**. Using them on a Weekly Schedule, Pomodoro or Multi-Day plan returns exit code `2` with an explanatory message. * `--start "Plan" --time 45` starts the plan with a 45-minute session, replacing the session length saved in the plan for this run. * `--restart "Plan"` starts the plan if it is stopped. If it is already active, the timer is reset to the full session length (or to `--time` if given). * When extending, the new length must be **greater than the time remaining**. Otherwise the command fails with exit code `2` and prints the time that is still left. ## Exit Codes Every command returns an exit code you can check in scripts: | Code | Meaning | | ---- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `0` | Success (including "already active" and "already stopped") | | `1` | Plan not found | | `2` | Not permitted — protection denied the stop, wrong or missing password, or `--restart`/`--time` used on a plan that is not a Quick Timer | | `3` | Invalid command, the plan could not be started or stopped, or FocusMe could not be reached | ```powershell theme={null} & "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" --start "Work Mode" $LASTEXITCODE ``` ```batch theme={null} "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" --start "Work Mode" echo %errorlevel% ``` ```bash theme={null} /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --start "Work Mode" echo $? ``` ## Protection Rules Starting a plan with `--start` is **always allowed**, whatever its protection settings. Stopping a plan with `--stop` is checked against the plan's protection for its current state — the **Protection when active** challenge while the plan is active, paused or on a break, and the **Protection when on standby** challenge while it is waiting to start: | Stop challenge | Can stop via CLI? | | --------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | **Unprotected** | Yes | | **Password** | Yes, with `--password "correct_password"` | | **Random** | No — exit code `2` | | **Enforced** | No — exit code `2` | Plans with Random or Enforced stop protection cannot be stopped from the command line. This is intentional — the command line is not a back door around the protection you chose. See [Plan Protection](/concepts/plan-protection). ## Terminal Protection and the CLI Some System settings watch what you type in a terminal — **Protect Terminal Commands** and **Protect PowerShell History** on Windows. Ordinary FocusMe CLI commands (for example `FocusMe.exe --start "Work Mode"`, or `FocusMe --list` without the extension in PowerShell) are recognised as legitimate: they are not removed from your history and do not count as tampering. If **Block Command Prompt** (or **Block Terminal / iTerm** on macOS) is enabled, terminals are closed while a plan is active. Run your commands from a scheduled task or a script launched outside a terminal instead. ## Use Cases ### Scheduled Focus Time Start a blocking plan at the same time every day: ``` Program: "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" Arguments: --start "Work Mode" Trigger: Daily at 9:00 AM ``` ```bash theme={null} # crontab -e 0 9 * * * /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --start "Work Mode" ``` For most daily routines a **Weekly Schedule** plan does this without any scripting. The CLI is for triggers FocusMe cannot see itself — a hotkey tool, a home-automation hook, or a script that sets up your whole work environment. ### Script-Based Automation ```powershell theme={null} & "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" --start "No Social Media" & "C:\Program Files\FocusMe\FocusMe.exe" --start "Deep Work" --time 50 ``` ```bash theme={null} /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --start "No Social Media" /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --start "Deep Work" --time 50 ``` ### Checking Status Before Acting ```bash theme={null} /Applications/FocusMe.app/Contents/MacOS/FocusMe --list ``` Use the output to decide whether to start or extend a plan — for example, call `--restart` from a hotkey to top up a Quick Timer session that is nearly over. # Regular Expressions (RegEx) Source: https://docs.focusme.com/advanced/regex Use pattern matching to block groups of websites or applications with a single rule. Regular Expressions (RegEx) let you match patterns instead of exact strings. A single RegEx entry can cover an entire category of sites or apps. ## Choosing the Regex Match Type Every entry in a plan has a target **type** and a **match** rule. To use a regular expression: 1. In the Plan Wizard's **What to block** step, add your pattern with the add row (or click an existing entry) 2. Click the row to open its inline editor — the hint reads **Click a row to edit its type and match** 3. Set **MATCH** to **Regex** 4. Check the **TYPE** is what you want the pattern to run against (see below) The match options are **Contains**, **Regex**, **Exact**, **Starts With** and **Ends With**. Regex is only applied when the row's match is set to **Regex** — otherwise your entry is treated as plain text. ### What the pattern is matched against | Tab | Type | The pattern is tested against | | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | | Websites | **URL** | The page address | | Websites | **Keyword** | The page address **and** the page title | | Applications | **Application Name**, **Process Name**, **Process Path**, **Window Title**, **Window Class**, **Program Signature**, **Folder Location** | That one property of the running application | **Keyword** with **Regex** is the broadest website rule: it catches a term wherever it appears — in the address or in the tab title. **URL** is the safer choice when you only want to match addresses. FocusMe's RegEx matching is **always case-insensitive** — you don't need to add `(?i)` to your patterns. ### How a website address is matched Your pattern is never tested against the address exactly as the browser shows it. FocusMe first removes `https://` or `http://`, removes a leading `www.` and removes any trailing `/`, then searches for your pattern **anywhere** in what is left, ignoring case. The path is part of that text. So for `https://www.pinterest.com/ideas` the pattern is tested against: ``` pinterest.com/ideas ``` Three things follow from that: * **Do not anchor the end of a domain with `$`.** `$` is the end of the whole string, path and all, so `\.org$` matches `example.org` but never `example.org/page`. To block a whole top-level domain, leave room for the path: `^[^/]*\.(org|it|net)(/|$)` * **Anchor on the dots to catch country variants.** `(^|\.)pinterest\.` matches `pinterest.com`, `pinterest.es` and `pinterest.jp`, but not `notpinterest.com` * **There is no `https://` or `www.` left to match.** A pattern that begins with either of them never matches anything * **Do not reach for RegEx when a plain entry will do.** If you simply want everything containing a word, a **Contains** entry says so with no pattern to get wrong This section is about **patterns**. A **Contains** entry that is a bare domain — a dot and no slash, space or colon — is not searched for as text at all: FocusMe matches it as a domain, so `reddit.com` covers `reddit.com` and its subdomains but not `notreddit.com`. Every other Contains entry (one with a path, or a bare word such as `game`) is the plain substring test described here. See [Blocking Websites](/concepts/blocking-websites). ## Wildcards Without RegEx For simple cases you may not need RegEx at all. An entry that contains `*` (and no `|`) is treated as a wildcard pattern automatically, whatever its match type: `reddit.com/r/*` matches any subreddit on `reddit.com`. A wildcard entry is anchored at both ends, so it has to describe the whole cleaned address: * A leading `*.` demands a literal dot before the domain, so `*.reddit.com/r/*` never matches `reddit.com/r/funny` — the `www.` has already been removed by the time the pattern is applied * By the same token `reddit.com/r/*` does not cover `old.reddit.com/r/funny`. Add `*.reddit.com/r/*` as a second entry if you want the subdomains as well Use full RegEx when you need alternation, word boundaries or character classes. ## Essential Patterns ### Word Boundaries Use `\b` to match whole words only. A `\b` sits only between a word character (a letter, digit or `_`) and a non-word character, so a `.` or a `/` creates a boundary but another letter does not: ``` \bsteam\b ``` Matches `steam.com` and `store.steam.com` — "steam" is followed by a `.`. Does **not** match `upstream.example.com` (a letter precedes "steam") **or** `store.steampowered.com` (a letter follows it). That second case catches people out. To match a name wherever it appears, including where it runs into other letters, drop the `\b` and use `steam` on its own — or, simpler still, a plain **Contains** entry, which is the better tool whenever you only want everything containing a word. To match a domain and all of its country variants, anchor on the dots instead: ``` (^|\.)steam\. ``` Matches `steam.com`, `steam.es` and `store.steam.com`, but not `notsteam.com`. ### OR Matching Use `|` (pipe) to match any of several options: ``` (reddit|tiktok|instagram) ``` Matches any address (or, with the Keyword type, any title) containing "reddit", "tiktok" or "instagram". Do not end a pattern with a stray `|` — an empty alternative matches everything, which would block every page. FocusMe strips a trailing `|` when it loads a plan, but it is better not to save one in the first place. ### Combining Patterns ``` \b(facebook|instagram|tiktok|x\.com|reddit|threads)\b ``` One entry covers the major social networks. The `.` in `x\.com` is escaped as `\.` because a bare `.` in RegEx matches any character. ## Practical Examples ### Block All Gaming Platforms ``` (steampowered|steamcommunity|epicgames|origin\.com|ea\.com|gog\.com|battle\.net) ``` No `\b` here on purpose: `\bsteam\b` would miss `store.steampowered.com`, because a letter follows "steam". Naming the store and community domains covers Steam without a word boundary. ### Block All News Sites ``` \b(bbc\.co\.uk/news|cnn\.com|dailymail|theguardian|nytimes)\b ``` ### Block YouTube Shorts and Reels ``` (youtube\.com/shorts|instagram\.com/reels|facebook\.com/reel) ``` Use the **URL** type for this one so that a video titled "shorts" on another site is not caught. ### Block All Subdomains of a Domain ``` (^|\.)example\.com ``` Matches `example.com`, `www.example.com`, `mail.example.com` and so on, but not `notexample.com`. Anchoring on the dot is what creates the boundary: `(.+\.)?example\.com` looks like it does the same job, but its optional group can simply not participate, so it still matches `notexample.com`. For this particular job you do not need RegEx at all. A plain **Contains** entry for `example.com` is a bare domain, so FocusMe matches it as a domain — the domain and its subdomains, but not `notexample.com`. Reach for a pattern when the target is *not* a bare domain, or when one entry has to cover several domains. ### Match Several Versions of an App On the Applications tab, with the **Process Name** type: ``` ^(discord|discordptb|discordcanary)\.exe$ ``` ## RegEx Quick Reference | Pattern | Meaning | Example | | --------- | --------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | `.` | Any single character | `a.c` matches "abc", "a1c" | | `*` | Zero or more of the preceding | `ab*c` matches "ac", "abc", "abbc" | | `+` | One or more of the preceding | `ab+c` matches "abc", "abbc" but not "ac" | | `?` | Zero or one of the preceding | `ab?c` matches "ac", "abc" | | `^` / `$` | Start / end of the matched text | `^example\.com` matches only at the start of the address | | `\b` | Word boundary | `\bcat\b` matches "cat" but not "category" | | `(a\|b)` | Either a or b | `(cat\|dog)` matches "cat" or "dog" | | `\.` | Literal dot | `google\.com` matches "google.com" | | `[a-z]` | Character range | `[0-9]+` matches one or more digits | | `(?i)` | Case insensitive (built in — not needed in FocusMe) | `hello` matches "HELLO" automatically | ## Testing Your Patterns * **Check the wizard's warning.** If a pattern is not valid RegEx, the **What to block** step shows an *invalid regex pattern* warning and the entry is ignored until you fix it. * **Use the Helper.** Open **Helper** from the sidebar to see the exact **URL**, **Window Title**, **Process Name** and other values of every open window — these are the strings your pattern must match. See [Using the Helper](/guides/using-the-helper-tool). * **Try it on a sample.** Paste a few real addresses or titles into [regex101.com](https://regex101.com) alongside your pattern before adding it to a protected plan. * **Start unprotected.** Test a new pattern in a plan with **Unlocked** protection, confirm it blocks what you expect on the [Activity](/concepts/activity) page, then raise the protection. ## Common Mistakes 1. **Leaving the match on Contains** — the pattern is never compiled. It is treated as literal text, or as a bare domain if it happens to look like one, so it matches nothing 2. **Unescaped dots** — `google.com` also matches `googleXcom`; use `google\.com` 3. **Too broad a pattern** — `game` blocks `game.com` but also `gamestop.com` and any address containing "game"; add word boundaries with `\b` 4. **Using Keyword when you meant URL** — Keyword also searches page titles, so a news article about "steam engines" would match `\bsteam\b` 5. **Anchoring the end with `$`** — the path is part of the matched text, so `\.com$` misses `example.com/feed` 6. **Starting a pattern with `https://` or `www\.`** — both are removed before matching, so the pattern never matches 7. **A trailing `|`** — makes the pattern match everything # Uninstall FocusMe Source: https://docs.focusme.com/advanced/uninstall How to remove FocusMe from Windows, macOS and Linux, and which settings can stand in the way. 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](/concepts/plan-protection). 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 | Setting (Settings → System) | What it does | | ------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Protect Uninstall** | On Windows, hides FocusMe from the Installed apps list and refuses to uninstall; on macOS, protects the app bundle so it cannot be deleted. Can only be turned off when no plans are enabled. Not available on Linux. | | **Block 3rd Party Uninstallers** | Prevents certain third-party uninstaller apps from running while a plan is active. | | **Extra Protection Service** (Windows) | A background service that restarts FocusMe if it is closed. Click **Uninstall** next to it to remove the service — this is refused while plans are enabled. | | **Protect FocusMe Process** / **Protect FocusMe Directories** | Keep the app running and its files in place while plans run. | ## Windows 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: ```bash theme={null} ./FocusMe-*.bin --uninstall ``` 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](https://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](/guides/manage-your-account) # Accountability Partner Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/accountability-partner Trusted people who approve requests to stop, pause or edit your protected plans. An accountability partner is a trusted person who can approve your requests to stop, skip, pause or edit a protected plan. Instead of bypassing your own restrictions with a password or random characters, the request goes to someone else — a human judgement layer that is much harder to get past in a moment of low willpower. Partners don't need a FocusMe account. They confirm and approve everything through email links, or by giving you a one-time code. ## Adding partners Partners are managed in **Settings → Accountability** (shown when you're logged in). 1. Under **Add Accountability Partner**, enter a **Partner email** and, optionally, a **Name (optional)**. 2. Click **Add**. FocusMe confirms *Invitation sent to … Ask them to check their email and click the confirmation link.* 3. The partner appears in the **Accountability Partners** list as **Pending** until they confirm, then as **Confirmed**. Click **Refresh** to update the list. You can add several partners. When you send a request, any active partner can respond. ### The 24-hour activation delay Partners added while any plan is running only become active 24 hours after confirming. The list shows **Active in N hours - stop all plans to activate immediately**, and requests you send in the meantime tell you how many partners are *still in 24-hour activation period*. This stops you adding a lenient partner in the heat of the moment. Stop all plans to activate the partner straight away. ### Removing partners A **Pending** partner has a **Remove** button. Once a partner confirms, only they can remove themselves, using the link in their invitation email. ### Locking the partner list Click **Lock Accountability Partners** to stop yourself from adding or removing partners until all your plans are stopped. FocusMe asks you to confirm: *You won't be able to add or remove accountability partners until all your plans are stopped. Are you sure?* Once locked, the button reads **Unlock Accountability Partners** with the hint **Stop all plans to unlock**. ## Using partners on a plan ### Partner Override On the **How strict** step of the Plan Wizard, click **Customize** to set each action's challenge individually. Every action (**Protection when active**, **Protection when on standby**, **Skip break**, **Pause / Postpone break**, **Add to whitelist**, **Edit protection**) has a **Partner Override** checkbox. With it ticked: * a **Random** or **Password** challenge can be handed to a partner instead of completed yourself (until you have a partner, the challenge dialog shows an **Add Accountability Partner** link); * an **Enforced** action, which normally cannot be done at all, can be done with a partner's approval. FocusMe explains: *Your plan has enforced protection. Request your accountability partner to approve stopping this plan.* For **Edit protection** set to **Enforced**, the checkbox reads **Partner Override (required)**. ### Approving plan edits When you edit a plan whose **Edit protection** is set to partner approval, the wizard shows **These changes will require approval from an accountability partner before they can be applied.** Save the plan as usual; the changes are held until a partner approves, and the plan shows **This plan has changes pending approval from an accountability partner.** until then. ## The approval process ### Assisted Stop **Assisted Stop** is available in a plan's right-click menu while it is active or on standby, and on the [Break Screen](/concepts/break-screen). 1. Under **Select plans to request an assisted stop for:**, tick the plans to stop. 2. Enter a **Reason:** — *Your partner or FocusMe may require a reason to approve your request*. 3. Click the main button to send the request to your partners. (If you have no partner yet it reads **Add Accountability Partner** instead.) FocusMe confirms that the request has been sent. 4. Your partner receives an email with your reason and either approves or denies it. * Approved: FocusMe shows **Request Approved** — *… approved your request. Selected plans have been stopped.* A partner can also approve with a delay, in which case FocusMe shows **Approved with delay - plans will stop at …**. * Denied: FocusMe shows *… denied your request.* with their reason if they gave one. The plan stays active. 5. Alternatively, type the code your partner gives you into the dialog and click **Apply**. Only one request can be pending per plan. Creating a new one cancels the existing request (**Pending Request** → **Continue**), and you can withdraw a request with **Cancel Request** (*Your partners will no longer be able to approve it.*) or **Cancel Pending Request** in the plan's context menu. ### Skipping, pausing and challenges When you click **Skip Break** or **Pause** on a plan with **Partner Override**, or when a Random / Password challenge appears, FocusMe offers to send the request to your partner instead. Wait for their approval, or enter the code they provide. ### Support fallback If you have no partner, the Assisted Stop dialog's main button reads **Add Accountability Partner**. Either way, the **Send Request to FocusMe** link sends the request to the FocusMe team instead. FocusMe does not provide 24/7 support, so a partner is the faster route. Support may stop the plans, set a custom password on them, or reduce their protection to a shorter random code. ## Tips * **Choose someone who will say no.** A partner who approves everything is the same as no partner. * **Explain your goals.** Give partners the context to judge your requests well. * **Combine with Lock it Down.** With **Enforced** stop protection and **Partner Override**, your partner's approval is the only way to stop the plan. * **Add more than one partner** so a request isn't stuck when someone is unavailable. * **Lock the list** once it's set up, so you can't swap in a softer partner later. # Activity Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/activity See where your screen time goes, how many distractions FocusMe blocked and how much time you reclaimed. The **Activity** tab is FocusMe's dashboard for your screen time. It shows how long you were actively using your computer, which apps and websites took that time, how many distractions FocusMe blocked and how much time that saved you. Activity was previously called **Statistics**. Everything recorded under the old name is still available here. Click the pop-out icon in the header (or double-click the **Activity** tab) to pop the dashboard out into its own window. You can also open it from the tray icon menu. ## Choosing a period The header controls which dates are shown: * **Today** / **Last 7 Days** — the two quick views. **Last 7 Days** is the default and covers the seven completed days ending yesterday. * **Previous period** / **Next period** chevrons step backwards and forwards by the current period length. * Click the calendar icon to pick a preset: **Last Month**, **This Month**, **Last Week**, **This Week**, **Last 7 Days**, **Yesterday** or **Today**. When the dates don't match a preset, the label reads **Custom range**. If you use FocusMe on more than one device and have [device sync](#activity-settings) on, the **device pill** switches between **All devices** and a single device (this device is marked **(this device)**). ## Tiles | Tile | What it shows | | ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Active time** | Time you were actively using the computer, with a comparison to the previous period. Single days compare **vs same day last week**; longer periods compare **vs previous period**. | | **Distractions blocked** | How many times FocusMe blocked an app or website. | | **Time reclaimed** | An estimate of the time those blocks gave back to you. | | **Active days** / **On-screen time** | For multi-day periods, how many of the days had activity. For a single day, the total time apps were on screen. | Below the tiles, the **Daily activity** chart plots active time per day for the period. Switch to **Today** and the chart makes way for the day's totals, including **On-screen time**. ## Where your time went This panel lists the apps and websites that took the most active time (**active time · top N of M**). Use the **All** dropdown to show everything, only apps or only websites, and tick **Hide Browsers** to leave browser processes out so the websites inside them stand on their own. Click **Show all N items →** to open the full table with columns **Name**, **Active Time**, **On-screen Time** and **Launches**. Click a column heading to sort. Hovering a row shows its first and last activity; the row menu offers **Remove Item**, which hides that app or site from your Activity. Removed items are listed under **Exclusion**, where **Remove** brings one back. **← Back to overview** returns to the dashboard. **Active time** counts only while a window is in the foreground and you are using the keyboard or mouse. **On-screen time** counts whenever the window is visible, so it is useful for apps that run passively on a second monitor. ## Distractions blocked The rail on the right lists the apps and websites FocusMe blocked most often in the period, with the number of **attempts** and the total **reclaimed in this period**. ## Weekly Recaps Click the **Weekly Recaps** icon in the header (it shows a badge when a new recap is waiting) or the **Weekly Recaps** entry in the rail. Each recap card summarises one week: **Active time**, **Distractions blocked**, **Active days** out of 7, the approximate time reclaimed, the change in active time versus the previous week, a seven-day bar chart, and your **Top blocked**, **Top apps** and **Top sites**. If you use [Coach](/concepts/coach), the card ends with a **Coach:** teaser and a link to **Read the coach's take on this week →**. The share icon on each week opens the share dialog for that week. Your first recap appears once FocusMe has tracked a full week of activity. FocusMe notifies you when a new recap is ready. ## Share your stats Click the share icon (**Share these stats**) in the header (or the share icon on a recap) to turn the current period into a square image card. * **Show my top distractions** adds your most-blocked sites and apps to the card (off by default). * **Light card** switches between the light and dark card designs; it follows your app theme by default. * **Post to:** **X**, **LinkedIn**, **WhatsApp** or **Facebook** creates a share link and opens the network with a pre-filled message. For Facebook the message is copied for you to paste (**Post text copied. Paste it as your message if it doesn't appear automatically.**). * **Copy image** puts the card on your clipboard (**Image copied. Paste it into your post with Ctrl+V.**); **Save image…** saves it as a PNG. ## The header menu The ellipsis menu in the header contains: | Item | Description | | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Export to CSV** | Save the activity for the current period as a CSV file. | | **Clear history** | Delete recorded activity. When logged in you choose **This Device Only** (removes everything recorded on this device, including its synced copy in your account; other devices keep their data and sync it back) or **All Devices** (also removes every device's synced activity from your account; other devices keep their local copy until cleared there). | | **Activity Settings** | Open the settings dialog described below. | Clearing history and removing items are not possible while **Protect Activity** is on (**Settings → System**): "Cannot clear history while 'Protect Activity' is enabled!". Protect Activity itself can only be switched off when all plans are stopped. ## Activity Settings | Setting | Description | | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Record Activity** | Record app and website usage on this computer. Powers the Activity page, weekly recaps and Coach insights. Existing data is kept when disabled. Cannot be disabled while a plan or **Protect Activity** is enabled. | | **Include Incognito Browsing** | Also record websites visited in private or incognito windows. Cannot be changed while a plan is enabled. | | **Sync Between Devices** | Share daily activity summaries between your devices so the Activity page can show all of them. Turning this off stops activity sync on every device; plans and tasks are not affected. | | **Sync From This Device** | Whether this device contributes its activity to the sync. | Click **Save** to apply. **Record Activity** and **Protect Activity** are also available in [Settings → System](/concepts/settings#system). ## Privacy * Activity is recorded and stored on your computer. Plan, block and app events are always logged locally so your dashboard is complete. * Nothing leaves your computer unless you choose it: **Sync Between Devices** shares daily summaries with your other devices through your account, and **Coach & Anonymous Data Collection** (in **Settings → System**) uploads anonymised usage for [Coach](/concepts/coach) reports. * Sharing a stats card uploads only the image you see in the preview. * **Delete My Data** in **Settings → System** removes your anonymous usage data from FocusMe's servers; **Clear history → All Devices** removes synced activity from your account. ## Using Activity effectively 1. **Find your biggest time sinks** — open **Show all items** and sort by **Active Time**. 2. **Set a baseline** — track a week without plans, then set limits you can actually keep. 3. **Check that blocks work** — if a blocked site still shows active time, review the plan's targets and your [browser addon](/advanced/browser-extension). 4. **Watch the trend** — compare **Last 7 Days** with the previous period, or read your Weekly Recaps. # Blocking Applications Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/blocking-applications How to block desktop applications — games, messaging apps, browsers, Store apps, or the entire computer. Applications are added on the **What to block** step (Step 1) of the Plan Wizard, on the **Applications** tab. FocusMe can match an app by its name, process, path, window title and more, or you can pick it from what's installed or running. ## Adding an Application Type into the add row (**Type an app to block, e.g. steam.exe...**) and press Enter or click **Add**. After two characters FocusMe suggests matching installed apps; entries already in the list are marked **Already added**. Duplicates and entries that already sit on the other list are flagged, with **Move to block list** / **Move to allow list** offered where appropriate. ### Pick from installed apps Click **Pick from installed apps...** to open the app picker. It has four tabs: | Tab | What you'll see | | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Running Processes** | Every process currently running, with its **Application Name**, **Process Name** and **Process Path** | | **Installed Apps** | A searchable grid of the applications installed on this computer (**Search installed apps...**) | | **Open Windows** | Every open window, with its **Application Name**, **Process Name**, **Window Title** and **Window Class** — the easiest way to catch a Store app while it's running | | **Add Your Own** | Type the values yourself in the text area (**Enter apps here (one per line)**) — use the Helper to find the right value | Select as many entries as you like, check the **Target Type** (default **Process Name**) and **Match** (default **Exact**) combos at the top right, then click **Done**. With the defaults, a picked app blocks exactly that process and nothing else. Not sure what an app is called under the hood? Open the [Helper](/guides/using-the-helper-tool) from the sidebar while the app is running — it lists every open window with its application name, process name, path, title, class and signature, and can add any of them straight to a plan. ### Editing a Row Click any row to open the inline editor (**Click a row to edit its type and match**), where you can change its **TYPE**, **VALUE** and **MATCH**. ## Target Types | Target type | Matches on | Example | | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | | **Application Name** | The app's display name | `Steam`, `Discord` | | **Process Name** | The executable filename | `chrome.exe`, `Discord.exe` | | **Process Path** | The full path to the executable — use it to target one installation of an app | `C:\Games\Steam\steam.exe` | | **Window Title** | Text in the window's title bar — useful for blocking content inside an app | `Netflix` | | **Window Class** | The window's class name, for advanced matching | `Chrome_WidgetWin_1` | | **Program Signature** | The publisher signature of the program | as shown by the Helper | | **Folder Location** | Any program run from a folder | `C:\Games\` | ## Match Types | Match type | How it works | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Contains** | The value contains the entry anywhere | | **Exact** | The value must match the entry exactly. The picker uses this for **Application Name**, **Process Name**, **Window Class** and **Program Signature** entries. | | **Starts With** | The value must begin with the entry | | **Ends With** | The value must end with the entry | | **Regex** | A regular expression — see [Regular Expressions](/advanced/regex) | ### Common Apps to Block | Category | Process Name | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Browsers** | `chrome.exe`, `msedge.exe`, `firefox.exe`, `brave.exe`, `opera.exe` | | **Games** | `steam.exe`, `EpicGamesLauncher.exe`, `FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe` | | **Messaging** | `Discord.exe`, `Slack.exe`, `Teams.exe`, `WhatsApp.exe`, `Telegram.exe` | | **Streaming** | `Spotify.exe` | ## Saved Lists The **Lists:** row offers FocusMe's ready-made app lists as chips — click one to load it. **Save as list** saves your current targets as a list of your own, and **Manage lists...** lets you save, import, export, edit, delete or **Restore defaults**. Lists work the same way as on the Websites tab — see [Blocking Websites](/concepts/blocking-websites#saved-lists). ## Allowed List and Blocking Everything Click **Advanced** (*allow list, block all, block methods, penalty*) to reveal the list role switch and the blocking behaviour options. * The segmented control switches between the **Blocked** list and the **Allowed** list. Anything on the allowed list takes priority. * Tick **Block every app except my allowed list** to block everything and allow only the apps you add to the allowed list. **Example:** allow only `WINWORD.EXE`, `EXCEL.EXE` and `chrome.exe` during work hours. When blocking every app, add your essential tools to the allowed list first. If you lock yourself out with strong [protection](/concepts/plan-protection), you'll have to wait for the plan to end. ### Block entire computer Tick **Block entire computer** to lock the whole computer while the plan is active. The tabs become **Exclude Websites** and **Exclude Applications** so you can list the few things that stay usable — see [Block your PC at night](/guides/block-pc-at-night). ## Blocking Behaviour The **Blocking behaviour** panel (under **Advanced**) sets the **Block action** for applications: | Action | What happens | | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Minimize** | The default. Minimises the blocked window to the taskbar; the app keeps running but you can't use it. | | **Close** | Sends a close request to the blocked window. | | **Kill** | Force-terminates the blocked process immediately. Use it for apps that reopen after being closed. | | **Hide** | Hides the window from view; the process keeps running invisibly (Windows). | | **Delete** | Kills the app and attempts to delete its executable from disk (Windows). Only shown when **Show 'Delete' Application Block Method (Advanced Users)** is enabled in **Settings > System**. | Also in this panel, on the Applications tab: * **Include background processes** — also block matching apps that are running in the background, not just the one in front. * **Block entire computer** — lock the whole computer while the plan is active (see above). * **Penalty** — block all apps after repeated violations within a reoffence window. See [Penalty](/concepts/plans-overview#penalty). ## How App Blocking Works While a plan is active FocusMe watches for matching apps. When one is launched or brought to the front it is minimised, closed, killed or hidden according to the block action, and a notification tells you which plan blocked it. ## Windows Store Apps Microsoft Store apps run inside Windows host processes rather than their own executables. If you add `ApplicationFrameHost.exe` or `WWAHost.exe`, FocusMe shows a **Windows System Process** warning: blocking `ApplicationFrameHost.exe` blocks every Store app at once, including Settings, Calculator and Photos. You can **Cancel** or **Add Anyway**. To block a single Store app instead: * block it by **Application Name** (for example `Netflix`), or * block it by **Window Title**, or * open the app, then pick it from the **Open Windows** tab of the app picker. [See the Windows Store apps guide →](/guides/block-windows-store-apps) ## Platform Differences | Feature | Windows | macOS | Linux | | ----------------------------- | ------------ | --------------------------------- | ------------- | | Process blocking | Full support | Full support | Full support | | Window title matching | Full support | Requires Accessibility permission | X11 support | | Installed apps list | Full support | Applications folder | Limited | | **Hide** / **Delete** actions | Available | Not available | Not available | On **macOS**, grant FocusMe **Accessibility** permission in System Settings so it can detect application windows. See [macOS](/platforms/macos). # Blocking Websites Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/blocking-websites How to block distracting websites — individual sites, keywords, saved lists, or the whole internet with an allowed list. Websites are added on the **What to block** step (Step 1) of the Plan Wizard, on the **Websites** tab. You can block specific sites, or block every website and keep an allowed list of exceptions. ## Adding a Website Type into the add row (**Type a site to block, e.g. youtube.com...**) and press Enter or click **Add**. After two characters FocusMe suggests matching sites from your recent browsing; sites already in the list are marked **Already added**. You don't need `https://` or `www.` — just the domain name. `youtube.com` matches every YouTube page, including subdomains such as `m.youtube.com` and `music.youtube.com`. If a site is already on the list you'll see **Duplicate target - this entry already exists in the list**. If it's on the other list, FocusMe tells you (**Already on the allow list, which takes priority.** or **Already on the block list.**) and offers **Move to block list** / **Move to allow list**. ### Bulk add websites Click **Bulk add websites...** to open the website picker: | Panel | What it does | | --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Recent websites** | A checklist of sites you've visited recently, with a **Filter...** box. Tick the ones you want. | | **Paste or import list...** | Paste a list into the text area (**one website per line...**) or click **Load .txt file...** to import a text file. Lists exported from FocusMe are understood, including their type and match settings. | Choose a **Target Type** and **Match** for the selection, then click **Done**. The footer shows **N selected** and a **Clear All** link. Browser-internal pages (such as `about:` or `chrome://` URLs) are never offered. ### Editing a Row Click any row to open the inline editor (**Click a row to edit its type and match**), where you can change its **TYPE**, **VALUE** and **MATCH**. ## Target Types and Match Types Each website entry has a target type and a match type. | Target type | Matches against | Use when | | ----------- | -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **URL** | The web address in the browser | You know the domain or path to block | | **Keyword** | The web address **and** the page title | You want to catch a topic wherever it appears — e.g. `minecraft` blocks any page with that word in its URL or title | Addresses are compared with `https://`, a leading `www.` and any trailing `/` removed, so write entries without them. | Match type | How it works | Example | | --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | | **Contains** | The default. An entry that is a bare domain — it has a dot and no slash, space or colon — is matched **as a domain**: `reddit.com` covers `reddit.com` and its subdomains such as `old.reddit.com`, but not `notreddit.com`. Any other entry, such as the path `youtube.com/shorts` or the bare word `game`, is a plain substring test and matches wherever that text appears in the address. | `reddit.com` | | **Exact** | The entry must match the whole value | `example.com/login` | | **Starts With** | The value must begin with the entry | `mail.` | | **Ends With** | The value must end with the entry. The whole address is tested, path included, so it only fires when the address ends there: `.onion` blocks `example.onion` but not `example.onion/page`. To catch a whole domain ending wherever it appears, use a **Regex** entry such as `\.onion(/\|$)`. | `.onion` | | **Regex** | A regular expression — see [Regular Expressions](/advanced/regex) | `(^\|\.)(tiktok\|instagram)\.com` | The two **Contains** behaviours are easy to mix up, and which one you get depends only on the entry itself. `reddit.com` is a bare domain, so it is matched as a domain and does **not** block `notreddit.com`. `game` has no dot, so it is a substring and blocks `gamestop.com` as well as `game.com`. Adding a path turns an entry into a substring test too: `reddit.com/r/gaming` matches wherever that text appears. If you need a domain boundary on something that is not a bare domain, use a **Regex** entry such as `(^|\.)reddit\.` — see [Regular Expressions](/advanced/regex). ## Partial Blocking Add a path rather than a domain to block part of a site while allowing the rest: * `youtube.com/shorts` — blocks Shorts but allows normal YouTube videos * `reddit.com/r/gaming` — blocks one subreddit only [See the Partial Blocking guide →](/guides/partially-block-websites) ## Saved Lists The **Lists:** row shows FocusMe's ready-made lists (social media, news, adult content and so on) as chips. Click a chip to load its sites into the current list; click it again to unload them. If a list exists for both websites and applications, FocusMe asks whether to load it on the other tab too. * **Save as list** — saves the current targets as a reusable list of your own. * **Manage lists...** — opens a menu with **Save current targets as list...**, **Import list from file...** and **Restore defaults** (resets the built-in lists to their original content; your own lists are untouched). Each list can also be edited, exported or deleted from here. ## Allowed List and Blocking Everything Click **Advanced** (*allow list, block all, block methods, penalty*) to reveal the list role switch and the blocking behaviour options. * The segmented control switches between the **Blocked** list and the **Allowed** list. The blocked list takes the name of the rule mode where relevant — for example **Limit List** on a Time Limit interval — and the counts are shown on each segment. Anything on the allowed list takes priority over the blocked list. * Tick **Block every website except my allowed list** to block the whole internet and allow only the sites you add to the allowed list. The tab then shows only the allowed list. **Example:** block every website but allow `docs.google.com`, `github.com` and `stackoverflow.com` for a coding session. When blocking every website, allow any sites you need for signing in (SSO providers, OAuth redirects) or you may lock yourself out of your work tools. ### Similarity protection When you're viewing the allowed list, a **Similarity protection** setting (**Off** / **Low** / **Medium** / **High**) closes the allowed-list loophole: an allowed website must differ enough from every blocked entry, so near copies of blocked sites can't be waved through. **Low** rejects only near duplicates of blocked entries, **Medium** still lets specific pages and single videos through, and **High** allows only long, very specific links. An allowed-list entry that would be caught by the block list is marked **Blocked:** and cannot be used. ## Blocking Behaviour The **Blocking behaviour** panel (under **Advanced**) sets the **Block action** for websites — what happens when you open a blocked site: | Action | What happens | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Show block page** | Replaces the page with the FocusMe block page inside the tab. The default and most visible option. | | **Close the tab** | Closes the browser tab containing the blocked site. | | **Open new tab** | Redirects the blocked tab to a new tab page. | | **Go to home** | Redirects the blocked tab to the browser's home page. | | **Network block** | Blocks the site at the network level so the page fails to load (Windows). Falls back to closing the tab if network blocking is unavailable. | The same panel also holds the **Penalty** checkbox, which escalates to blocking all internet after repeated violations — see [Penalty](/concepts/plans-overview#penalty). Whichever action you choose, a blocked site stays blocked in private/incognito windows, in other supported browsers, and behind URL shorteners or redirects. ## Browser Addon Website blocking relies on the FocusMe browser addon, which reports the pages you open to the app and applies the block action inside the browser. Install it from **Settings > Browsers** — only browsers found on your computer are listed, and each button opens the correct install page. If a plan is running and a browser has no addon, FocusMe offers to install it for you. **Addon Verification** (also in **Settings > Browsers**) decides what happens when a browser is used without a working addon, from **Off** through **Basic** and **Standard** to **Strict**, which closes unverified browser tabs until the addon is installed. [Learn more about the browser addon →](/advanced/browser-extension) ## Tips * **Start broad, add exceptions.** It's often easier to block every website and allow what you need than to chase each distracting site individually. * **Use Keyword for stubborn sites.** A site that hides behind mirrors, shorteners or embedded players is easier to catch by a word in its title. * **Combine with app blocking.** If you block `youtube.com` but have a YouTube desktop app installed, block that too — see [Blocking Applications](/concepts/blocking-applications). * **Use Regex for patterns.** [Regular Expressions](/advanced/regex) let one entry cover many sites. # Break Screen Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/break-screen The full-screen overlay shown during Screen Breaks, Pomodoro breaks and while the entire computer is blocked. The Break Screen is a full-screen overlay that covers your display when a break starts. FocusMe shows it for **Screen Break** intervals, **Pomodoro** breaks, the **Screen break after session** of a Quick Timer, and while a plan set to **Block entire computer** is active. ## What's displayed * The **plan name** that triggered the break. * **Take a break! You can continue in …** with a countdown to the end of the break. * **Skip available in …** while a minimum break time is still running (see below). * On a Pomodoro plan with **Wait for User** on, the screen reads **Waiting for User** at the end of the break and **(Touch mouse to continue)** — the next focus phase starts when you move the mouse. * The current time and date, so you stay oriented. ## Controls Which buttons appear depends on the plan's type and [protection](/concepts/plan-protection): | Control | Description | | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Extend Time** | Quick Timer plans only. Add more time to the session or break. | | **Skip Break** | End the break early, or postpone it. Hidden while a minimum break time is running, when the plan's skip limit for the day is used up, or when skipping and pausing are **Enforced** or **Disallowed** and you have no accountability partner who can override. | | **Stop Plan** | Stop the plan entirely. FocusMe asks **Are you sure you want to stop this plan? This will disable the plan completely.** and then presents the plan's stop challenge. | | **Assisted Stop** | Ask an accountability partner or FocusMe support to approve stopping the plan. See [Assisted Stop](#assisted-stop). | ### Postpone or Skip? Clicking **Skip Break** opens **Postpone or Skip?** (or just **Skip?** / **Postpone?** if the plan allows only one): * **Postpone** delays the break. You choose how long under **Set postpone length**, within the plan's **Pause length**, and the break returns afterwards. Each postponement uses one of the plan's daily pauses. * **Skip** ends the break now. You can add a note first (**Add note for skip break (Optionally):**), which is useful for later review. Each action uses the matching protection from the plan: postponing uses the **Pause / Postpone break** challenge and skipping uses the **Skip break** challenge. ## Minimum break time Screen Break intervals can set a minimum break with **skippable after** in the rule settings (0 means no minimum). While it is running the screen shows **Skip available in …** and the **Skip Break** button is hidden, so you take at least a short rest even when skipping is allowed. ## Challenges If the action you chose is protected, a challenge appears on the Break Screen: * **Random** — **Enter these N characters:** (or **Enter these N characters perfectly:** when **Perfect** is on, in which case a typo starts you over). * **Password** — **Enter password:**. * **Enforced** — the button isn't available at all. If the action has **Partner Override** on and you have an accountability partner, FocusMe shows **Your plan has enforced protection. Request your accountability partner to approve skipping this break.** and offers to send the request to your partner instead. See [Accountability Partner](/concepts/accountability-partner). With **Enforced** skip and pause protection and no partner override, the break must run to the end. Check your break durations before choosing **Lock it Down** or setting these actions to Enforced. ## Assisted Stop **Assisted Stop** lets someone else approve stopping the plan when you can't (or shouldn't) do it yourself: 1. Click **Assisted Stop** on the Break Screen. 2. Tick the plan under **Select plans to request an assisted stop for:** and enter a **Reason:**. 3. Click the main button to send the request to your accountability partners (it reads **Add Accountability Partner** if you don't have one yet), or click **Send Request to FocusMe** to send it to the FocusMe team. 4. Partners can approve by email, or give you a code to enter. Approved plans stop automatically. ## Blank screen during breaks Pomodoro plans have a **Blank screen during breaks** option (on the Pomodoro page of the Plan Wizard and in the Pomodoro start dialog). When it's on, the Break Screen covers the display for every break; when it's off, breaks run in the background with the [Timer Window](/concepts/timer-window) showing the countdown. Breaks are part of your productivity system, not an interruption. Use them to rest your eyes, stretch and reset. # FocusMe Coach Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/coach Get personalised productivity insights and focus coaching from an AI analysis of your anonymous activity data. FocusMe Coach analyses your screen-time patterns and gives you actionable coaching to improve your focus. It identifies your biggest distractions, highlights your working patterns, and recommends specific FocusMe plans and tasks — which you can apply with one click. Open it with the **Coach** button in the sidebar or the **Coach** item in the tray icon menu — Coach opens in its own window. It requires a FocusMe account, so you'll be asked to log in if you haven't already. ## Enabling Coach Coach works from anonymised usage data, so the first time you open it FocusMe asks for your consent in the **Enable Coach** dialog: *Get a personalised report on your digital habits, powered by your real activity data.* It explains that this requires collecting anonymous usage data, stored under a random token that cannot be traced back to you, and that you can disable it or delete your data at any time in Settings. * **Yes, Enable** switches on **Coach & Anonymous Data Collection** and opens Coach. * **Maybe Later** closes the dialog; you'll be asked again next time. * **Log In** appears instead of **Yes, Enable** when you're not logged in. You can change your mind at any time with **Coach & Anonymous Data Collection** in **Settings → System** or in the Coach Settings dialog. ### Regional defaults Until you set it yourself, your region decides the starting position of **Coach & Anonymous Data Collection**. In the **EU, EEA and UK** it starts **off** and nothing is collected until you explicitly opt in by choosing **Yes, Enable**. In other regions it starts **on**, and you can turn it off whenever you like. FocusMe reads your region from your operating system's locale, and falls back to the stricter EU/EEA/UK default when it cannot tell. ## Generating a report 1. Pick a period from the date dropdown: **Today**, **Yesterday**, **This Week**, **Last Week**, **Last 5 Days**, **Last 7 Days**, **Last 14 Days**, **This Month** or **Last 30 Days**. 2. Optionally fill in **Add context**, **Personal update (optional)** and **What are you working on? (optional)** to tell the coach about yourself (see below). 3. Click **Generate Report**. FocusMe first shows **Uploading data...** while it sends any pending activity, then **Analysing...** while the report is written. Before the report is generated you may see **Help your coach give better advice**, a quick form with a **Personal update** ("How's it going? Any wins or struggles this week?") and **What are you working on?** ("Projects, deadlines, goals you're focused on right now"). Fill it in and click **Generate Full Report**, or **Skip**. The bottom of the window shows **N / 3 reports used today** — you can generate up to three full reports a day, and the counter resets each day. On an existing report the main button becomes **Regenerate**. Coach needs at least two days of activity data — with less, it shows *Not enough activity data yet - need at least 2 days. Check back tomorrow!* A full week is better: the more data the coach has, the more accurate its patterns and recommendations. ## Context and work context Below the date row you can give the coach information that screen time alone can't capture. Everything here is saved for next time. | Option | Description | | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Add context** / **Edit context** | A free-text description of you and your goals, for example "I work from home, my goal is to reduce social media, I use two monitors". To track personal devices separately add a line such as `PERSONAL DEVICES: GymPC, MediaCentre`. | | **Setup wizard** | A five-step **Context Setup** that asks what you do, your typical work hours, your main goals with FocusMe, your biggest challenge and anything else the coach should know, then writes the context for you. | | **Personal update (optional)** | How you're feeling and what's on your mind this week. | | **What are you working on? (optional)** | Projects, deadlines and priorities you need to focus on. | Under **Advanced**: | Option | Description | | ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Include Plans (recommended)** | Include your FocusMe plans so the coach can evaluate how well they work. | | **Include Tasks (recommended)** | Include your [Tasks](/concepts/tasks) and their status so the coach can help with productivity and task management. | | **Hide app, website & device names** | Share only usage counts, not specific names. Increases privacy but reduces report detail; not recommended. | | **Git repositories** | Click **Add folder** to point the coach at the repositories you work in. Commit messages from your own commits in the report period are shared with the coach so it can see what you actually worked on. Requires Git to be installed (**Git was not found on this computer** is shown otherwise). | Add your goals, projects and tasks in the Tasks tab and your coach will reference them in reports. ## Reading a report A report opens with a headline, then the full analysis. Depending on how the report was generated you may first see a short preview with a **Read Full Report** button. Reports typically cover: * a quick summary and your headline numbers for the period, * your top apps and websites, * key findings about your habits, ordered by impact, and * specific FocusMe plan recommendations with an estimate of the time you could save. Plan names and task names appear directly in the report, and the coach adapts its advice to your context — for example it won't tell a night-shift worker that overnight computer use is a problem. ### Suggested changes Under **SUGGESTED CHANGES** the coach lists actions it recommends — **New plan**, **New task**, **Edit task**, **Update context** or **Replace context**. Each has: * **Apply** — opens **Apply Change?** with a preview; confirm to apply it immediately. Applied items are marked **(applied)** and the button changes to **Done**. * **Decline** — opens **Decline Suggestion?** where you can add an optional reason ("I prefer my current settings..."). This helps the coach avoid repeating suggestions you've already considered. ### Ask your coach Below the report, **ASK YOUR COACH** is a chat about that report. Type in **Ask about your report...** and click **Send**; **Clear chat** removes the conversation. ### Feedback After reading, the coach asks **Was this report helpful?** with **👍 Yes** / **👎 No**. You can add a short comment; feedback is anonymous and helps improve the Coach. ## Managing reports Reports are saved on your device so you can revisit them offline. * Use the **previous** and **next** arrows to move between saved reports. * Click the delete icon, then **Sure?** to remove the current report. * Right-click the report text for **Copy** and **Select All**. * **Save as PDF** exports the current report. * If reports are missing on this device (for example after a reinstall), the Coach Settings dialog offers **Sync from server**. ## Coach Settings Click the gear (**Coach settings**) in the Coach window. | Setting | Description | | -------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Coach & Anonymous Data Collection** | The master switch for Coach. Also available in **Settings → System**. | | **Reminder to run Coach Report** | Generate reports automatically and notify you when they're ready: **Off**, **Weekly**, **Weekdays**, **Daily** or **Custom** (choose the days). | | **Auto-generate full reports while I keep reading them** | Once you open a full report, the next ones are generated for you automatically. If two go unread, the coach goes back to short previews. | | **Notification Position** | Where Coach notifications appear: **Top Left**, **Top Right**, **Bottom Left** or **Bottom Right**. | | **Sync from server** | Shown under **Reports missing on this device**; downloads your saved reports. | ## Auto-generated reports With a reminder schedule set, Coach generates reports in the background and shows a notification with a headline teaser when one is ready. Click the notification to open it. Reports generated this way start as short previews; enable **Auto-generate full reports while I keep reading them** to get full reports as long as you keep opening them. ## Data and privacy * Coach only runs when **Coach & Anonymous Data Collection** is on. Until then, no activity data is uploaded. * Only application names and website domains are shared, never window titles. Turn on **Hide app, website & device names** to share usage counts only. * Your identity is replaced with a random anonymous token before data leaves your device. The token cannot be traced back to your FocusMe account. * **Delete My Data** in **Settings → System** permanently deletes your anonymous usage data from FocusMe's servers. Locally saved reports are not affected. * Switching the setting off stops collection and uploads immediately; your existing reports remain on your device. ## Subscription notes Coach is included with current FocusMe subscriptions. If your subscription is on legacy pricing you may see a **Complimentary Coach access** banner or a notice that **Coach requires a current pricing plan**, with an **Update plan** link to your account. # Plan Protection Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/plan-protection Make your plans tamper-resistant — pick a preset on the How strict step, or fine-tune every challenge from a one-click stop to Enforced. 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 — with strong protection you genuinely cannot bypass blocking, even when you want to. You set protection on the **How strict** step (Step 3) of the Plan Wizard. The Plans list shows the result as a tier name with a short summary, such as **Gentle Guidance** · *5 chars to stop · pauses free*. ## Presets Step 3 opens with four cards. Each one sets every challenge at once; new plans start on **Gentle Guidance**. | Preset | Stopping | Pausing | Skipping a break | Adding to the whitelist | | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | ----------------------- | | **Unlocked** | One click | Free | One click | One click | | **Gentle Guidance** | 5 random characters | Free | 5 random characters | 5 random characters | | **Firm but Flexible** | 2 minute wait, then 10 random characters | 6 random characters · 3 pauses a day, 15 minutes each | 4 random characters | 12 random characters | | **Lock it Down** | 10 minute wait, then 25 random characters typed perfectly | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed | In the app's own words: * **Unlocked** — *Blocks just the same - but stopping is always one click. Pure willpower.* * **Gentle Guidance** — *Type 5 random characters to stop or whitelist - a decision, not a reflex. Pause freely.* * **Firm but Flexible** — *Stopping takes a 2 minute wait, then 10 random characters. 3 pauses a day when you need one.* * **Lock it Down** — *Stopping takes a 10 minute wait, then 25 random characters typed perfectly. No pauses or workarounds.* Every preset leaves the plan unprotected while it's on standby or disabled, so you can still edit it between sessions. If a plan's settings don't match any card — because you fine-tuned it — it shows as **Custom**. None of the presets makes stopping impossible. As the page says: *Want no exit at all? Set stopping to Enforced under Customize - it cannot be undone until the plan ends.* ## Customize Click **Customize** (*fine-tune each challenge individually*) to set each action separately. A summary strip at the top describes the result — for example *stop: 10 m wait, then 25 perfect random characters · no pausing · no whitelist additions* — and **Back to presets** returns to the cards. | Section | What it protects | Extra settings | | ------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Protection when active** | *Challenge to stop the plan while active* | **Stop delay when active (hh:mm)** — a wait served before the challenge (see [Wait-first stopping](#wait-first-stopping)). **Apply active protection before start (hh:mm)** — use the active protection during the run-up to a scheduled start, while the plan is still on standby. | | **Protection when on standby** | *Challenge to stop the plan while on standby* — outside its scheduled hours | **Stop delay when on standby (hh:mm)** | | **Skip break** | *Challenge to skip a break screen* on Screen Break and Pomodoro plans | **Skip limit (Per day)** — or **Unlimited** | | **Pause** / **Postpone break** | *Challenge to pause the plan*. On plans with a break screen the action is **Postpone break** instead — the same mechanism. | **Offer to Pause when blocked** — show a **Pause plan?** offer when you hit a blocked site (off by default). **Pause limit (Per day)** and **Pause length (hh:mm)**. | | **Add to whitelist** | *Challenge to add sites or apps while plan is enabled* | | | **Edit protection** | *Challenge to edit the plan in any state or delete when stopped* | | ### Challenge levels Each section has a segmented picker: * **Unprotected** — no challenge; one click. * **Random** — type a string of random characters. Set **Random characters required** (1–2000). Tick **Perfect** to require flawless entry — *If you make a typo you'll have to start again!* Tick **Partner Override** to *allow an accountability partner to override this protection*. * **Password** — enter a password you set here. To change a password-protected setting later you must enter the current password. * **Enforced** — for stopping and editing: the action is impossible until the plan ends. Choosing it shows a warning, for example *Stopping the plan while active will not be possible. With a 24/7 schedule and no end date, you will never be able to stop this plan.* On a Quick Timer or Pomodoro: *Stopping the plan will not be possible until the timer runs out.* * **Disallowed** — for skipping, pausing and whitelisting: the action is removed entirely; the button doesn't appear. **Edit protection** can only be set to **Enforced** together with **Partner Override (required)** — an [accountability partner](/concepts/accountability-partner) is then the only way to change the plan. ## Wait-first Stopping When a stop delay is set, the wait comes **before** the challenge: 1. Choose **Stop**. The plan keeps blocking and the countdown starts; right-click the plan to **Cancel Stop** if you change your mind. 2. When the wait is over, FocusMe notifies you: **Ready to stop** — *The wait for "Plan" is over - complete the challenge to stop it.* 3. The challenge is unlocked for five minutes. Complete it and the plan stops; miss the window and choosing **Stop** again starts a new wait. The wait keeps counting if the plan is paused, and FocusMe won't offer a pause while a stop countdown is running. With stopping set to **Enforced**, **Stop** leads to [Assisted Stop](#assisted-stop) instead. ## Editing Running Plans You can edit a plan while it's running — but only to make it **stricter**. You can switch an interval's rule mode to **Block**, choose a stricter website block action, lengthen a Quick Timer, raise a challenge level, or reduce pause limits. Anything that would weaken the plan is snapped back. If you have accountability partners, weakening changes are sent to them for approval instead (*These changes will require approval from an accountability partner before they can be applied.*). ## Assisted Stop If you're locked out by a protected plan and genuinely need to regain access, **Assisted Stop** lets someone else approve stopping it. Right-click the plan and choose **Assisted Stop**, or click **Assisted Stop** on the [break screen](/concepts/break-screen). The dialog asks you to **Select plans to request an assisted stop for:** — tick the protected plans you want stopped — and to give a **Reason:** (*Your partner or FocusMe may require a reason to approve your request*). Then choose who approves it: * **Your accountability partners** — with partners configured, the main button sends the request to them. They can approve it by email or give you a code to enter. Partners are active 24 hours after being added; stop all plans to activate them immediately. If you have no partner yet, the button reads **Add Accountability Partner** instead and takes you to [Settings > Accountability](/concepts/accountability-partner). * **Send Request to FocusMe** — the link beneath the button sends the request to the FocusMe team instead. Plans stop automatically when the request is approved. FocusMe does not provide 24/7 support, so an accountability partner is the faster route; support may also reduce the plan's protection or set a custom password rather than stopping it outright. If you find yourself asking for assisted stops regularly, loosen the plan's protection instead. ## Tips for Effective Protection 1. **Climb the ladder.** Start on **Gentle Guidance**, move to **Firm but Flexible**, then **Lock it Down**. Only reach for **Enforced** once you trust your schedule. 2. **Test before committing.** Run a plan on **Unlocked** for a day to check its targets, schedule and rule mode, then raise the protection. 3. **Set an end date.** With Enforced stopping on a 24/7 weekly schedule and no end date, the plan can never be stopped — the wizard warns you, so heed it. 4. **Use pause limits as a middle ground.** **Firm but Flexible** gives you three 15-minute pauses a day: relief when you need it, without a free exit. 5. **Lock your accountability partners.** If you rely on **Partner Override**, use **Lock Accountability Partners** in **Settings > Accountability** so you can't quietly add a more lenient one. 6. **Add a financial cost.** A [Self-Imposed Penalty](/concepts/self-imposed-penalty) can charge you when you use an assisted stop. [See the step-by-step guide →](/guides/protect-plan-from-yourself) # Plans Overview Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/plans-overview Understand how FocusMe plans work — the building blocks of focus and distraction control. Everything in FocusMe revolves around **plans**. A plan is a set of rules that decides what gets blocked, when, and how hard it is to switch off. ## The Plans Dashboard When you open FocusMe you land on the **Plans** tab, titled **Manage Your Plans**. The toolbar has three buttons: **Quick Setup** (shown only while you have no plans), **Plan Library**, and **+ Add a Plan**. ### The list Each plan is a row with four columns: | Column | What it shows | | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Now** | A progress ring. It fills as a running plan progresses, counts down to the next start while on standby, and shows a lock glyph for a plain Block plan. It turns amber when the plan is paused, waiting, or running out of time. | | **Name** | The plan name with a counts line beneath it, such as `17 sites · 1 app · 2 allowed`, `Entire computer`, `All websites`, or `No targets`. | | **When it runs** | The timing in plain words — `Always on`, `Timer 1h 0m`, `Weekly`, `Pomodoro`, `Multi-Day` — with the rule mode beneath it (for example `• Block`). | | **How strict** | The protection tier — **Unlocked**, **Gentle Guidance**, **Firm but Flexible**, **Lock it Down**, or **Custom** — and a summary such as `8 chars to stop · pauses free`. | To the right of the columns sit a status pill (**Active**, **Standby**, **Paused**, **Break**, **Waiting**, **Expired**, or **Off**), a round play/stop button, and a gear icon. Clicking different parts of a row takes you to different places: * **Single click** the ring, name, timing, strictness, or status to open the plan's **drawer** (below). * **Double-click** the name to open the plan in the Plan Wizard. * Click the ring or the **When it runs** cell to jump straight to the wizard's **When it runs** step; click **How strict** to jump to that step; click a counts segment such as `12 sites` to open **What to block** at that list. * **Right-click** for the [context menu](/guides/manage-plans). ### The drawer A single click expands a row into an inline drawer with a 0–24 h track for today and three columns: * **WHAT IT BLOCKS** — the targets, with an **Edit blocks** link * **HOW STRICT** — the protection summary, with **Edit protection** * **COMING UP** — the plan's next changes today (or **Nothing scheduled**), with **Edit schedule** A pencil beside the name renames the plan in place — press Enter to keep the new name or Esc to cancel. ### Tiles, search, and sorting The icons at the top right of the list give you: * **List / tiles toggle** — tiles show the same ring, name, tier, and status pill in a grid. Click a tile to expand it full-width with the same drawer content, and drag tiles to rearrange them. * **Search** — click the magnifier or press **Ctrl+F** and type in **Search plans...** to filter the list. * **Sort** — choose **Custom order** (your drag order) or **Name**, and toggle **Group by status** to split the list into **RUNNING**, **READY**, and **OFF** groups with collapsible headers. Your view mode, sort, grouping, and collapsed groups are remembered between launches. ### The Today panel Above the list, a collapsible **TODAY** strip summarises the day: how many plans are blocking now, when the next change happens, and one 0–24 h lane per plan scheduled today — including running quick timers and delayed starts. Click a lane to reveal that plan in the list. The panel is hidden when nothing is scheduled today. ## Anatomy of a Plan Every plan is built in the Plan Wizard, which has four steps: **What to block**, **When it runs**, **How strict**, and **Review**. ### 1. Targets — What to block The **Websites** and **Applications** tabs each hold a **Blocked** list and an **Allowed** list. Type a site or app into the add row and click **Add**, use **Bulk add websites...** or **Pick from installed apps...** for the full pickers, or load a ready-made list from the **Lists:** row. Ways to set up targets: * **Block some websites or apps** — add them to the **Blocked** list * **Block everything except a few** — turn on **Block every website except my allowed list** (or the app equivalent) and put the exceptions on the **Allowed** list * **Block entire computer** — under **Advanced**, lock out everything (used for enforced breaks) Website entries can match by **URL** or **Keyword** (URL and page title); apps by **Application Name**, **Process Name**, **Process Path**, **Window Title**, and more. Click a row to change its type and match. See [Blocking Websites](/concepts/blocking-websites) and [Blocking Applications](/concepts/blocking-applications). ### 2. Schedule and rule modes — When it runs Choose how the plan is timed: | Timing | Behaviour | | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Quick Timer** | Start it yourself; runs for a set duration, with an optional delay before it starts | | **Weekly Schedule** | A recurring weekly timetable, e.g. Mon–Fri 9–5 | | **Pomodoro** | Structured focus/break cycles, e.g. 25 minutes of work then a 5-minute break | | **Multi-Day Plan** | A different schedule for each day of a sequence — ideal for challenges | Each time block on a Weekly Schedule or Multi-Day Plan has its own **rule mode**, chosen on the timeline: | Rule mode | Behaviour | | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Block** | Targets are completely inaccessible while the block runs | | **Time Limit** | You get a budget of allowed time (e.g. 30 min per day); when it's spent, targets are blocked | | **Session Limit** | Limits how many sessions you can have, how long each lasts, and the wait between them | | **Screen Break** | Locks the whole computer for a break at regular intervals | So one plan can block social media during work, allow a time limit at lunch, and set a session limit in the evening. Rule settings are edited inline on the same page. See [Rule Modes](/concepts/rule-types) and [Schedule Modes](/concepts/schedule-modes). ### 3. Protection — How strict Four presets cover most needs: | Preset | What it means | | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Unlocked** | Blocks just the same, but stopping is always one click | | **Gentle Guidance** | Type 5 random characters to stop or whitelist; pause freely. The default for new plans | | **Firm but Flexible** | Stopping takes a 2-minute wait, then 10 random characters; 3 pauses a day | | **Lock it Down** | A 10-minute wait, then 25 random characters typed perfectly; no pauses or workarounds | Click **Customize** to set each challenge individually — stopping while active or on standby, skipping breaks, pausing, adding to the whitelist, and editing the plan. The list shows **Custom** when no preset matches. See [Plan Protection](/concepts/plan-protection). ### 4. Review The last step lists **Blocks**, **Schedule**, and **Protection** with an **Edit** link for each, plus **Devices** when you're logged in. An **Options** expander holds the description, notifications, floating timer, and idle timeout. Click **Create & Enable** to create the plan and start it, or **Create** to create it and leave it off. (On steps 1–3 the same secondary button reads **Create now**.) ## Running Multiple Plans You can run any number of plans at once. Common combinations: * **Focus at Work** — blocks social media Mon–Fri 9–5 (Weekly Schedule + Block) * **Screen Breaks** — a 5-minute break every 45 minutes (Screen Break) * **Evening Wind-Down** — blocks everything after 10 pm (Block entire computer + Lock it Down) * **Limit Social Media** — 30 minutes of social media a day (Time Limit) Plans are independent — starting or stopping one does not affect the others. The **Today** panel shows how they overlap. ## Penalty The **Penalty** punishes repeated attempts to open blocked targets. Once you have been blocked a set number of times within the reoffence window, FocusMe blocks *all* apps (on the Applications tab) or *all* internet access (on the Websites tab) for the penalty duration. Turn it on in step 1 (**What to block**): expand **Advanced**, and in the **Blocking behaviour** panel tick **Penalty**. The **Penalty Configuration** dialog has three settings: | Setting | Description | | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Number of blocks before penalty** | How many times you must be blocked before the penalty kicks in | | **Reoffence window (hh:mm)** | How quickly the blocks must follow each other to count. Wait longer than this between attempts and the count starts again | | **Penalty duration (hh:mm)** | How long the penalty block lasts | A penalty blocks everything, not just the targets in the plan — you may lose unsaved work. Combine it with plan protection so you can't simply stop the plan to escape it. ## Idle Timeout **Idle Timeout** stops the clock while your computer is idle, so stepping away from your desk doesn't eat into a time budget or trigger an unnecessary screen break. It is on by default and matters most for **Time Limit**, **Session Limit**, and **Screen Break** plans. Find it in the **Review** step under **Options**. ## Notifications Each plan has its own notification checkboxes, also under **Review → Options**: * **Status Change** — the plan started, stopped, or paused * **Time Limit Usage** — progress against the budget, on plans with a Time Limit interval * **Soon Starting** — advance warning before a scheduled plan activates * **Soon Ending** — warning before a session or time block ends * **Fixed Intervals** — periodic reminders that the plan is active Two further options live alongside them: **Show Timer** displays the floating [timer window](/concepts/timer-window) while the plan runs, and **Idle Timeout** is described above. Global notification settings — position, sounds, and quiet hours — are in [Settings → Notification](/concepts/settings#notification). # Rule Modes Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/rule-types How FocusMe enforces your plan — Block, Time Limit, Session Limit or Screen Break — and how to give each schedule interval its own mode. The **rule mode** decides what "blocked" means for a plan. You choose it on the **When it runs** step (Step 2) of the Plan Wizard — for a Quick Timer it applies to the whole session, and on a Weekly Schedule or Multi-Day Plan each interval on the timeline has its own mode. | Mode | What it does | | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Block** | Targets are completely inaccessible while the interval is active | | **Time Limit** | You get a budget of time with your targets, then they're blocked until the period resets | | **Session Limit** | Limits how many times you can open your targets, with a wait between sessions | | **Screen Break** | Forces you away from the screen at regular intervals | Whenever a plan uses a mode with settings, the settings appear inline on Step 2 as a sentence you fill in. ## One Plan, Multiple Modes On a **Weekly Schedule** or **Multi-Day Plan**, select an interval on the timeline and use the segmented control beside it (**Block** / **Time Limit** / **Session Limit** / **Screen Break**) to set that interval's mode. A single plan can: * **Block** social media completely during morning focus (9am–12pm) * allow a **Time Limit** of 30 minutes at lunch (12pm–1pm) * apply a **Session Limit** in the evening (6pm–10pm) Time limits and session limits can be set to reset when each interval starts (**per Interval**), so each interval is a fresh budget. The timeline labels each interval with its mode, and the block list on Step 1 takes the mode's name — for example **Limit List** for a Time Limit interval. On a **Quick Timer**, the **Rule Mode** control on Step 2 sets one mode for the whole session. **Pomodoro** plans always **Block** during focus periods. While a plan is running, its rule mode can only be changed to **Block**, which is stricter than every other mode. ## Block The simplest and strictest option. While the interval is active, all targets are completely inaccessible — no budget, no exceptions. **Best for:** deep work, sites or apps you never want during certain hours, parental controls. ## Time Limit Gives you a **budget** of time with your targets. Once it runs out, the targets are blocked until the period resets. The settings row reads **Allow** \[h] \[m] **per** \[period], with **+5m** and **+15m** buttons for quick adjustments. The period can be **Day**, **Week**, **Month**, **Interval** (resets each time the schedule interval starts) or a **Custom period** of your own length. **Remind me at** lets you add reminder chips (**+ Add reminder**) such as *10 m left* — FocusMe notifies you when that much of the budget remains, and clicking the notification skips the remaining time and starts the block early. **Examples:** 30 minutes of social media per day · 4 hours of gaming per week · 15 minutes of news per interval. **How it works:** 1. The interval starts and your targets are accessible; the budget counts down while you actively use them. 2. When the budget runs out, the targets are blocked. 3. When the period resets (next day, next interval, and so on), the budget refills. Time Limit tracks actual usage, not clock time. With 30 minutes of Reddit per day you get 30 minutes of active Reddit browsing — time spent elsewhere doesn't count. ## Session Limit Restricts how many times you can **open** your targets. Each time you switch to a blocked app or site counts as one session; each session has a maximum length, and there's a wait before the next one can begin. The settings row reads \[N] **sessions per** \[**Day** / **Interval**] **· up to** \[m] **each · then wait** \[m]. Set the count to **Unlimited** to allow any number of sessions and rely on the session length and wait alone. Below it, **End a session after** \[m] **of inactivity** ends a session early when you stop using the target, so an app left open in the background doesn't burn a whole session. **Remind me at** chips warn you before a session ends; clicking the notification ends the session immediately. **Example:** 5 sessions per day, up to 15 minutes each, then wait 30 minutes. **How it works:** 1. Open the target — a session starts. 2. The session ends after its maximum length, or after the inactivity timeout. 3. The wait begins — the target is blocked. 4. The wait ends — the next session is available, if any remain. 5. All sessions used — blocked until the next day or interval. **Why it works:** with a limited number of sessions you naturally delay opening the app until you genuinely need it, and the enforced wait breaks the "just one more minute" cycle. Unlike a Time Limit, which you can drain in one sitting, a Session Limit spreads your usage across the day. ## Screen Break Forces you to **step away from the computer** at regular intervals. Screen Breaks apply to the **entire computer**, not to specific apps or websites. The settings row reads **Break every** \[m] **for** \[m] **· skippable after** \[m] (*0 = no minimum*) — the last value is how much of a break must pass before the **Skip Break** button appears. **Warn me** chips (for example *2 m before*) notify you ahead of each break; clicking the notification takes the break early. Breaks are enforced with a full-screen overlay after the set period of active computer use — see [Break Screen](/concepts/break-screen). Whether a break can be skipped or postponed, and what it costs, is set on the **How strict** step — see [Plan Protection](/concepts/plan-protection). **Best for:** preventing eye strain, avoiding repetitive strain injuries, keeping your energy up through the day. Your work isn't affected during a break — everything keeps running in the background and is exactly as you left it when the break ends. Plans created in earlier versions with a **Time Goal** interval — targets blocked *until* you've spent enough time on a **Goal List** of productive apps and sites — keep working, and show their **Goal List** alongside the blocked and allowed lists on Step 1. Time Goal can't be chosen for new intervals in the wizard. ## Choosing the Right Rule Mode | I want to... | Use | | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | | Completely block distractions during work | **Block** | | Allow some distraction time but cap it | **Time Limit** | | Reduce compulsive app-checking | **Session Limit** | | Take regular breaks from the screen | **Screen Break** | | Block my PC entirely at night | **Block** + **Block entire computer** | You can mix modes across the intervals of a [Weekly Schedule](/concepts/schedule-modes#weekly-schedule) or [Multi-Day Plan](/concepts/schedule-modes#multi-day-plan), or run separate plans with different modes — they all work independently. # Schedule Modes Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/schedule-modes Control when your plans run — an on-demand Quick Timer, a Weekly Schedule, Pomodoro cycles, or a Multi-Day Plan. The **When it runs** step (Step 2) of the Plan Wizard decides when your plan is active. A segmented control at the top switches between the four timing modes: **Quick Timer**, **Weekly Schedule**, **Pomodoro** and **Multi-Day Plan**. The [rule mode](/concepts/rule-types) and its inline settings live on the same page. The start dialog and the floating timer refer to a running Quick Timer as a **session**. ## Quick Timer Start the plan yourself whenever you need to focus. It runs for a set duration, then stops automatically. **Settings on Step 2:** * **Rule Mode** — **Block**, **Time Limit**, **Session Limit** or **Screen Break** for the whole session. * **Session duration** — day, hour and minute steppers, with **+10m**, **+30m** and **Reset** buttons. * **Delay before session** — a countdown before blocking begins (for example five minutes to finish what you're doing). The plan sits on standby during the delay. * **Screen break after session** — lock the screen for a break when the session ends, **lasting** the length you set. * **Show plan start dialog** — show the start dialog each time you press play so you can adjust the duration; with it on, **Reshow on stop** reopens the dialog when the session ends so you can start another straight away. * **Countdown when computer asleep/shutdown** — keep the timer running while the computer is asleep or off, instead of pausing it. * **Scheduled Start** — tick the days on which the plan should start automatically. ### The start dialog When you press play on a Quick Timer with **Show plan start dialog** enabled, FocusMe asks how long to run: * **Delay before start** — hours and minutes before blocking begins. * **Session duration** — days, hours and minutes, plus **+10m** / **+30m** and **Reset**. * **Screen break after session** — the break to lock the screen for when the session ends. * **Reshow on stop** and **Show timer** (the floating [timer window](/concepts/timer-window)). Click **Start**. While the timer runs you can reopen the same dialog to **Apply** changes, but only in the stricter direction: the session and break can be lengthened but not shortened, and the delay can't be extended. Trying to shorten the time shows **You cannot set a time period that is less than the previous one**. ### Extend Time Need longer? Right-click the running plan and choose **Extend Time**, or use **Extend Time** on the [break screen](/concepts/break-screen): The dialog asks **Would you like to add more time for plan:** and offers the same day/hour/minute steppers and quick-add buttons. The [timer window](/concepts/timer-window) menu also has **Add 5/10/15/30 minutes** shortcuts. **Best for:** ad-hoc focus ("I need two hours"), schedules that change day to day. [See the full Quick Timer guide →](/guides/focus-sessions) ## Weekly Schedule A recurring timetable — *put your focus on autopilot*. The plan activates and deactivates by itself every week. **Settings on Step 2:** * **Day pills** — click a day to edit it. Select several days (or **Select All**) to edit them together; the header reads **Editing: Mon, Tue... (changes apply to all selected days)**. If the selected days already have different timetables, a **Different Schedules** dialog asks which one to keep for all of them. * **Presets:** chips — **24/7**, **Office Hours**, **Weekdays**, **Weekends** and **Clear** fill in common timetables in one click. * **Timeline** — drag on the timeline to add a time block; drag its edges to adjust it or use the start/end time boxes. Add as many intervals per day as you like, and give each one its own rule mode with the **Block** / **Time Limit** / **Session Limit** / **Screen Break** control — see [One plan, multiple modes](/concepts/rule-types#one-plan-multiple-modes). * **Auto enable daily** — re-enable the plan automatically each day, so stopping it only stops it for today. * **Set end date** — tick it and pick a date; the plan expires after that day. Recommended for any plan with strong protection and a 24/7 timetable. **Examples:** block social media Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm · block gaming every school night, 6pm–10pm · block every website on Saturday mornings for study. **Best for:** consistent routines, work-hour blocking, parental controls. [See the scheduler guide →](/guides/use-the-scheduler) ## Pomodoro Structured work/break cycles based on the [Pomodoro Technique](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique): focus on your work for a period of time, then take a break, and repeat. Pomodoro plans always **Block** during focus periods. **Settings on Step 2:** | Setting | Description | | ------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Pomodoro count** | The total number of pomodoros in the run | | **Pomodoro duration** | The length of each focus period | | **Short break duration** | The break between pomodoros | | **Pomodoro's per set** | After this many pomodoros you earn a long break (keep it smaller than the count) | | **Long break duration** | The break after each set | | **Scheduled Start** | Start the run automatically on the ticked days | | **Wait for User** | Don't start the next focus period until you confirm you're back | | **Blank screen during breaks** | Lock the screen during breaks so you actually step away | | **Countdown when computer asleep/shutdown** | Keep the timer running while the computer is asleep or off | | **Show plan start dialog** | Show the start dialog when you press play | | **Pomodoro Penalty** | *Restart the work timer when you visit a blocked site.* | ### The start dialog Pressing play opens a dialog with **Delay before start**, a **Pomodoros** group (**Count**, **Focus (min)**, **Short break**, **Long break**) and a live summary such as *4 × 25m focus + breaks — about 2h 0m total*, plus **Blank screen during breaks**, **Wait for user**, **Reshow on stop** and **Show timer**. Click **Start**. **Best for:** sustained focus over long periods, avoiding burnout, anyone who works well with time boxing. [See the Pomodoro guide →](/guides/pomodoro-technique) ## Multi-Day Plan A sequence of days, each with its own timetable. Day 1 is the day you start the plan, and it advances through the days automatically. **Settings on Step 2:** * **Days:** — how many days the sequence lasts. * **Numbered day pills** — click a day to edit its timeline, exactly as on a Weekly Schedule, including a rule mode per interval. Select several days to edit them together (**Editing: Day 1, Day 2... (changes apply to all selected)**); a **Different Schedules** dialog appears if they don't match. * **Quick Select** — **Select All**, **Unselect All**, **Invert Selection**, **Odd days**, **Even days**, **Select Non-empty**, **Custom** (enter an *Active sequence* and *Skip sequence* pattern) and **Clear All**. * **Show plan start dialog** — show the start dialog when you press play. ### The start dialog The dialog summarises the run (**30 days · Day 1 starts today**, **Runs until ...**) and offers **Delay before start**, **Start part-way through the sequence…** with **Start at** day pills, **Reshow on stop** and **Show timer**. **Examples:** a 30-day digital detox with gradually longer blocked hours · a revision plan with a different timetable for each day · a programme that eases restrictions as habits form. **Best for:** progressive challenges, programmes with varying daily schedules, time-limited experiments. ## Choosing the Right Schedule | I want to... | Use | | -------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | | Focus on demand, whenever I decide | **Quick Timer** | | Block distractions on a predictable weekly routine | **Weekly Schedule** | | Work in structured sprint/break cycles | **Pomodoro** | | Run a progressive multi-day programme | **Multi-Day Plan** | ## Combining Schedules You can run several plans at once, so layer them: * a **Weekly Schedule** for baseline work-hour blocking (Mon–Fri, 9–5) * a **Pomodoro** plan for structured deep-work sprints within those hours * a **Quick Timer** for ad-hoc evening focus when you need it # Self-Imposed Penalty Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/self-imposed-penalty Add a financial consequence to overriding your plans through FocusMe support. The self-imposed penalty is an optional commitment device managed on your FocusMe account. It adds a real financial cost to asking FocusMe support to stop a protected plan, so that an [Assisted Stop](/concepts/plan-protection) request is something you think about rather than a reflex. The penalty is not configured in the FocusMe app. It is set up on your account at focusme.com, and it only applies to stop requests sent to FocusMe support — not to challenges you complete yourself or to approvals from an [accountability partner](/concepts/accountability-partner). ## How it fits with Assisted Stop When a plan's protection is too strict to stop on your own, FocusMe offers **Assisted Stop** (from the plan's context menu or the [Break Screen](/concepts/break-screen)). The dialog gives you two routes: * **Partner approval** — the dialog's main button sends the request to a trusted person you have added under **Settings → Accountability**, who approves or denies it. No penalty is involved. * **Send Request to FocusMe** — the FocusMe team reviews your reason and, if approved, stops the selected plans (or lowers their protection). If you have a self-imposed penalty on your account, this is the request it applies to. FocusMe does not provide 24/7 support, so the app recommends an accountability partner for faster responses. ## Setting up a penalty 1. Log in to your [FocusMe account](https://focusme.com/my-account/?tab=accountability). 2. Open the **Self-Imposed Penalty** section. 3. Enable it and choose an amount that feels meaningful enough to make you reconsider. Once enabled, the penalty cannot be lowered or removed from the account page — that is the point. You can increase it at any time, and you can contact support if your circumstances change. ## Tips * **Start with a moderate amount.** The goal is to make an override feel costly, not to be punitive. * **Pair it with strong protection.** Use **Lock it Down** or **Enforced** stop protection so that support is genuinely the only way out. * **Consider an accountability partner instead, or as well.** A partner responds faster than support and adds human judgement rather than a fee. # Settings Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/settings Full reference for FocusMe's Settings page — General, Browsers, System, Notification, Timer, Accountability and Sync tabs. The Settings page controls FocusMe's global behaviour. Open it from the **Settings** tab in the sidebar. Options are grouped into tabs along the top: **General**, **Browsers**, **System**, **Notification**, **Timer**, and either **Accountability** (when you're logged in) or **Sync** (when you're logged out). Many protection-related settings cannot be changed while a plan is enabled. If a setting is greyed out, stop all plans first and try again. ## General ### General settings | Setting | Description | | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Start at Logon** | Launch FocusMe automatically when you log in: **None**, **Current User** or **All Users**. Not available on Linux. Must be **All Users** while **Share Settings for All Users** is on. | | **Share Settings for All Users** | Share plans and settings across every user account on this computer. Requires administrator privileges and a restart of FocusMe. | | **Restrict Logon of Users** | Restrict which user accounts can log in to this computer. Click **Allowed Users** to open the **Allowed User Accounts** dialog and tick the accounts that may sign in; unticked accounts are logged out automatically when they try. | | **Protect Guest Account** | macOS only. Protects the macOS guest account so it cannot be used to sidestep your plans. | | **Master Password** | **Disabled**, **Random Chars** or **Password**. When set, FocusMe asks for the master password before showing the main screen. See [Master Password](#master-password) below. | ### Misc settings | Setting | Description | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Start Minimized** | Start FocusMe hidden in the system tray; click the tray icon to show it. Required (and switched on automatically) when a Master Password is set. | | **Start Tab** | Which tab opens when FocusMe starts: **Plans**, **Activity** or **Tasks**. | | **Font Scale** | **Normal**, **Large** or **Extra Large**. Applied after FocusMe restarts. | | **Language** | The application language. Applied after FocusMe restarts. | | **Dark Theme** | Switch the interface to darker colours to reduce eye strain. | ### Update settings | Setting | Description | | -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Version** | Shows the installed version. **Save Diagnostics** bundles logs and diagnostic information into a file you can send to support. When logging is on, **Save Logs** saves the log files and **Disable** turns logging off. | | **Check Now** | Check for an update immediately. When one is available the row shows **Update available:** with the version and an **Install** button, followed by **Downloading...** and **Installing...** progress. | | **Change Log** | Open the change log in your browser. | | **Update Method** | **Prompt** asks before installing an update; **Automatic** installs updates without asking. | | **Update Frequency** | How often FocusMe checks for updates: **Every 4 hours**, **Daily**, **Twice weekly**, **Weekly** (default), **Every 2 weeks** or **Monthly**. | | **Early Access** | Receive early-access builds before they are released to everyone. | Updates can be installed while plans are running. The installer only refuses to install an *older* version while plans are active. See [Updates](/guides/updates). ### Other settings | Setting | Description | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Start of Week** | **Saturday**, **Sunday** or **Monday**. Used for weekly schedules, Activity and weekly counter resets. Locked while a weekly plan has recorded usage; it unlocks when the weekly counters reset. | | **Next Day Offset Hours** | When FocusMe treats a new day as starting, for plan and Activity resets: **Midnight**, **1AM**, **2AM**, **3AM** or **4AM** (default 4AM). Late-night usage counts towards the previous day. | | **Backup Settings Daily** | Back up your settings and plans to your user profile once a day. | | **Use 24 Hour Clock** | Show times in 24-hour format. When off, AM/PM is used where possible. | ### Master Password The master password protects access to FocusMe itself rather than to an individual plan. When it is set, FocusMe asks for it before allowing access to the main screen, which makes it suitable for business use or parental control. Choose one of: * **Password** — the row reveals **Password** and **Repeat password** fields; type the password into both. No separate dialog opens, and the row confirms **Passwords match** or **Passwords don't match**. * **Random Chars** — type a string of random characters (1–200 long) each time you open FocusMe. Tick **Perfect Entry** to make a single typo regenerate the string so you must start again. Setting a Master Password forces **Start Minimized** on, so FocusMe starts in the tray and asks for the password when you open it. If you forget your master password, contact [FocusMe support](https://focusme.com/contact-us/). Support can remove a master password remotely; when that happens FocusMe tells you **Your master password has been removed by FocusMe support.** Store the password in a password manager to avoid this. ## Browsers ### Browser settings | Setting | Description | | ----------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Browser Addon (Recommended)** | One button per browser installed on this computer — **Chrome**, **Edge**, **Firefox**, **Brave**, **Opera**, **Opera GX**, **Vivaldi**, **Zen**, **LibreWolf**, **Waterfox**, **Wavebox** and, on macOS, **Safari** (installed from the Mac App Store). Click a button to open the addon install page in that browser. See [Browser Extension](/advanced/browser-extension). | | **Addon Verification** | What FocusMe does when its browser addon cannot see which website you are on. **Off** — the browser is never closed; websites may go unblocked while the addon is missing. **Basic** — if a browser runs without the addon, FocusMe warns you and then closes it. **Standard** — like Basic, and also steps in when a page cannot be checked at all (for example Incognito windows where the addon is not allowed); you always get a warning first. **Strict** — the browser closes within seconds, and only the pages needed to set the addon up stay open; the countdown is remembered across restarts. Cannot be lowered while a plan is enabled. Click the info icon for a description of each level. | | **Block Browser When Website Block Fails (Caution!)** | Block the whole browser if it does not close a blocked website on command. Might result in lost work. Always on while Addon Verification is **Strict**. | | **Block Secondary Browser Windows (Caution!)** | macOS only. Allow only one window per browser; secondary windows from the same browser are closed. Might result in lost work. | ### Block Page settings These options control the page shown in the browser when a website is blocked. | Setting | Description | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Quotes** | Which motivational quotes appear on the block page: **Built-in quotes**, **My own quotes** or **Both**. | | **My Quotes** | Your own quotes, one per line, in the form `quote \| author`. | | **Block Page Look** | Click **Preview and Customise** to open the block page in your browser, where you can change its colour scheme (**Classic**, **Dark** or **Custom colour**), add a message and switch quotes on or off. | ## System The System tab holds tamper-protection, detection, activity and data options. Some rows only appear on a particular operating system. | Setting | Description | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Protect FocusMe Process** | Restart FocusMe if it is ended with tools such as Task Manager or Activity Monitor. | | **Protect FocusMe Configuration** | Protect FocusMe's configuration files from being edited outside the app. | | **Fast Blocking** | Detect and block websites and apps faster. Uses slightly more CPU and battery. | | **Block Task Managers** / **Block Activity Monitor** | Block Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS) and similar tools completely. | | **Block Command Prompt** / **Block Terminal / iTerm** | Block the command prompt or terminal while a plan is active. | | **Disable Command Prompt/Scripts** | Windows only. Disables the command prompt and scripts system-wide. Do not enable if you are a developer. | | **Protect Terminal Commands** | Windows only. Monitor terminal windows and close them if protected keywords are detected. | | **Protect FocusMe Directories** | Prevent the FocusMe installation and settings folders from being viewed in Explorer or Finder. | | **Protect Activity** | Protect your recorded activity from being cleared or disabled. Can only be turned off when all plans are stopped. See [Activity](/concepts/activity). | | **Use Internal Clock & Get Time from Internet** | Use FocusMe's own clock, verified against the Internet, so changing the computer's clock cannot shorten a plan. If you change time zones you need to stop all plans for FocusMe to accept the change. | | **Block Date & Time Changing** / **Block Date & Time Preferences** | Block the operating system's date and time settings. Not needed when using the internal clock. | | **Block W10/W11 PC Settings** | Windows only. Block the Windows Settings app. Not needed when using the internal clock. | | **Block Users & Groups / Security & Privacy Preferences** | macOS only. Block those System Settings panes. | | **Extra Protection Service** | Windows only, requires administrator permission. **Install** a background service that automatically restarts FocusMe if it is closed. Cannot be uninstalled while plans are enabled. | | **Run in Safe Mode** | With the Extra Protection Service installed, also launch FocusMe when Windows starts in Safe Mode. | | **Enhanced Window Detection** | macOS only. Click **Enable** to grant Screen Recording permission for faster, more reliable detection of open apps and websites in the background. FocusMe does not capture, record or transmit any screen content. | | **Protect Process Suspending** | Windows only. Stop FocusMe's processes from being put into a suspended state. | | **Kill Tampering Processes** | Windows only. Detect and close processes that attempt to end or tamper with FocusMe. | | **Block 3rd Party Uninstallers** | Prevent certain third-party uninstaller apps from running. | | **Protect PowerShell History** | Windows only. Protect the PowerShell command history. | | **Protect Startup Cleaners** | Keep FocusMe set to start with the computer even if a startup cleaner disables it. | | **Check Inactive App Windows** | Block app windows that are open but not currently active. Recommended. | | **Check Secondary Browser Windows** | Block websites whenever the browser is visible, not only when it is in focus. Enables **Check Minimized Browser Windows**, which also checks browsers that are minimised or covered by a full-screen app (not usually recommended). | | **Record Activity** | Record app and website usage on this computer. Powers the Activity page, weekly recaps, Coach insights and device sync. Existing data is kept when disabled. Cannot be disabled while a plan or **Protect Activity** is enabled. | | **Protect Uninstall** | Not on Linux. Refuse to uninstall FocusMe while plans are enabled. | | **Protect Switch User** | Not on macOS. Disable "Switch User" while a plan is enabled. | | **Protect Sign Out** | Not on macOS. Protect signing out until other apps are closed or all plans are stopped. | | **Protect Clipboard** | Stop the clipboard from containing blocked websites and other disallowed commands. | | **Show 'Delete' Application Block Method (Advanced Users)** | Not on macOS. Add the **Delete** block method to the application block methods in the Plan Wizard. | | **Maximum Number of Plans** | Limit how many plans can exist. `0` means **Unlimited**. | | **Enable Import & Export of Plans** | Allow plans to be exported to and imported from `.FMP` files. Cannot be changed while a plan is enabled. See [Import & Export Plans](/guides/import-export-plans). | | **Coach & Anonymous Data Collection** | Logged in only. Share anonymised usage data to enable [Coach](/concepts/coach) reports and personalised recommendations. Data is stored under an anonymous token that cannot be traced back to your account. | | **Reminder to run Coach Report** | Generate Coach reports automatically and notify you when they are ready: **Off**, **Weekly**, **Weekdays**, **Daily** or **Custom** (pick the days). | | **Delete My Data** | Permanently delete all your anonymous usage data from FocusMe's servers. | Import/Export must be enabled here before the **Export** and **Import** items appear in the plan context menu. ## Notification | Setting | Description | | ---------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **General Notification Position** | Where FocusMe notifications appear: **Top Left**, **Top Right**, **Bottom Left** or **Bottom Right**. | | **Coach Notification Position** | Where Coach report notifications appear. | | **Play Sounds** | Play a sound when plans start, stop, pause and so on. | | **Block Notifications** | Show a message when something was blocked and why. | | **Quiet Hours** | Mute notification sounds between **Quiet Hours Start** and **Quiet Hours End**. | | **Fixed Interval Normal/Low Threshold** | The remaining time (hh:mm) that separates "normal" from "low" fixed-interval notifications. | | **Fixed Interval Notify Every (Normal)** | How often fixed-interval notifications appear while above the threshold (hh:mm), or **None**. | | **Fixed Interval Notify Every (Low)** | How often they appear below the threshold (hh:mm), or **None**. | | **Daily Screen Time Alert** | Show a notification when your daily screen time exceeds a threshold. | | **Weekday Threshold (hours)** | Hours of screen time before the alert on Monday–Friday (default 10). | | **Weekend Threshold (hours)** | Hours of screen time before the alert on Saturday–Sunday (default 4). | Per-plan notifications (**Status Change**, **Time Limit Usage**, **Soon Starting**, **Soon Ending**, **Fixed Intervals**) are ticked under **Options** on the **Review** step of the Plan Wizard. This tab controls global notification behaviour. ## Timer These options change the appearance of the floating [Timer Window](/concepts/timer-window). | Setting | Description | | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Smart Timer Display** | Only show the timer when it is actively in use, for example while a time limit is counting down or a session is in progress. | | **Show FocusMe Logo** | Show the FocusMe logo in the timer window. | | **Show Plan Name** | Show the plan name in the timer window. | | **Progress Bar Style** | How progress is displayed: **None**, **Bottom Line** or **Background Fill**. | | **Show Status Text** | Show the status text line (for example "Time limit" or "Pomodoro 2 of 4"). | | **Show Additional Text** | Show the second information line (for example how much time is left in the session). | | **Show Action Icons** | Show stop, pause and skip icons on the timer window. | | **Countdown Font Size** | Size of the countdown digits (16–40). | | **Info Font Size** | Size of the text lines (8–16). | | **Countdown Position** | Put the countdown on the **Left** or **Right** of the window. | ## Accountability Shown only when you are logged in. | Setting | Description | | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Accountability Partners** | The list of partners you have added, each with a status: **Pending** (invitation not yet confirmed), **Active in N hours - stop all plans to activate immediately** (confirmed while plans were running) or **Confirmed**. Pending partners have a **Remove** button; once a partner confirms, only they can remove themselves. | | **Add Accountability Partner** | Enter a **Partner email** and an optional **Name (optional)**, then click **Add**. The partner receives an email with a confirmation link. | | **Refresh** | Reload the partner list from your account. | | **Lock Accountability Partners** | Prevent yourself from adding or removing partners until all your plans are stopped. Once locked, the button becomes **Unlock Accountability Partners** and shows **Stop all plans to unlock**. | See [Accountability Partner](/concepts/accountability-partner) for how partners approve requests. ## Sync Shown only when you are logged out. This is the older folder-based sync; when you log in, plans, tasks, settings and activity sync through your account instead (see [Login & Sync](/guides/login-and-sync)). | Setting | Description | | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Folder Sync (legacy)** | Synchronise plans and settings between devices through a shared folder. Not available while logged in, and cannot be disabled while a plan is enabled. | | **Direction** | **Both**, **In** (only read from the folder) or **Out** (only write to the folder). | # Tasks Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/tasks Track goals, habits and to-dos inside FocusMe. Your Coach uses your tasks to give personalised recommendations. The **Tasks** tab lets you manage goals, habits and to-dos directly inside FocusMe. Unlike a standalone task app, your tasks feed into the [Coach](/concepts/coach), connecting what you want to accomplish with how you actually spend your time. Double-click the **Tasks** tab (or choose **Open in separate window**) to pop the task list out into its own window. The tray icon menu has **Open Tasks** and **Quick Add Task** shortcuts. ## Adding a task Click **Add Task** to open the **New Task** dialog. | Field | Description | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Task title** | What you need to do (required). Press Enter in the title to save. | | **Description (optional)** | Extra details. | | Priority | **High**, **Medium** or **Low**, shown as a coloured dot on the task row. | | Category | Pick an existing category or choose **New category** and type a name. | | Status | **Not Started**, **In Progress** or **Completed**. | | **Repeat:** | **None**, **Daily**, **Weekdays**, **Weekends**, **Weekly**, **Monthly** or **Custom...** (pick the days of the week). | | **Scheduled (fixed time)** | Turn on for a task that happens at a specific time. The date labels change from **From:** / **Due:** to **Start:** / **End:**. | | **All day** | Remove the time part from the dates so the task spans the whole day. | | **From:** / **Due:** | Optional start date and due date with a calendar picker, or **No start date** / **No due date**. | Click **Add Task** to save, or **Save** when editing. Double-click a task row to edit it later. ### Quick Add Task Choose **Quick Add Task** from the tray icon menu to open a small **Quick Add Task** window without bringing up the main FocusMe window. Type a title and add it straight to your list. ### Bulk Add Click **Bulk Add** to create several tasks at once. The dialog reads **One task per line. Category: …** and shows the category the tasks will be filed under (or **Uncategorized**). Paste or type your list and click **Add N Tasks**. ## Status and progress Click the checkbox on a task row to cycle its status: **Not Started** → **In Progress** → **Completed** → **Not Started**. When a task is In Progress a progress slider appears. Right-click the checkbox to **Mark complete for...** a past date, which is handy if you forgot to tick off yesterday's habit. FocusMe won't accept a future date or a date that is already completed. Completed tasks show **Completed** with the time; overdue tasks show **Overdue** with how long ago the deadline passed. ## Recurring tasks and streaks Recurring tasks reset automatically after completion, which makes them ideal for habits. The task row shows the recurrence as a small **DAILY**, **WEEKDAYS**, **WEEKENDS**, **WEEKLY**, **MONTHLY** or **CUSTOM** badge. Every completion of a recurring task counts towards a **streak**: * Up to seven consecutive completions are shown as tick marks on the row; longer runs show as a **🔥 N-day streak** (or week/month streak, depending on the recurrence). * Hover the streak to see your current run and your **Best**. * Double-click the streak to open **Completion History**, a calendar of your past completions. * Missing a period resets the streak. Set a start time on a recurring task to control when it resets. A "Morning workout" task with a 5 AM start resets at 5 AM, so completing it late at night still counts for the previous day. ## Categories Tasks can be grouped into colour-coded categories. Click the category badge on a task row to reassign it, and use the **All categories** dropdown in the filter bar to show a single category. Click the gear next to the category filter to open **Manage Categories**: * Type a **New category name** and click **Add**. * Click a category's colour swatch (**Click to change colour**) to cycle through the 12 available colours. * **set default** marks the category new tasks are filed under (**default**). * **Hide from All categories** / **Show in All categories** controls whether a category's tasks appear in the combined list. * Remove a category with its delete button and confirm **Remove?**. Its tasks move to the default category. ## Finding and sorting tasks The filter bar offers: | Control | Description | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Search tasks...** | Filter by title and description as you type. | | **All categories** | Show one category or all of them. | | **Auto-sort** | Group tasks by urgency (overdue, then due today, then future, then no date). Switch it off to drag tasks into your own order. | | **Hide future** | Hide tasks with a future start date. | | **Hide Completed** / **Completed Today** / **Show All** / **Only Completed** | Click to cycle which completed tasks are shown. | | **Sync tasks** | Tasks sync through your account when you are logged in; click to sync now. | ## Archiving, export and import The overflow menu (three dots, top right) contains: | Item | Description | | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Archive Completed** | Move all completed tasks out of the list. Archived tasks stay available to the Coach. | | **Show Archived** / **Hide Archived** | Toggle whether archived tasks are listed. | | **Export Tasks** | Save all tasks to a file. | | **Import Tasks** | Load tasks from an exported file. | Hold **Shift** while opening the menu to reveal **Delete All Tasks**. To delete a single task, hover its row, click the delete button and confirm **Yes**. ## Coach integration Your [Coach](/concepts/coach) sees your tasks (with **Include Tasks** on in the Coach context options) and uses them to give better advice. Reports can suggest new tasks or edits to existing ones as one-tap **Apply** / **Decline** actions. Keep your tasks up to date. The Coach gives more relevant recommendations when it knows what you are trying to get done. # Timer Window Source: https://docs.focusme.com/concepts/timer-window The floating timer that shows a plan's countdown and status, always on top of your other windows. The Timer Window is a small, always-on-top floating window that shows a plan's current status and countdown. It keeps you aware of your plan without opening the main FocusMe window, and its right-click menu lets you control the plan directly. ## What it shows | Element | Description | | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Countdown** | The time remaining in the current session, break, delay or time limit. Its size and position (left or right) are configurable. | | **Logo and plan name** | The FocusMe logo and the plan the timer belongs to. Either can be hidden. | | **Status text** | What the countdown means, for example **Session**, **Time limit**, **Screen break in**, **Focus until … break**, **Break**, **Pomodoro 2 of 4**, **Until session start**, **Blocked**, **Paused**, **Postpone left**, **Waiting** or **Stopping in**. | | **Additional text** | A second line with detail such as how much time is left in the session or how many pauses remain. | | **Progress indicator** | A bar or background fill showing how far through the current period you are. On Pomodoro plans it changes colour during breaks. | | **Action icons** | Small pause/resume, stop and skip icons on the timer face. | Each plan has its own Timer Window, so several can be on screen at once. ## States * **Active** — the countdown runs in full colour. * **Delay** — while a Quick Timer plan waits for its **Delay before start**, the window is greyed out and labelled **Delay**. * **Standby / inactive** — outside the plan's scheduled hours the window is greyed out. * **Paused** — the status shows **Paused** and the resume icon replaces the pause icon. * **Waiting for user** — on a Pomodoro plan with **Wait for User** on, a banner reading **Start Break** or **Start Focus** appears; click it to begin the next phase. * **Break** — on Pomodoro and Screen Break plans the status and progress colour switch to the break style. ## Right-click menu Right-click the timer to open its menu. Items appear according to the plan type and state: | Item | Description | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Add 5 minutes** / **Add 10 minutes** / **Add 15 minutes** / **Add 30 minutes** | Lengthen the current session. On a Quick Timer plan the session is extended; on a Pomodoro plan the current focus or break phase is extended. | | **Resume** | Resume a paused plan. | | **Pause** | Pause the plan, subject to its pause protection. | | **Stop** | Stop the plan, subject to its stop protection. | | **Skip to Break** | Pomodoro only, during a focus phase: jump straight to the break. | | **Skip to Focus** | Pomodoro only, during a break: end the break and start the next focus phase. | | **Restart Session** | Restart the current phase: a Quick Timer goes back to its full duration and a Pomodoro phase starts again from the beginning. | | **Hide Timer** | Hide this plan's timer window. Show it again from the plan's context menu. | Pause and Stop follow the plan's [protection](/concepts/plan-protection) exactly as they do from the Plans tab — a Random or Password challenge appears if one is set. ## Showing and hiding | Method | How | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Per plan** | In the Plan Wizard, open **Review → Options** and tick or untick **Show Timer**. The plan start dialogs for Quick Timer, Pomodoro and Multi-Day plans also have a **Show timer** checkbox. | | **Context menu** | Right-click a plan in the Plans tab and choose **Hide Timer** or **Show Timer**. | | **From the timer** | Right-click the timer and choose **Hide Timer**. | | **Automatically** | Turn on **Smart Timer Display** in **Settings → Timer** to show timers only while they are actively in use, for example while a time limit is counting down or a session is in progress. | ## Behaviour * **Always on top** — the timer floats above other windows. On macOS it is visible on every Space. * **Draggable** — click and drag to move it; FocusMe remembers the position. * **Per plan** — each plan's timer is independent. ## Customisation Everything about the timer's appearance lives in [Settings → Timer](/concepts/settings#timer): | Setting | Description | | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- | | **Smart Timer Display** | Only show the timer when it is actively in use. | | **Show FocusMe Logo** | Show or hide the logo. | | **Show Plan Name** | Show or hide the plan name. | | **Progress Bar Style** | **None**, **Bottom Line** or **Background Fill**. | | **Show Status Text** | Show or hide the status line. | | **Show Additional Text** | Show or hide the second information line. | | **Show Action Icons** | Show or hide the stop, pause and skip icons. | | **Countdown Font Size** | 16–40. | | **Info Font Size** | 8–16. | | **Countdown Position** | **Left** or **Right**. | The Timer Window is especially useful for Time Limit and Pomodoro plans, where knowing the remaining time helps you pace your work. # Activate a Licence Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/activation How the free trial works, how logging in activates your licence, and how to activate with a key or offline. You do not normally need to "activate" FocusMe. Log in with the account you bought it with and the licence is validated for you. This page covers the trial, and the two manual routes — entering a key, and activating a computer that is offline. ## The Free Trial FocusMe starts as a 14-day trial with every feature available. While the trial runs, a banner across the top of the window reads **Free trial: N days remaining** with an **Upgrade** button; in the last days it changes to *Your free trial ends in N days. Upgrade now to keep your plans running.* and FocusMe also reminds you with a **Trial Ending Soon** notification. The trial is tied both to the computer and to your account, so reinstalling FocusMe or logging in on another computer does not start a fresh trial. If a trial has already been used on the computer you will see *A free trial has already been used on this device*. When the trial expires the banner asks you to upgrade. Log in during the trial (there is an optional email field at the end of Quick Setup, or use **Login** in the sidebar). Your trial then follows you to your other devices, and when you buy a licence it activates the moment you next log in. ## Activating by Logging In When you purchase FocusMe, the licence is attached to the email address you used. Logging in with that account is all that is needed: 1. Click **Login** in the sidebar 2. Enter your **Email address** and **Password**, then click **Login** 3. FocusMe confirms with **License successfully validated!** The trial banner disappears, **Upgrade** and **Activate** leave the sidebar, and **Logout** takes the place of **Login**. See [Log In & Sync](/guides/login-and-sync) for everything else logging in gives you. FocusMe caches the validation, so you do not need to be online all the time — it keeps running through an internet outage and re-checks when it can. ## Activating with a Licence Key If you were given a key rather than an account — a reseller purchase, a gift, a team licence — use **Activate**: 1. Click **Activate** in the sidebar. The dialog title changes to **Activate** and reads **Please activate below or login** 2. Enter your **Email address** and your key in the **License key (if known)** field 3. Click **Activate** If you are logged in when you do this, the key is saved to your account, so future installations activate simply by logging in. Having trouble? The dialog offers *Trouble activating? Please contact support or try offline activation.* — the **contact support** link opens a ticket, and **offline activation** opens the dialog described next. ## Offline Activation For a computer that cannot reach the internet, click **offline activation** in the Activate dialog to open **Offline Activation**: 1. Go to **focusme.com/activate** on another device 2. Enter your email or key there, together with the **Hardware ID** shown in the dialog (click **Copy** to copy it) 3. Paste the generated code into **Paste Activation Code:** — it is a long string starting with `eyJ` 4. Click **Activate** FocusMe confirms with **License successfully activated!** (or **Trial successfully activated! N days remaining.** for a trial). The code is tied to that computer's Hardware ID, so it cannot be reused elsewhere. Offline activation suits locked-down work environments and machines that are intentionally kept off the network. The activation lasts for the licence period; renewals need a fresh code. ## Device Limits A licence covers a fixed number of computers at once (five unless your licence says otherwise). Each activation, whether by login or by key, takes one seat. If you have reached the limit, FocusMe will not activate a further computer until a seat is freed — [contact support](https://focusme.com/contact-us/) to release a computer you no longer use, or to discuss a larger licence. ## Something Not Working? | Symptom | What to check | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **License successfully validated!** never appears after logging in | You logged in with an account that has no licence attached. Use the email from your purchase receipt, or enter the key with **Activate**. | | *Cannot login* error | Check the email and password; use **Reset password** if needed. | | Still shows the trial banner | The licence is on a different account, or the purchase has not completed. [Contact support](https://focusme.com/contact-us/) with your order details. | # Add to a List While a Plan is Active Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/add-to-list-while-active Add new websites or apps to a running plan's block list or allow list without stopping it. Discovered a new distraction while your plan is running? You can add it straight away — from the plan's context menu or from the Helper window — without stopping the plan or opening the full wizard. ## From the Context Menu 1. Open the FocusMe main window 2. Right-click the running plan (or click its **⋮** button) 3. Choose **Add Site to Blacklist** or **Add App to Blacklist**. The list name follows the plan's rule mode — on a Time Limit plan the item reads **Add Site to Limit List** 4. In the **Quick Add to Blacklist** dialog, pick the target type and match, type the value, and click **Accept** The new entry takes effect immediately. ## From the Helper Window The **Helper** shows every open window and browser tab, so you don't have to guess a process name or URL: 1. Open the distracting site or app 2. Click **Helper** in the sidebar (or right-click the tray icon → **Helper**) 3. Find the window in the list. Either right-click it and choose **Add to plan...**, or expand its details and click the **+** that appears beside the value you want to use — for example the **URL** or the **Process Name** 4. In the **Add to Plan** dialog, choose the plan, pick **Block list** or **Allow list**, check the target type and match, and click **Accept** Browser-internal pages (such as `about:` or `chrome://` URLs) and FocusMe's own block page can't be added. See [Using the Helper Tool](/guides/using-the-helper-tool) for everything else the Helper can do. ## Adding to the Allow List Adding an exception to a running plan weakens it, so FocusMe only allows it when the plan's **Add to whitelist** protection is set: * The **Add Site to Whitelist** / **Add App to Whitelist** items appear in the context menu of a running plan only when that protection is set. The **Gentle Guidance** preset uses a 5-character challenge, **Firm but Flexible** 12 characters, and **Lock it Down** disallows it entirely * In the Helper's **Add to Plan** dialog, choosing **Allow list** for a running plan whose whitelist protection is not set shows **The allow list of an enabled plan can only be edited if allowlist protection is set** * Where it is set, you complete the **Edit allowlist?** challenge (random characters or a password) before the entry is added On a plan that is **Off** or **Expired**, the allow-list items are always available. To change the level, open the plan, go to **How strict → Customize**, and set the challenge under **Add to whitelist** — **Unprotected**, **Random**, **Password**, or **Disallowed**. ## Duplicates and Cross-List Entries Both dialogs check the entry before adding it: * **Duplicate target - this entry already exists in the list** — the entry is already there * **Already on this plan's allow list, which takes priority.** — adding it to the block list would do nothing, because the allow list always wins. Click **Move to block list** to move it across * **Already on this plan's block list.** — the reverse case, with **Move to allow list**. On a running plan this move isn't offered from the dialog (it would loosen the plan); you'll see **Already on this plan's block list - remove it there first** and can make the change in the wizard instead If the plan's **Edit protection** challenge is set, you'll be asked to complete it before any quick add. Website entries added by URL match any page on that domain. To block a single page or section, change the match to **Starts With** or **Exact** — see [Blocking Websites](/concepts/blocking-websites). # Block Any Application or Game Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/block-application Step-by-step guide to blocking desktop applications and games. FocusMe can block any application on your computer — games, messaging apps, browsers or anything else. ## Quick setup 1. On the **Plans** tab click **Add a Plan** and name the plan 2. On **What to block**, switch to the **Applications** tab 3. Type the app's process name into the add row (**Type an app to block, e.g. steam.exe...**) and click **Add**, or click **Pick from installed apps...** to choose from a list 4. Click **Next** and choose when the plan runs on **When it runs** 5. Click **Next** and choose a preset on **How strict** 6. On **Review**, click **Create & Enable** Start typing in the add row and FocusMe suggests matching installed apps after two characters. Apps you have already added show **Already added**. ## Picking an app **Pick from installed apps...** opens the app picker with four tabs: | Tab | Best for | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Running Processes** | Apps that are open right now — tick them in the list | | **Installed Apps** | Browse or search everything installed on the computer | | **Open Windows** | Choose by window, which is the easiest way to catch Windows Store apps | | **Add Your Own** | Type a value yourself, one per line | Tick the apps you want, check the **Target Type** and **Match** at the top right of the picker, and click **Done**. Apps picked this way are added with an **Exact** match, so only that app is affected. ## Choosing a target type Every application entry has a type and a match. Click a row on **What to block** to change them. | Target type | Matches | Use when | | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Application Name** | The app's product name | You want the friendly name, including Store apps | | **Process Name** | The executable file name, e.g. `Discord.exe` | The usual choice for desktop software | | **Process Path** | The full path of the executable | You want one installation, or every executable under a folder (with **Contains**) | | **Window Title** | Text in the window title | Content within an app, e.g. a window titled "Netflix" | | **Window Class** | The window's class name | Advanced use | | **Program Signature** | The publisher's code signature | Every app from one publisher | | **Folder Location** | A folder open in File Explorer | Keep a folder out of reach | Matches are **Contains**, **Exact**, **Starts With**, **Ends With** and **Regex**. The **Helper** in the sidebar shows every one of these values for any open window — see [Using the Helper Tool](/guides/using-the-helper-tool). ## What happens to a blocked app Open the **Advanced** expander at the bottom of **What to block** to reveal **Blocking behaviour**. The application **Block action** decides what FocusMe does when a blocked app is in front: | Action | What happens | | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | **Minimize** | Minimises the app's window to the taskbar | | **Close** | Sends the app a close request | | **Kill** | Force-terminates the process immediately | | **Hide** | Hides the window while the process keeps running (Windows) | Tick **Include background processes** to also block matching apps that are running without a visible window. ## Blocking games Block the game itself rather than the launcher, unless you want the launcher gone too: * **Steam** is `steam.exe`. Blocking it removes the store, the library and every game launched through it. To block only games, see [Block All Steam Games](/guides/block-steam-games) * **Epic Games and other launchers** work the same way: block the game executable, found under **Running Processes** while the game is running * **Minecraft** runs as `javaw.exe`; block it by **Window Title** containing `Minecraft` instead Game executables can change names after an update. If blocking stops working, open the game and check its process name again in the Helper. ## Windows Store apps Store apps run under Windows system processes, so adding `ApplicationFrameHost.exe` is the wrong approach. Use **Application Name**, **Window Title** or the **Open Windows** tab instead. [Block Windows Store Apps →](/guides/block-windows-store-apps) [Learn more about blocking applications →](/concepts/blocking-applications) # Block Email Inboxes but Allow Sending Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/block-email-allow-sending Stop checking email compulsively while still being able to send messages. Constant inbox checking is a major productivity killer. FocusMe can block the inbox view of webmail while an allow list entry keeps a standalone compose page open. This guide explains what is possible and where the limits are. ## How it works Webmail is a website, so the usual rules apply: the block list decides what is blocked, and the allow list always takes priority. Blocking the mail domain and allowing only the compose address gives you a "send but don't read" setup. This only works with webmail in a browser, and only when the page you allow has an address that differs from the inbox. Desktop clients such as Outlook or Thunderbird are single applications: FocusMe can block or allow the whole app, not one view inside it. ## Gmail 1. Click **Add a Plan** and name the plan 2. On **What to block**, with **Blocked** selected, add `mail.google.com` 3. Switch the segmented control to **Allowed** and add the standalone compose address: ``` mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm ``` 4. Click the allow row and set its match to **Starts With** 5. Finish the wizard with a schedule, a **How strict** preset and **Create & Enable** Bookmark `https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1` in your browser. It opens Gmail's compose window on its own, without loading the inbox, so you can send a message without seeing what has arrived. Composing from inside the inbox does not work, because that view shares the inbox address and stays blocked. Always start from the bookmark. ## Outlook (web) 1. Block `outlook.live.com` (personal) or `outlook.office.com` (work) 2. On the allow list add `outlook.live.com/mail/compose` or `outlook.office.com/mail/compose` with a **Starts With** match ## Limits to be aware of * **The browser addon is needed.** Matching on a query string such as `?view=cm` relies on the exact address reported by the FocusMe addon. Install it from **Settings** > **Browsers** for the browser you use. See [Browser Extension](/advanced/browser-extension). * **Provider addresses change.** Gmail and Outlook can change how their compose pages are addressed. If sending stops working, open the compose page and check its address with the [Helper](/guides/using-the-helper-tool), then update the allow entry. * **Similarity protection** may reject an allow entry that is very close to a blocked one, showing a **Blocked:** message. Open **Advanced** on **What to block** and lower **Similarity protection** if that happens. * **Notifications and previews** from the mail provider are outside FocusMe's control. ## Alternative: schedule your email windows Many people find it simpler to batch email instead of partially blocking it: 1. Create a plan that blocks `mail.google.com` (or your provider) with a **Weekly Schedule** 2. Use the **Office Hours** preset, then drag the blocks on the timeline so they leave gaps at 9:00, 12:00 and 16:00 3. Email is fully available in the gaps and fully blocked, reading and sending alike, the rest of the time For a lighter touch, set the time block's rule mode to **Session Limit** and allow, say, 3 sessions per **Day** of up to 15 m each. See [Rule Types](/concepts/rule-types). [Learn more about the scheduler →](/guides/use-the-scheduler) # Block the Entire Internet Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/block-entire-internet How to block all websites and optionally allow specific sites you need for work. Sometimes you need zero internet distractions. FocusMe can block **every website** and let through only the sites on your allow list. ## Fastest route: the Plan Library 1. Open the **Plans** tab and click **Plan Library** 2. Find the official **Block the Internet** template and click **Import** 3. Click **Edit** on the imported plan to add the sites you still need to its allow list (see below), then start it ## Build it yourself 1. Click **Add a Plan** and name the plan 2. On **What to block**, stay on the **Websites** tab and switch on **Block every website except my allowed list** 3. The list switches to **Allowed**. Type each site you still need into the add row (**Type a site to allow, e.g. wikipedia.org...**) and click **Add** A typical work allow list: ``` docs.google.com drive.google.com github.com stackoverflow.com slack.com ``` 4. Click **Next** and choose a schedule on **When it runs** 5. Click **Next** and choose a preset on **How strict** 6. On **Review**, click **Create & Enable** If your tools sign in through Google or Microsoft, add `accounts.google.com` and `login.microsoftonline.com` to the allow list too, otherwise the sign-in page is blocked. ## Choose how blocked sites are handled Open the **Advanced** expander at the bottom of **What to block** to reveal **Blocking behaviour**. The website **Block action** decides what happens to a blocked page: | Action | What happens | | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Show block page** | Replaces the page with the FocusMe block page inside the tab | | **Close the tab** | Closes the tab | | **Open new tab** | Redirects the tab to a new tab page | | **Go to home** | Redirects the tab to the browser's home page | | **Network block** | Blocks the site at the network level (Windows only). Falls back to closing the tab if network blocking is unavailable | On the **Applications** tab the same panel also holds **Block entire computer**, which blocks everything rather than only websites. See [Block Your PC at Night](/guides/block-pc-at-night). ## Tips * **Test before adding protection.** Run the plan on **Unlocked** first to make sure the allow list covers everything you need, then raise the protection once you are confident. * **Allow list entries take priority.** If a site is both blocked and allowed, the allow list wins. FocusMe tells you when an entry is already on the other list and offers **Move to allow list** or **Move to block list**. * **Similarity protection** (in the **Advanced** panel) stops near copies of blocked sites from being waved through on the allow list. If a legitimate allow entry is rejected with a **Blocked:** message, lower the level. * **Pair with app blocking.** Blocking every website does not stop desktop apps that use the internet (Spotify, email clients and so on). Add those on the **Applications** tab if needed. With **Lock it Down** or an **Enforced** stop challenge, you cannot change the allow list until the schedule ends. Make absolutely sure the list is complete first. [Learn more about blocking websites →](/concepts/blocking-websites) # Block Your PC at Night Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/block-pc-at-night Enforce a digital curfew and go to bed on time. Late-night screen time ruins sleep. FocusMe can lock the whole computer from a set time every evening until the morning, so the decision is made once rather than every night. ## Setting up the curfew ### Step 1: Block the entire computer 1. Click **Add a Plan** and name it, for example **Night Curfew** 2. On **What to block**, open the **Advanced** expander and tick **Block entire computer** The tabs change to **Exclude Websites** and **Exclude Applications**. Leave them empty for a full lock, or add anything that must stay usable overnight, such as a backup tool. ### Step 2: Draw the evening block 1. On **When it runs**, choose **Weekly Schedule** 2. Click **Select All** so every day is selected 3. Drag on the timeline from 22:30 to the end of the day 4. Drag a second block from the start of the day to 06:00 Because the first block runs to midnight and the second starts at midnight, FocusMe treats them as one continuous run from 22:30 to 06:00. Leave the rule mode on **Block**. Different weekend hours? Select only Friday and Saturday and move the evening block to start at midnight instead, then select the remaining days and keep 22:30. ### Step 3: Lock it On **How strict**, choose **Lock it Down**. Stopping takes a 10 minute wait, then 25 random characters typed perfectly — long enough for the "just one more thing" urge to pass. If you want no way out at all, click **Customize** and set **Protection when active** to **Enforced**. The plan then cannot be stopped until 06:00. ### Step 4: Review and enable Check the rows on **Review**, then click **Create & Enable**. ## Tips * **Get a warning first.** On **Review**, open **Options** and tick **Soon Starting** under **Notifications** so FocusMe warns you before the curfew starts and you can save your work. * **Keep the plan honest.** Tick **Auto enable daily** under the timeline so a plan you stopped one evening is back the next. * **Test on Unlocked first.** Run the curfew for a night with **Unlocked** protection to confirm the hours are right before you raise it. * **Leave your phone in another room.** FocusMe locks the computer; the phone is up to you. With **Block entire computer** and **Enforced** protection, the PC is completely unavailable for the whole block. Save everything before the curfew starts. [Learn more about the scheduler →](/guides/use-the-scheduler) # Block Social Media Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/block-social-media Step-by-step guide to blocking social media sites and apps with FocusMe. Social media is designed to be addictive. Here is how to take it off the table, either with a ready-made template or with a plan you build yourself. ## Fastest route: the Plan Library 1. Open the **Plans** tab and click **Plan Library** 2. Choose the **Social Media** category chip, or type in **Search templates...** 3. Hover the **Block Social Media** template and click **Import** 4. Press play on the new plan in your list to start it The template comes with the major social networks already on its block list. Open it with **Edit** at any time to adjust the sites, the schedule or the protection. [Learn more about the Plan Library →](/guides/plan-library) ## Build it yourself 1. On the **Plans** tab click **Add a Plan** and give the plan a name in the header 2. On **What to block**, stay on the **Websites** tab and type each site into the add row (**Type a site to block, e.g. youtube.com...**), then click **Add**: ``` facebook.com instagram.com tiktok.com x.com reddit.com threads.net snapchat.com pinterest.com ``` 3. Click **Next** to reach **When it runs** and choose how the plan should run: * **Weekly Schedule** for a recurring timetable, for example the **Weekdays** preset with an **Office Hours** block * **Quick Timer** if you would rather start it by hand for a set duration 4. Each block on the timeline has its own rule mode. Leave it on **Block**, or pick **Time Limit** if you want a daily budget instead of a full block 5. Click **Next** to reach **How strict** and pick a preset, for example **Firm but Flexible** 6. Click **Next** to reach **Review**, then click **Create & Enable** You do not need `https://` or `www.` in a website entry. A plain domain also covers its subdomains, so `facebook.com` matches `m.facebook.com` and `www.facebook.com`. ## Block the apps too Most social networks also ship desktop apps. To cover them, switch to the **Applications** tab on **What to block** and add each app: 1. Type the process name into the add row (**Type an app to block, e.g. steam.exe...**) and click **Add**, or click **Pick from installed apps...** and choose from **Installed Apps** or **Running Processes** 2. Apps chosen from the picker are added with an **Exact** match, so only that app is affected | App | Process Name | | -------- | -------------- | | Discord | `Discord.exe` | | Slack | `slack.exe` | | Telegram | `Telegram.exe` | | WhatsApp | `WhatsApp.exe` | Not sure what an app is called? Open it, then click **Helper** in the sidebar. The Helper lists every open window with its process name and lets you add it to a plan directly. See [Using the Helper Tool](/guides/using-the-helper-tool). ## Allow a daily budget instead If a full block feels too much, keep the same targets and change the rule mode: 1. On **When it runs**, select the time block on the timeline and switch its rule mode to **Time Limit** 2. In the settings row underneath, set **Allow** to the budget you want, for example 30 m **per** **Day** 3. Optionally add a **Remind me at** reminder so you get a warning before the budget runs out FocusMe tracks your actual use and blocks the sites once the budget is spent. See [Rule Types](/concepts/rule-types) for the full picture. ## Block short-form video only You can block the most addictive features while leaving the rest of a site open, for example `youtube.com/shorts` or `instagram.com/reels`. [See the YouTube Shorts guide →](/guides/block-youtube-shorts) ## Make it stick The biggest risk is that future you switches the plan off. The **How strict** step is where you decide how hard that should be: * **Gentle Guidance** — type 5 random characters to stop; a decision, not a reflex * **Firm but Flexible** — a 2 minute wait, then 10 random characters, with 3 pauses a day * **Lock it Down** — a 10 minute wait, then 25 random characters typed perfectly, with no pauses [Learn more about plan protection →](/concepts/plan-protection) # Block All Steam Games Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/block-steam-games Block Steam games while optionally keeping the Steam client accessible. Whether you want Steam gone entirely or only the games, there is a plan for it. ## Fastest route: the Plan Library 1. Open the **Plans** tab and click **Plan Library** 2. Choose the **Gaming** category chip and click **Import** on the official **Block Games** template 3. Click **Edit** on the imported plan to add any games or launchers it does not already cover, then start it ## Block everything (Steam and all games) The simplest approach is to block the Steam client: 1. Click **Add a Plan** and name the plan 2. On **What to block**, switch to the **Applications** tab, type `steam.exe` into the add row and click **Add** 3. Click **Next** and set a schedule, choose a **How strict** preset and click **Create & Enable** With Steam blocked, no game can be launched through it. ## Block the games but keep the Steam client To keep the store and chat available while blocking actual play, add each game's executable: 1. Start the game so it is running 2. In the plan, on the **Applications** tab, click **Pick from installed apps...** and open the **Running Processes** tab 3. Tick the game's process and click **Done**. It is added with an **Exact** match on its **Process Name** 4. Repeat for each game Not sure which process is the game? Click **Helper** in the sidebar while the game is open. It lists each window with its **Process Name** and **Process Path**, and right-clicking the row gives you **Add to plan...**. ## Block every game in the Steam library folder If your games all live under Steam's library folder, one **Process Path** entry covers all of them, including games you install later: 1. On the **Applications** tab, type `steamapps\common` into the add row and click **Add** 2. Click the row, set its type to **Process Path** and its match to **Contains** Any executable running from a `steamapps\common` folder is now blocked, while `steam.exe` itself is not. **Folder Location** is a different target type: it blocks a folder when it is opened in File Explorer. Use **Process Path** for executables. The same trick works for other launchers that install games in one place, for example an `Epic Games` folder. ## Make it stick Games are exactly where a weak plan gets switched off. On **How strict**, choose **Firm but Flexible** or **Lock it Down**, and consider an [accountability partner](/concepts/accountability-partner) if you want someone else to hold the key. [Learn more about blocking applications →](/concepts/blocking-applications) # Block Windows Store Apps Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/block-windows-store-apps How to block modern Windows Store (UWP) applications. Windows Store apps work differently from traditional desktop software. Here is how to block one without catching every other Store app along with it. ## Why the process name does not work Most Store apps are displayed by a shared Windows system process, `ApplicationFrameHost.exe`, and some run under `WWAHost.exe`. Those processes belong to Windows, not to the app, so blocking them blocks every Store app at once, including **Settings**, **Calculator** and **Photos**. If you add either process to a plan, FocusMe shows a **Windows System Process** warning explaining this, with **Cancel** and **Add Anyway** buttons. Choose **Cancel** and use one of the approaches below instead. ## Recommended: pick it from Open Windows 1. Open the Store app you want to block 2. In the plan, on **What to block**, switch to the **Applications** tab and click **Pick from installed apps...** 3. Open the **Open Windows** tab, tick the app's window and click **Done** The entry is added with the app's own identity rather than the shared host process, so only that app is blocked. ## Alternative: Application Name If you know the app's name, type it directly: 1. On the **Applications** tab, type the app's name (for example `TikTok`) into the add row and click **Add** 2. Click the row and set its type to **Application Name** with an **Exact** match **Application Name** identifies a single Store app reliably, even though it shares its process with others. ## Alternative: Window Title For apps whose name is hard to pin down, match the window title instead: 1. Add the text that appears in the app's title bar 2. Click the row and set its type to **Window Title** with a **Contains** match Click **Helper** in the sidebar while the app is open. It shows the exact **Application Name**, **Window Title** and other details for every open window, and **Add to plan...** on any of them adds the value to your plan with the right type. See [Using the Helper Tool](/guides/using-the-helper-tool). ## Some Store apps have their own process Not every Store app uses the shared host. Check the **Process Name** in the Helper: if it is something other than `ApplicationFrameHost.exe` or `WWAHost.exe`, you can block it by **Process Name** like any desktop app. ## Blocking every Store app If you really do want every Store app blocked, add `ApplicationFrameHost.exe` and choose **Add Anyway** on the warning. Put the apps you still need, such as **Calculator**, on the plan's **Allowed** list by **Application Name**. Blocking `ApplicationFrameHost.exe` also blocks built-in Windows apps such as **Settings**. Only do this if you are sure you do not need them during the plan. [Learn more about blocking applications →](/concepts/blocking-applications) # Block YouTube Shorts Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/block-youtube-shorts Block YouTube Shorts and similar short-form video while keeping regular YouTube accessible. Short-form video is engineered for endless scrolling. Here is how to block just the Shorts feed while keeping regular videos, search and channels available. Quickest route: click the FocusMe addon icon in your browser toolbar and tick **Block YouTube Shorts** in the popup. The steps below do the same thing through a plan, so you can schedule and protect it. ## Block YouTube Shorts only 1. Click **Add a Plan** and name the plan 2. On **What to block**, stay on the **Websites** tab, type `youtube.com/shorts` into the add row and click **Add** 3. Click the new row to open its inline editor and check that the type is **URL** and the match is **Contains** 4. Click **Next** and choose a schedule, pick a **How strict** preset, then click **Create & Enable** on **Review** With a **Contains** match, `youtube.com/shorts` catches the Shorts feed and every individual Short (`youtube.com/shorts/abc123`). Ordinary pages such as `youtube.com/watch?v=...` are not affected because the entry includes the path. ## Catch Shorts by page title YouTube also surfaces Shorts on the home page and in search results. To catch them wherever they appear, add a second entry that matches the page title: 1. Type `Shorts` into the add row and click **Add** 2. Click the row and change its type to **Keyword** A **Keyword** entry matches both the page address and the page title, so any tab whose title contains "Shorts" is blocked. Keyword matching is broad. Make sure the word does not appear in the titles of pages you need. If it does, stick to the URL approach above. ## Block all short-form video To block Shorts, Reels and TikTok in one plan, add each of these as a **URL** entry: | Platform | Entry | | -------------------- | --------------------- | | YouTube Shorts | `youtube.com/shorts` | | Instagram Reels | `instagram.com/reels` | | Facebook Reels | `facebook.com/reel` | | TikTok (entire site) | `tiktok.com` | ## Using Regex for broader matching A single **Regex** entry can catch several patterns at once: ``` (youtube\.com/shorts|instagram\.com/reels|facebook\.com/reel|tiktok\.com) ``` Add the pattern, click the row and set its match to **Regex**. [Learn more about Regex →](/advanced/regex) # Use Coach Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/coach Run your first FocusMe Coach report and turn its recommendations into plans. This guide walks you through generating your first [Coach](/concepts/coach) report and acting on it. ## Before you start * Log in to your FocusMe account (Coach requires one). * Let FocusMe run for at least two days so there is activity to analyse — Coach won't generate a report with less. A full week is better. ## 1. Enable Coach Click **Coach** in the sidebar. The first time, the **Enable Coach** dialog explains that Coach needs anonymous usage data, stored under a random token that cannot be traced back to you. Click **Yes, Enable**. You can switch this off again at any time with **Coach & Anonymous Data Collection** in **Settings → System**. ## 2. Tell the coach about yourself Click **Add context**. Either type a sentence or two ("I work from home, I want to cut social media during work hours, I use FocusMe on my laptop too") or click **Setup wizard** to answer five quick questions. If you use [Tasks](/concepts/tasks), leave **Include Tasks (recommended)** and **Include Plans (recommended)** ticked under **Advanced** so the coach can see what you're trying to achieve and how your current plans are performing. ## 3. Generate the report Choose a period from the date dropdown — **Last 7 Days** is a good first choice — and click **Generate Report**. If FocusMe asks for a **Personal update** or **What are you working on?**, add a line or two and click **Generate Full Report**. FocusMe uploads any pending activity, then analyses it. This can take up to a minute. ## 4. Act on it 1. Read the headline and the key findings — they tell you where the biggest opportunity is. 2. Scroll to **SUGGESTED CHANGES**. For each suggestion, click **Apply** to preview and confirm it (a new plan is created in the Plans tab, a task in the Tasks tab), or **Decline** with a short reason so the coach doesn't repeat it. 3. Use **ASK YOUR COACH** at the bottom to ask follow-up questions about the report, such as "Which plan should I start with?" 4. Answer **Was this report helpful?** — feedback is anonymous and improves future reports. Apply one recommendation at a time. Run it for a week, then generate a new report for the same period length and compare. ## 5. Keep it going Click the gear (**Coach settings**) and set **Reminder to run Coach Report** to **Weekly** or **Weekdays**. FocusMe will generate reports in the background and notify you when each one is ready. Tick **Auto-generate full reports while I keep reading them** to receive full reports rather than short previews for as long as you keep opening them. # Use a Quick Timer Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/focus-sessions Start an on-demand Quick Timer session with a set duration — block distractions for exactly as long as you need. A **Quick Timer** plan blocks on demand for a set duration. Unlike a **Weekly Schedule**, it only runs when you press play, which makes it the right tool for "I need ninety minutes right now". ## Creating a Quick Timer plan 1. Click **Add a Plan**, name it and add your sites and apps on **What to block** 2. On **When it runs**, choose **Quick Timer** in the segmented control 3. Choose the **Rule Mode** — **Block** for a full block, or **Time Limit**, **Session Limit** or **Screen Break** — and set the default session length with the day, hour and minute steppers. **+10m**, **+30m** and **Reset** adjust it quickly 4. Set the options you want: * **Delay before session** — a countdown before blocking begins * **Screen break after session** and **lasting** — an enforced break when the session ends * **Show plan start dialog** — show the start dialog each time you press play, so you can adjust that session * **Reshow on stop** — reopen the start dialog when a session ends, ready for the next one * **Countdown when computer asleep/shutdown** — keep counting while the computer is off * **Scheduled Start** with day pills — start the session automatically at a set time on chosen days 5. Click **Next**, pick a **How strict** preset and click **Create & Enable** on **Review** ## Starting a session Press play on the plan in the **Plans** list. The start dialog lets you set up this session without editing the plan: * **Delay before start** — hours and minutes before blocking begins. The plan sits on **Standby** until then * **Session duration** — days, hours and minutes, with **+10m** and **+30m** buttons and **Reset** * **Screen break after session** — tick it and set the break length * **Reshow on stop** and **Show timer** Click **Start**. The plan's row turns **Active** and the countdown begins. Use the delay as a ritual: five minutes to save your work, close stray tabs and set up your workspace before the block lands. ## The floating timer With **Show timer** ticked, a small always-on-top timer shows the time left. Right-click it for **Add 5 minutes**, **Add 10 minutes**, **Add 15 minutes**, **Add 30 minutes**, **Pause**, **Stop**, **Restart Session** and **Hide Timer**. Hidden timers can be shown again from the plan's right-click menu with **Show Timer**. [Learn more about the timer window →](/concepts/timer-window) ## Extending a running session Still in the zone as the timer runs down? Add time without stopping: 1. Right-click the plan in the **Plans** list and choose **Extend Time**, or right-click the floating timer and pick one of the **Add ... minutes** items. **Extend Time** is also on the break screen 2. In the dialog, set the new duration and click **Apply** While a session runs it can only be made longer, never shorter, and a screen break after the session can be lengthened but not removed. Pressing play again on a running plan opens the same dialog. ## Stopping early Whether you can stop depends on the **How strict** setting: * **Unlocked** — click stop and the session ends * **Gentle Guidance** — type 5 random characters * **Firm but Flexible** and **Lock it Down** — a wait comes first (2 or 10 minutes). Once it is over, FocusMe shows a **Ready to stop** notification and you have a few minutes to complete the random-characters challenge. **Lock it Down** demands 25 characters typed perfectly * **Enforced** (set under **Customize**) — the session cannot be stopped; **Assisted Stop** is the only route, via an accountability partner or FocusMe support [Learn more about plan protection →](/concepts/plan-protection) ## Tips * **Start small.** New to timed sessions? Begin with 25 – 30 minutes and extend when you are in flow. * **Chain sessions.** With **Reshow on stop**, the start dialog is back the moment a session ends, so the next one is one click away. * **Add a break after.** A 5 minute **Screen break after session** stops one sprint turning into a marathon. See [Screen Breaks](/guides/screen-breaks). * **Start from the command line.** Quick Timer plans can be started and extended from scripts — see [CLI Plan Control](/advanced/cli-plan-control). [Learn more about schedule modes →](/concepts/schedule-modes) # Import & Export Plans Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/import-export-plans Save plans to .FMP files and load them on another installation — for backups, sharing, and migration — or submit a plan to the Plan Library. FocusMe can save plans to `.FMP` files and load them again on the same or another installation. This is useful for backups, sharing a plan with someone, or moving to a new computer without an account. If you are logged in, [Sync to Devices](/guides/login-and-sync#sync-to-devices) moves plans between your own computers automatically; import and export are for everything else. ## Enable Import & Export The menu items are hidden until you switch them on: 1. Open **Settings** → **System** 2. Enable **Enable Import & Export of Plans** 3. **Export** and **Import** now appear in the plan context menu The setting cannot be changed while any plan is enabled — *Cannot change this setting while any plan is enabled!* Stop your plans first. ## Exporting Plans 1. Right-click a plan in the Plans list and choose **Export** 2. In the **Export Plans** dialog (**Select plans to export:**), tick the plans you want — you can export several into one file — and click **Export Selected** 3. Choose where to save the `.FMP` file The file holds the complete configuration of each plan: targets, schedule and rule settings, blocking behaviour and protection. Because protection settings travel with the plan, treat exported files with some care — anyone who imports one gets the plan exactly as you built it, password and all. ## Importing Plans 1. Right-click a plan (or, if the list is empty, the empty area of the Plans list) and choose **Import** 2. Select the `.FMP` file 3. In the **Import Plans** dialog (**Select plans to import:**), tick the plans you want and click **Import Selected** 4. The plans are added to your list, ready for you to review and start If the file cannot be read you will see *Could not open the file. It may be in use or inaccessible.*; a damaged or unrecognised file gives *No plans could be imported. The file may be corrupt or invalid.* Imported plans keep their names. If you already have a plan with the same name, rename one of them from the plan's drawer (click the row, then the pencil next to the name) so they are easy to tell apart. ## Submit to Library Rather than passing files around, you can offer a plan to everyone through the [Plan Library](/guides/plan-library). You need to be logged in. 1. Right-click the plan and choose **Submit to Library** 2. In the **Submit Plan to Library** dialog, enter a display name (**Choose a display name (shown on your templates):**, at least 3 characters) and pick a **Category:** 3. Click **Submit** Your plan is submitted to the FocusMe community library for others to use. Community templates are imported with softened protection — Enforced challenges and perfect-entry requirements are not carried over — so nobody can be locked into a plan they did not design. ## Use Cases | Scenario | How | | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Backup** | Export your important plans before reinstalling or making big changes | | **Share with others** | Export a plan and send the `.FMP` file to a friend, colleague or family member | | **Migrate devices** | Export from the old computer, import on the new one — or log in on both and use Sync to Devices | | **Team deployment** | Build a standard plan once and distribute the file; each person imports it | | **Publish** | Use **Submit to Library** so anyone can find and import it | ## Notes * Exported files contain plan **configuration only** — no activity history, tasks or account data * Import and export work whether or not you are logged in; the setting is per computer * Predefined website and application lists are separate from plans and have their own **Import list from file...** / export options in the wizard's **Manage lists...** flyout # Log In & Sync Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/login-and-sync Log in to your FocusMe account, choose which devices each plan syncs to, and keep tasks and activity in step across computers. A FocusMe account links your installations together. Logging in validates your licence or trial, and keeps your plans, tasks, activity and master password in sync across every computer where you use FocusMe. ## Creating an Account When you buy FocusMe or start a trial on the website, an account is created for you with the email address you used. You can also create one from inside the app: click **Login** in the sidebar and follow the **Sign up free** link in the login dialog. ## Logging In While you are logged out, the sidebar shows **Login**, **Upgrade** and **Activate**. 1. Click **Login** in the sidebar — the dialog says **Welcome to FocusMe** / **Please login below** 2. Enter your **Email address** and **Password** (click **Show** to check what you typed) 3. Tick **Save my login info** if you want FocusMe to log in automatically on this computer 4. Click **Login** If you have a licence on this account, FocusMe confirms with **License successfully validated!** and any **Free trial: N days remaining** banner disappears. Once logged in, the sidebar shows **Logout** in place of **Login**. Forgot your password? Use the **Reset password** link in the dialog. To enter a licence key instead of logging in, see [Activate a Licence](/guides/activation). ## What Syncs | Data | How it syncs | | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Plans** | Each plan chooses the devices it appears on — see [Sync to Devices](#sync-to-devices) | | **Tasks** | Synced automatically between all your logged-in devices | | **Activity** | Daily per-site and per-app totals are synced when **Sync Between Devices** is on in **Activity Settings**, so the [Activity](/concepts/activity) page can show **All devices** or one device at a time | | **Master password** | Stored with your account, so it applies on every device and FocusMe support can reset it for you if you are locked out | | **Accountability partners** | Managed in **Settings** → **Accountability** and shared across devices | | **Trial status** | Your trial start date is shared between your devices, so reinstalling or switching computers does not restart it | Local preferences — window size, theme, notification positions and the like — stay on each computer. ## Sync to Devices Every plan carries its own list of devices. You set it in the wizard's **Review** step, where the **Devices** row summarises the current choice — **This device only**, **All devices, including new ones**, **All current devices** or **N devices** — and is only shown when you are logged in. 1. Open the plan in the wizard and go to **Review** 2. Click **Change** on the **Devices** row to open the **Sync to Devices** dialog 3. Tick the devices the plan should run on. Each entry shows the device name (with **(this device)** for the one you are using), its operating system and when it was last seen 4. Tick **New devices** if the plan should also appear automatically on any computer you log in to in future 5. Click **Done** Changes to a plan — edits, starts and stops, deletions — are pushed to the selected devices within a few seconds while they are online. Keep device-specific plans local. A plan that blocks a game only installed on your home PC does not need to exist on your work laptop; leave it on **This device only**. A plan synced to another device runs there with the same protection. If you sync a Lock it Down plan to your laptop, you will have to meet its challenge on the laptop too. ## Activity Sync Open the **Activity** tab, click the ellipsis menu and choose **Activity Settings**: * **Record Activity** — powers the Activity page, weekly recaps and Coach insights * **Sync Between Devices** — uploads activity so it can be viewed on your other devices (turning it off stops activity sync on every device; plans and tasks are not affected) * **Sync From This Device** — include or exclude this computer's activity See [Activity](/concepts/activity) for the full page. ## Logging Out Click **Logout** in the sidebar and confirm **Logout?**. Two situations prevent it: * **Plans are enabled** — *Cannot logout while plans are enabled!* Stop all plans first. This stops logout being used to escape a running plan. * **Auto-login is in use** — *Cannot logout while using auto-login mode!* Turn off automatic login before logging out. Logging out leaves your plans on this computer as they are; they simply stop syncing until you log in again. ## Folder Sync (legacy) If you prefer not to use an account, FocusMe still supports syncing plans through a shared folder. The **Sync** tab appears in **Settings** only while you are logged out, and is labelled **Folder Sync (legacy)**. | Setting | Description | | ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Sync folder | A local or network folder — a Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive folder works well | | **Direction** | **Both** (two-way), **In** (import only) or **Out** (export only) | Folder Sync is not available while you are logged in — the tab notes *(Not available while logged in)*. Use one method or the other. # Manage Your Plans Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/manage-plans Rename, duplicate, reorder, export, and delete plans — a complete reference for the context menu and drawer actions. The Plans list supports right-click context menus, an inline drawer, drag-to-reorder, and a handful of dialogs for bulk actions. This page covers every plan action and when it is available. ## Plan Status The status pill on each row tells you which actions apply: | Status | Meaning | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Off** | The plan is not running. It can be started, edited, or deleted. | | **Active** | The plan is running and blocking its targets. | | **Standby** | The plan is enabled but outside its scheduled hours, or waiting for a delayed start. | | **Waiting** | The plan is waiting for you (for example, a Pomodoro set to **Wait for User**). | | **Paused** | Blocking is suspended for the length of the pause. | | **Break** | The plan is in a break period (Pomodoro or Screen Break). | | **Expired** | A Quick Timer or Multi-Day Plan has finished its run. | ## Context Menu Right-click a plan (or click the gear icon on an Off plan — it becomes a **⋮** button once the plan is active) to see its actions. The menu changes with the plan's status. Clicking the stop button on an active row opens a small popup with just two choices, **Pause** and **Stop**. ### Off or Expired plans | Action | Description | | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Start** | Start the plan. Quick Timer, Pomodoro, and Multi-Day plans open a start dialog first. | | **Reset Time** / **Reset Sessions** / **Reset Breaks** | Clear the used time, sessions, or break counter. Only shown when there is something to reset, and named after the plan's rule mode. | | **Add Site to Blacklist** / **Add App to Blacklist** | Add a target without opening the wizard. The list name follows the rule mode — for a Time Limit plan it reads **Add Site to Limit List**. | | **Add Site to Whitelist** / **Add App to Whitelist** | Add an exception without opening the wizard. | | **Edit** | Open the Plan Wizard. Changes are made on a working copy — nothing is saved until you click **Done**, and closing the wizard with unsaved changes asks whether to **Discard**. | | **Duplicate** | Create a copy of the plan with all its settings. | | **Delete** | Remove the plan after a confirmation. | | **Delete All** | Open the **Delete Plans** dialog (below). | | **Export** / **Import** | Save the plan to a `.fmp` file, or load plans from one. Shown only when **Enable Import & Export of Plans** is on in Settings → System. | | **Submit to Library** | Share the plan in the [Plan Library](/guides/plan-library). Requires login. | If the plan's **Edit protection** challenge is set, you'll be asked to complete it before editing or deleting. ### Active plans | Action | Description | | ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Pause** | Suspend blocking for a while — see [Pause a Plan](/guides/pause-a-plan). Reads **Postpone** on plans that block the entire computer. Hidden when pausing is disallowed or you've used today's pauses. | | **Stop** | Stop the plan, completing its stop challenge first. Hidden while the plan is **Enforced**, unless you have an accountability partner who can approve the stop. | | **Cancel Stop** | Appears while a stop delay is counting down. Cancels the pending stop. | | **Extend Time** | Add time to a running Quick Timer. | | **Break Now** | Start the next screen break immediately (Screen Break plans). | | **Skip Time** | Skip ahead — for example, give up the rest of a time budget or end the current session. | | **Add Site / App to Blacklist** | Add more targets while the plan runs. The label follows the rule mode. | | **Add Site / App to Whitelist** | Only shown when the plan's **Add to whitelist** protection is set — see [Add to a List While Active](/guides/add-to-list-while-active). | | **Edit** | Open the wizard. While a plan is enabled, settings can only be made stricter. | | **Duplicate** | Create a copy (the copy starts off). | | **Hide Timer** / **Show Timer** | Toggle the floating [timer window](/concepts/timer-window). | | **Export** / **Import** | As above. | | **Assisted Stop** | Ask an accountability partner or FocusMe support to approve stopping — see [Plan Protection](/concepts/plan-protection). | | **Cancel Pending Request** | Withdraw an Assisted Stop request you've already sent. | | **Submit to Library** | Requires login. | ### Standby plans A standby plan shows the same menu as an active one, with two differences: **Skip Delay** replaces **Extend Time** on a Quick Timer that is waiting to start, and the break and skip actions aren't offered. ### Paused plans | Action | Description | | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ | | **Resume** | End the pause and start blocking again. | | **Pause Again** / **Postpone Again** | Take another pause, if you have any left today. | | **Stop** | Stop the plan entirely (completes the stop challenge). | The add-to-list, **Edit**, **Duplicate**, **Export**, **Import**, and **Submit to Library** items are available in every state. ## Edit in the Drawer Click a plan row once to open its drawer. Each column has a shortcut into the right wizard step: * **WHAT IT BLOCKS → Edit blocks** opens **What to block** * **HOW STRICT → Edit protection** opens **How strict** * **COMING UP → Edit schedule** opens **When it runs** You can also double-click the plan name to open the wizard at the first step. ## Rename a Plan There is no separate Rename command. Instead: 1. Open the drawer and click the **pencil** beside the plan name. Type the new name and press **Enter** (or **Esc** to cancel). 2. Or open the wizard with **Edit** and change the name in the header field. The wizard warns you if the name is empty (**Plan name required**) or already used (**A plan with this name already exists**). If you have accountability partners, a plan must be stopped before it can be renamed. ## Duplicate a Plan Right-click → **Duplicate** creates an exact copy with all settings. The copy is created switched off and named after the original — `Focus at Work (copy)`, then `(copy 2)`, and so on. Duplicating is the quickest way to make variations — a weekday and a weekend version of the same plan, for example. ## Export and Import Turn on **Enable Import & Export of Plans** in **Settings → System** to add **Export** and **Import** to the context menu. * **Export** saves the plan as a `.fmp` file — handy for backups or moving plans to another computer. * **Import** lets you pick an `.fmp` file and choose which of its plans to bring in. See [Import and Export Plans](/guides/import-export-plans) for details. ## Delete Plans **Delete** removes a single plan after asking **Are you sure you want to delete this plan?**. Only plans that are **Off** or **Expired** can be deleted — stop a plan first. **Delete All** opens the **Delete Plans** dialog. Every deletable plan is listed with a checkbox; untick any plans you want to keep, then click **Delete Selected (N)**. Running and protected plans are not listed, so they can never be swept away by accident. ## Reorder Plans Drag a row (or a tile in tiles view) to move it. The order is saved between sessions. Dragging applies to the **Custom order** sort — switch back to it from the sort menu if you've sorted by **Name**. ## Submit to Library When you're logged in, **Submit to Library** shares a plan with other FocusMe users. Give the plan a description first, then choose a display name and category in the **Submit Plan to Library** dialog. See [Use the Plan Library](/guides/plan-library#submit-your-own-plan). To add a target to a running plan, use **Add Site to Blacklist** or **Add App to Blacklist** rather than opening the full wizard — it's faster and never asks you to stop the plan. # Manage Your Account Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/manage-your-account Your FocusMe account, password, devices, data and subscription. ## Your Account Your FocusMe account is the email address and password you use to log in. It holds your licence or trial, and it is what syncs plans, tasks and activity between your computers. * **Create an account** on [focusme.com](https://focusme.com) when you buy or start a trial, or from the app via **Login** → **Sign up free** * **Manage it online** at [focusme.com/my-account](https://focusme.com/my-account/) — orders, licence details, downloads and accountability settings * **In the app**, click **Login** / **Logout** in the sidebar; see [Log In & Sync](/guides/login-and-sync) ## Changing Your Password 1. Click **Login** in the sidebar (log out first if you are logged in — all plans must be stopped) 2. Click **Reset password** in the login dialog 3. Follow the link in the email FocusMe sends you and choose a new password 4. Log back in on each of your computers If **Save my login info** is ticked, FocusMe logs in automatically at start-up. After a password change, log out and back in so the saved details are updated. ## Your Licence Logging in validates a purchased licence automatically. To enter a key manually, activate offline, or check how many computers your licence allows, see [Activate a Licence](/guides/activation). ## Devices Each computer you log in on is registered against your account. You will meet the list in two places: * **Sync to Devices** in a plan's **Review** step lists every device, when it was last seen, and lets you choose where that plan runs * The **Activity** page's device filter lets you view **All devices** or a single one A licence covers a fixed number of computers at once. To free a seat from a computer you no longer use, [contact support](https://focusme.com/contact-us/). ## Your Data FocusMe keeps two kinds of data on its servers: | Data | Where to manage it | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Plans, tasks and activity** synced to your account | Delete plans and tasks in the app. For activity, open **Activity** → ellipsis menu → **Clear history** and choose **All Devices** to remove cloud copies as well. | | **Anonymous usage data** shared for Coach and product improvement | **Settings** → **System** → **Coach & Anonymous Data Collection** turns sharing off; **Delete My Data** permanently removes what has already been collected. | To use **Delete My Data**: 1. Open **Settings** → **System** 2. Click **Delete My Data** and confirm in the **Delete Anonymous Data** dialog with **Delete** 3. FocusMe replies *Your deletion request has been accepted. Your anonymous data will be permanently removed from our servers shortly.* To close the account itself, [contact support](https://focusme.com/contact-us/). ## Subscriptions, Cancelling and Refunds Payments are handled by Paddle, FocusMe's payment provider. Your receipt email contains a link to manage the subscription — update card details, or cancel so that it does not renew. Access continues until the end of the period you have paid for. For cancellation help, refund requests or licence transfers, [contact support](https://focusme.com/contact-us/) with the email address on the order. # Mastering Your Morning Routine Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/morning-routine A step-by-step guide to crafting a productive morning routine using FocusMe's scheduling and blocking features. Mornings often start with a flurry of reaction — email, social media, news — before the first cup of coffee is finished. One weekly plan with a protected morning block turns that around: distractions are simply unavailable until your deep work is done. ## The routine | Time | What to do | FocusMe | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------- | | 08:00 – 08:15 | Pick your top three priorities for the day | — | | 08:15 – 09:45 | Deep work on the most important task | **Morning Focus** plan, blocking | | 09:45 – 10:00 | Step away from the screen | — | | 10:00 – 11:15 | Second deep work block | **Morning Focus** plan, blocking | | 11:15 – 11:30 | Walk, stretch, review progress | — | | 11:30 – 12:00 | Email, messages and planning | Plan off | ## Setting up the Morning Focus plan ### Create the plan On the **Plans** tab click **Add a Plan** and name it **Morning Focus**. ### Choose what to block 1. On the **Websites** tab, add the sites that pull you in first thing: social media, news, your webmail domain 2. Switch to the **Applications** tab and add chat and email apps you want closed 3. If there is a site you need for the work itself, switch the segmented control to **Allowed** and add it there ### Draw the morning block 1. On **When it runs**, choose **Weekly Schedule** 2. Click the **Weekdays** preset, then drag the block on each day so it runs from 08:15 to 11:15. With every weekday selected, the label reads **Editing: ... (changes apply to all selected days)**, so one edit covers them all 3. Leave the rule mode on **Block** 4. Tick **Auto enable daily** so the plan comes back every morning even if you stopped it the day before Prefer a sharper rhythm inside the block? Split it into two blocks, 08:15 – 09:45 and 10:00 – 11:15, and take your screen-free break in the gap. Or run a separate [Pomodoro](/guides/pomodoro-technique) plan on top for sprints and short breaks. ### Make it hard to bail Mornings are when willpower is freshest and excuses are cheapest. On **How strict**, pick **Lock it Down**: stopping takes a 10 minute wait, then 25 random characters typed perfectly, with no pauses. By the time you have waited it out, the urge has usually passed. If you want no exit at all, click **Customize** and set **Protection when active** to **Enforced**. The plan then cannot be stopped until the block ends at 11:15. **Enforced** really means it. Make sure the allow list contains everything your morning work depends on, and keep the block to the hours you can commit to. ### Review and enable Check the **Blocks**, **Schedule** and **Protection** rows on **Review**, then click **Create & Enable**. Tomorrow at 08:15 the plan starts on its own. ## Optional: a shallow-work timer For the 11:30 – 12:00 email and planning slot, create a second plan called **Shallow Work**: 1. Block the same sites and apps, but keep your email and calendar on the **Allowed** list 2. On **When it runs**, choose **Quick Timer** and set 30 minutes 3. Give it **Gentle Guidance** and click **Create & Enable** Press play when you sit down to email; the timer keeps the session honest. See [Use a Quick Timer](/guides/focus-sessions). ## Tips * **Leave the phone elsewhere.** FocusMe protects the computer; the phone is up to you. * **Review weekly.** Open the **Activity** tab to see where the mornings went and whether the block needs to grow or shrink. See [Activity](/concepts/activity). * **Set an end date if you need an escape hatch.** With **Enforced** protection, **Set end date** on the schedule page guarantees the plan eventually lets go. # Parental Controls Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/parental-control Use FocusMe to manage a child's screen time, block inappropriate content and enforce healthy computer habits. FocusMe works well as a parental control tool. The recipe is: build the plans in the Plan Wizard, make them impossible for your child to stop or edit, then lock down FocusMe and the computer itself so the plans can't be worked around. ## Build the Plans Create one plan per job from the Plans tab with **Add a Plan**, or import ready-made ones from the **Plan Library**. ### 1. Block inappropriate websites On **What to block**, load the **Adult Content** list from the **Lists:** row and add anything else you want restricted. Add a **Keyword** entry (for example `porn`) to catch pages by title, and use [Regex](/advanced/regex) for broad category blocking. On **When it runs**, choose **Weekly Schedule** and click the **24/7** preset chip. For younger children, tick **Block every website except my allowed list** under **Advanced** and allow only approved sites — the safer approach. ### 2. Limit gaming and social media Create a separate plan with the games and social sites as targets. On **When it runs**, set the interval's rule mode to **Time Limit** — for example **Allow** 1 h **per Day** — or **Session Limit** to stop compulsive checking. See [Rule Modes](/concepts/rule-types). ### 3. Enforce bedtime Create a plan, tick **Block entire computer** under **Advanced** on the Applications tab, and give it a **Weekly Schedule** from, say, 9pm to 7am every night. The computer is unusable during those hours. See [Block your PC at night](/guides/block-pc-at-night). ### 4. Enforce screen breaks Create a plan whose interval uses **Screen Break** — for example **Break every** 45 m **for** 10 m. See [Screen Breaks](/guides/screen-breaks). ## Protect the Plans On the **How strict** step, start from **Lock it Down**, then click **Customize** and tighten what's left: | Setting | Recommended | Why | | ------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Protection when active** | **Enforced**, or **Password** with a password only you know | Enforced can't be stopped by anyone until the schedule ends; Password lets *you* stop it when needed | | **Protection when on standby** | **Password** | Stops the plan being stopped or edited outside its scheduled hours | | **Edit protection** | **Password** | Stops the plan being edited or deleted while it's not running | | **Skip break** | **Disallowed** | Breaks can't be skipped | | **Pause** / **Postpone break** | **Disallowed** | The plan can't be paused, and no pause is offered when something is blocked | | **Add to whitelist** | **Disallowed** | No exceptions can be added while the plan is enabled | Don't tick **Partner Override** on any challenge, and don't use **Random** — a determined teenager will type 25 characters. **Password** on the active protection is often the better choice for parents: you keep the ability to stop a plan for a school project or a family trip, while your child cannot. Use **Enforced** only for plans you're sure you'll never need to interrupt, such as the adult-content block. Whatever you choose, remember that a running plan can only be edited to be *stricter* — with **Enforced** stopping and a 24/7 schedule with no end date, nobody can stop the plan, including you. FocusMe warns you when you choose that combination. ## Lock Down FocusMe Plan protection stops the plans being changed. The settings below stop your child changing FocusMe. ### Master Password In **Settings > General**, set **Master Password** to **Password** and type it into the **Password** and **Repeat password** fields that appear in the row (**Passwords match** confirms it). FocusMe then asks for the password before showing its main screen — *recommended for business use or parental control* — so your child can't open the app, see the plans or reach the settings. **Start Minimized** is switched on automatically. ### Share settings and restrict logons Also in **Settings > General**: * **Share Settings for All Users** — apply the same settings and plans to every user account on the computer (requires administrator privileges). With it on, **Start at Logon** must be **All Users**, so FocusMe starts whichever account is used. * **Restrict Logon of Users** — shown once settings are shared. Turning it on opens the **Allowed User Accounts** dialog; only the accounts you tick can log in, so a child can't switch to a spare account to escape the plans. It can't be turned off while any plan is enabled. * **Protect Guest Account** (macOS) — protects the macOS guest account. ### System protections In **Settings > System**, turn on the protections that close the usual workarounds: * **Protect FocusMe Process** and **Protect FocusMe Configuration** — restart FocusMe if it's ended and guard its files. * **Block Task Managers** and **Block Command Prompt** — block the tools most often used to end FocusMe. * **Use Internal Clock & Get Time from Internet** — stops schedule tricks by changing the computer's clock. If you'd rather not, use **Block Date & Time Changing** and **Block W10/W11 PC Settings**. * **Protect Switch User** and **Protect Sign Out** (Windows) — prevent switching accounts or signing out to dodge a plan. * **Protect Uninstall** and **Block 3rd Party Uninstallers** — FocusMe can't be removed while plans run. * **Protect Activity** — the child can't clear or disable the [Activity](/concepts/activity) history you use to check up on things. * **Extra Protection Service** (Windows, administrator) — click **Install** to add a background service that keeps FocusMe's protections in place. With it installed, **Run in Safe Mode** also launches FocusMe when Windows starts in Safe Mode. Several of these can't be switched off while a plan is enabled, and the **Master Password** stops your child reaching them at all. ## Tips * **Install FocusMe on the child's own account** with **Share Settings for All Users**, and give them a standard (non-administrator) Windows account. * **Check the Activity tab** to see where their time went and what was blocked — see [Activity](/concepts/activity). * **Start lenient and tighten.** Let them earn more screen time through good behaviour rather than starting with maximum restriction; a **Time Limit** is easier to live with than a 24/7 block. * **Keep an escape hatch you control.** Prefer **Password** to **Enforced** on anything you might need to lift, and keep the password somewhere safe. # Partially Block Websites Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/partially-block-websites Block specific parts of a website while allowing the rest. You do not have to block a whole site. FocusMe can block a section, a page or a feature while the rest of the domain stays open, or block the domain while one section stays open. ## How matching works Every website entry has a type and a match. Click any row on **What to block** to edit them. | Type | Matches against | | ----------- | --------------------------------------- | | **URL** | The page address | | **Keyword** | The page address **and** the page title | | Match | Behaviour | | --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Contains** | A bare domain such as `reddit.com` — a dot, no slash, space or colon — is matched as a domain: it covers the domain and its subdomains, but not an unrelated name such as `notreddit.com`. Anything else, including every entry with a path such as `reddit.com/r/gaming`, is a plain substring test and matches wherever that text appears in the address | | **Exact** | The address must match the entry exactly | | **Starts With** | The address begins with the entry | | **Ends With** | The address ends with the entry | | **Regex** | The entry is a regular expression | Addresses are compared without `https://` or `www.`, so write entries without them. ## Method 1: Block a section by path Add the path you want blocked as a **URL** entry with **Contains**: ``` youtube.com/shorts reddit.com/r/gaming x.com/explore ``` Everything else on those domains stays available. | Block this | But allow this | Entry | | --------------- | ------------------ | --------------------- | | YouTube Shorts | Regular YouTube | `youtube.com/shorts` | | One subreddit | Other subreddits | `reddit.com/r/gaming` | | Instagram Reels | Instagram profiles | `instagram.com/reels` | | X trending | Your timeline | `x.com/explore` | ## Method 2: Block the domain, allow a section For the reverse, block the whole site and put the section you need on the allow list. Allow list entries always take priority over the block list. 1. On **What to block**, with **Blocked** selected, add `facebook.com` 2. Switch the segmented control to **Allowed** and add `facebook.com/messages` 3. Click **Next** and finish the wizard as usual If you try to add the same entry to both lists, FocusMe tells you it is **Already on the allow list, which takes priority.** or **Already on the block list.** and offers to move it. If an allow entry is rejected with a **Blocked:** message, **Similarity protection** (under **Advanced**) considers it too close to a blocked entry. Lower the level, or make the allow entry more specific. ## Method 3: Keyword matching on page titles A **Keyword** entry is checked against the page title as well as the address, which catches content whose address is unpredictable: * `Shorts` — blocks YouTube Shorts wherever they appear * `Reels` — blocks Instagram Reels * The name of a show or game Keep keywords specific: a short word can appear in the titles of pages you need. ## Method 4: Regex For pattern matching, set the row's match to **Regex**: ``` youtube\.com/(shorts|feed|trending) ``` This blocks Shorts, the feed and trending pages but allows ordinary video pages, channels and search. [Learn more about Regex →](/advanced/regex) [Learn more about blocking websites →](/concepts/blocking-websites) # Pause a Plan Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/pause-a-plan Temporarily pause blocking when you need a quick break, without stopping the plan. Sometimes you need brief access to something a plan blocks — a work-related YouTube video, or a message on Facebook. Pausing suspends blocking for a set time and then resumes automatically, so you never forget to switch the plan back on. ## Pause from the Plans List 1. Open FocusMe and find the running plan 2. Click its stop button and choose **Pause** from the small popup (or right-click the plan and choose **Pause**) 3. In the **Pause plan?** dialog (*Would you like to pause "Plan"?*), check how many pauses you have left (or **Unlimited pauses**) and set **Pause for:** — the length of the pause 4. Complete the plan's pause challenge if it has one (random characters or a password), then click **Pause**. **No thanks** closes the dialog without pausing The status pill changes to **Paused** and the ring turns amber. Blocking resumes on its own when the pause ends. On plans that block the entire computer — screen breaks, for example — the command is called **Postpone** rather than **Pause**. It delays the next break and follows the same limits and protection. ## Pause from the Block Page If the plan has **Offer to Pause when blocked** turned on, FocusMe asks whether you'd like to pause the moment you hit a blocked site or app: The dialog shows how many pauses you have left today (or **Unlimited pauses**), lets you set **Pause for:**, and offers **Pause** or **No thanks**. Once paused, a **Re-open** button takes you straight back to the site you were trying to reach. **Offer to Pause when blocked** is off by default. Turn it on under **How strict → Customize → Pause**. ## Pause Limits How often and how long you can pause is part of the plan's protection preset: | Preset | Pausing | | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Unlocked** | Pause freely, no challenge | | **Gentle Guidance** | Pause freely, no challenge | | **Firm but Flexible** | 3 pauses a day of up to 15 minutes each, after typing 6 random characters | | **Lock it Down** | No pauses | To set your own limits, click **Customize** on the **How strict** step. The **Pause** section has: * The pause challenge — **Unprotected**, **Random**, **Password**, or **Disallowed** * **Offer to Pause when blocked** * **Pause limit (Per day)** — the maximum number of pauses per day * **Pause length (hh:mm)** — the maximum duration of each pause When you've used all of today's pauses, **Pause** disappears from the context menu until tomorrow. If pausing is **Disallowed** but the action has **Partner Override** and you have an accountability partner, the dialog offers to ask your partner instead. They can approve by email or give you a code to enter. ## Resume or Pause Again Right-click a paused plan to see: * **Resume** — end the pause now and start blocking again * **Pause Again** (or **Postpone Again**) — take another pause, if you have any left * **Stop** — stop the plan entirely, completing its stop challenge ## Pause vs Stop | Action | Effect | | --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Pause** | Suspends blocking for a set time, then resumes automatically. Counts against your daily pause limit. | | **Stop** | Deactivates the plan. It must be started again by hand or wait for its next scheduled start. | Pausing is the safer option — you know blocking will return. A stop delay, if the plan has one, keeps counting while the plan is paused. If you find yourself pausing constantly, the plan may be too aggressive. Consider a **Time Limit** rule mode that gives you a daily budget instead of blocking outright. # Use the Plan Library Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/plan-library Browse and import ready-made plan templates, or share your own plans with the community. The **Plan Library** gives you ready-made plans for the common battles — social media, gaming, adult content, news, and more — so you don't have to build everything from scratch. Import one, adjust it if you like, and start blocking. ## Open the Plan Library 1. Open the **Plans** tab 2. Click **Plan Library** in the toolbar (or the **Plan Library** card if you have no plans yet) ## Browse The library is a grid of template cards. Each card shows: * The plan name, with an **OFFICIAL** badge on plans made by the FocusMe team * A vote count — click the arrow to vote for a plan you like * A short description * A summary line such as `9 sites · 11 apps · • Block · Timer 1h` * The protection tier, e.g. **Gentle Guidance** * The category and author, e.g. `Gaming · by FocusMe` To narrow the list: * Type in **Search templates...** * Click a category chip: **All**, **Official**, **Productivity**, **Social Media**, **Wellness**, **Focus**, **Gaming**, or **Adult Content** * Change the sort: **Most voted**, **Most imported**, **Newest**, or **A-Z** Official templates include **Block Games**, **Block Social Media**, **Block the Internet**, and **Limit News Browsing**, among others. ## Import a Template 1. Click one or more cards to select them — the footer counts `N plans selected` 2. Click **Import (N)** 3. The plans appear in your Plans list, switched off 4. Review them (single-click a row to open its drawer) and click the play button or right-click → **Start** when you're ready Imported templates are fully editable. Use them as a starting point and adjust the targets, schedule, and protection to suit you. **Official** templates import exactly as designed, including strict presets such as **Lock it Down**. **Community** templates are softened on import — Enforced challenges, perfect-entry requirements, and passwords are removed — so a stranger's plan can never lock you out of your own computer. ## Submit Your Own Plan You can share a plan with the community: 1. Log in to your FocusMe account 2. Give the plan a description (open it with **Edit**, then **Review → Options → Description**) — the library needs one 3. Right-click the plan → **Submit to Library**, or click **Submit your plan** in the library footer and choose a plan 4. In the **Submit Plan to Library** dialog, choose a display name (at least 3 characters, shown on all your templates) and a **Category:** — **Productivity**, **Social Media**, **Wellness**, **Focus**, **Gaming**, **Adult Content**, or **Other** 5. Click **Submit** You'll see **Plan submitted to the Library successfully. Thank you for your contribution!** when it's done. Only the plan configuration is shared — never your activity data, usage, or account details. # Pomodoro Technique Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/pomodoro-technique Use the Pomodoro method with FocusMe for structured work sprints and breaks. The [Pomodoro Technique](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique) alternates focused work sprints with short breaks, and a longer break after each set. FocusMe has a built-in **Pomodoro** schedule that blocks your targets during every sprint and releases them during breaks. ## Setting up a Pomodoro plan 1. Click **Add a Plan**, name it and add the sites and apps to block on **What to block** 2. On **When it runs**, choose **Pomodoro** in the segmented control 3. Set the cycle: | Setting | Classic | Your choice | | ------------------------ | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Pomodoro count** | 4 | The total number of sprints in the run | | **Pomodoro duration** | 25 minutes | 25 – 50 minutes | | **Short break duration** | 5 minutes | 5 – 10 minutes | | **Pomodoro's per set** | 4 | How many sprints before a long break; keep it below the count | | **Long break duration** | 15 minutes | 15 – 30 minutes | 4. Choose the extra options you want: * **Scheduled Start** with day pills, to start the run automatically at a set time on chosen days * **Wait for User** — a break does not end until you touch the mouse, so a sprint never starts while you are away * **Blank screen during breaks** — blank the screen to make sure you step away * **Pomodoro Penalty** — **Restart the work timer when you visit a blocked site.** * **Show plan start dialog** — show the start dialog each time you press play 5. Click **Next**, pick a **How strict** preset, then click **Create & Enable** on **Review** Pomodoro plans always **Block** during focus periods; there is no rule mode to choose. ## Starting a run Press play on the plan and the start dialog appears, so you can tweak today's run without editing the plan: * **Delay before start** — hours and minutes before the first sprint begins * **Pomodoros** — steppers for **Count**, **Focus (min)**, **Short break** and **Long break**, with a live summary such as **4 × 25m focus + breaks — about 1h 55m total** * **Blank screen during breaks**, **Wait for user**, **Reshow on stop** and **Show timer** checkboxes Click **Start**. ## During the run 1. A sprint begins and your targets are blocked 2. When it ends, the break screen appears and the targets are released 3. After the set number of sprints you get the long break 4. The cycle repeats until the **Pomodoro count** is reached The floating timer shows the phase and the time left. Right-click it for **Skip to Break** during a sprint, **Skip to Focus** during a break, plus **Pause**, **Stop**, **Restart Session** and **Hide Timer**. If the plan's protection covers stopping or skipping, the usual challenge applies. [Learn more about the timer window →](/concepts/timer-window) ## Tips * **25 minutes too short?** Many people find 45- or 50-minute sprints better for deep work. Experiment. * **Use Screen Breaks for the physical part.** Pomodoro releases your targets during breaks; a separate [Screen Break](/guides/screen-breaks) plan forces you off the screen entirely. * **Do not check social media during breaks.** Keep the blocked sites in a second, always-on plan if the temptation is strong. * **Enable Wait for User** if you tend to wander off. The next sprint waits until you are back. [Learn more about schedule modes →](/concepts/schedule-modes) # Protect a Plan from Yourself Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/protect-plan-from-yourself Climb the protection ladder step by step so you can't impulsively disable your focus plans. The whole point of FocusMe is that it keeps blocking even when you'd rather it didn't. Protection is set on the **How strict** step (Step 3) of the Plan Wizard, and the four presets form a ladder — climb it one rung at a time as you learn how much friction you actually need. ## Rung 1: Gentle Guidance New plans start here. Stopping, whitelisting or skipping a break costs five random characters; pausing is free. **Use it when:** you're still checking that a plan's targets and schedule are right, or you just need a moment's reflection between the impulse and the click. **What it feels like:** a decision, not a reflex. You can always get out, but not by accident. ## Rung 2: Firm but Flexible Stopping takes a **two-minute wait**, then ten random characters. Pausing costs six characters and you get **three pauses a day of 15 minutes** each. Whitelisting costs twelve characters and skipping a break costs four. **Use it when:** Gentle Guidance has stopped working — you've noticed yourself typing the five characters without a second thought. **What it feels like:** the wait does the work. The impulse to stop has to outlive two minutes of the plan still blocking; most impulses don't. The rationed pauses are your relief valve, so you don't feel trapped. Right-click a plan and choose **Pause** to spend one of your pauses. Turn on **Offer to Pause when blocked** under **Customize** if you'd like FocusMe to offer a pause when you hit a blocked site. ## Rung 3: Lock it Down Stopping takes a **ten-minute wait**, then **25 random characters typed perfectly** — one typo and you start again. No pauses, no skipping breaks, no whitelist additions. **Use it when:** you know exactly what the plan should do and you want stopping to stay possible but never easy. **What it feels like:** you can still get out in a genuine emergency, but it costs ten minutes of waiting plus a careful minute of typing. That's enough to make "just five minutes on Reddit" not worth the effort. With Lock it Down, run a plan on a lighter preset first to verify its targets and schedule. Ten minutes plus a perfect-entry challenge is a long time to wait when the plan blocks something you needed. ## Rung 4: Enforced (via Customize) Click **Customize** and set **Protection when active** to **Enforced**. The plan cannot be stopped until its schedule ends — no wait, no challenge, no exit. Set **Pause** and **Skip break** to **Disallowed** and **Add to whitelist** to **Disallowed** to close the remaining doors. FocusMe warns you before it accepts this. On a Quick Timer: *Stopping the plan will not be possible until the timer runs out.* On a 24/7 weekly schedule with no end date: *you will never be able to stop this plan.* **Use it when:** you have tested the plan on Lock it Down for at least a few days and nothing needed changing. **Before you commit:** 1. Use a **Weekly Schedule** with gaps for the hours you genuinely need unrestricted access, or tick **Set end date**. 2. Set **Protection when on standby** and **Edit protection** too — otherwise you can stop the plan outside its hours, edit it to remove protection, and restart it. 3. Remember that a running plan can only ever be edited to be **stricter**. The only way out of an Enforced plan before it ends is an [Assisted Stop](/concepts/plan-protection#assisted-stop) approved by a partner or FocusMe support. ## Add a Master Password Protection stops you stopping a plan, but a **Master Password** stops you opening FocusMe at all. In **Settings > General**, set **Master Password** to **Random Chars** (with a length and optional **Perfect Entry**) or to a **Password** you don't keep to hand — choosing **Password** reveals **Password** and **Repeat password** fields in the same row. Give it to someone you trust, or generate it in a password manager and don't memorise it. FocusMe then asks for it before showing the main screen, and starts minimised. ## Add an Accountability Partner Tick **Partner Override** on a challenge to let a trusted person unlock it for you. Add them in **Settings > Accountability** with their **Partner email**, then use **Lock Accountability Partners** so you can't quietly add a more lenient partner later. When you ask for an [Assisted Stop](/concepts/plan-protection#assisted-stop), the dialog's main button sends them your reason; they approve by email or give you a code. [Learn more about accountability partners →](/concepts/accountability-partner) ## Add a Self-Imposed Penalty If waiting and typing isn't enough, put money on it. A [Self-Imposed Penalty](/concepts/self-imposed-penalty) charges you when you use an assisted stop — a cost you'll only accept in a real emergency. ## Tips * **Escalate, don't jump.** Most people never need Enforced. A preset that lets you out at a price you rarely want to pay is the sweet spot. * **Protect standby and editing** once you're past Gentle Guidance, or the protection only holds while the schedule is active. * **Watch the tier in the Plans list.** Each row shows its tier — **Gentle Guidance**, **Firm but Flexible**, **Lock it Down** or **Custom** — with a one-line summary, so you can see at a glance which plans are still on training wheels. # Enforce Screen Breaks Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/screen-breaks Protect your eyes and energy with automatic enforced breaks. Hours of unbroken screen time wear down your eyes, posture and energy. The **Screen Break** rule mode forces you away from the computer at regular intervals with a full-screen break that cannot be dismissed until the break is over. ## Setting up a Screen Break plan 1. Click **Add a Plan** and name it, for example **Screen Breaks** 2. On **When it runs**, choose **Weekly Schedule** and click the **Office Hours** or **24/7** preset, depending on when you want breaks 3. Select a block on the timeline and set its rule mode to **Screen Break** 4. Fill in the sentence row underneath: * **Break every** — minutes of active computer use before a break, e.g. 45 m * **for** — how long the break lasts, e.g. 5 m * **skippable after** — the minimum time a break must run before it can be skipped. **0 = no minimum** * **Warn me** — add reminders, in minutes before the break, so you can finish what you are doing 5. Click **Next**, pick a **How strict** preset and click **Create & Enable** on **Review** The break counter only advances while you are actively using the computer, so time away from the keyboard is not counted against you. Clicking a warning notification takes the break early. ## What happens during a break * A full-screen overlay covers the display with **Take a break! You can continue in ...** and a countdown * Everything keeps running in the background; nothing is closed * If you set a **skippable after** minimum, the screen shows **Skip available in ...** until it passes, then a **Skip Break** button appears * When the countdown ends the overlay disappears and everything is exactly as you left it [Learn more about the break screen →](/concepts/break-screen) ## Stop yourself from skipping Skipping is decided on the **How strict** step. The presets already cover it: **Gentle Guidance** asks for 5 random characters, **Firm but Flexible** for 4, and **Lock it Down** does not allow skipping at all. For your own mix, click **Customize** and look at **Skip break**: * Choose **Unprotected**, **Random**, **Password** or **Disallowed** * **Skip limit (Per day)** caps how many breaks you can skip in a day [Learn more about plan protection →](/concepts/plan-protection) ## A break after a Quick Timer session You do not need a separate plan to rest after a sprint. Any **Quick Timer** plan can end with a break: 1. On **When it runs**, with **Quick Timer** selected, tick **Screen break after session** and set how long it lasts with **lasting** 2. The same option is on the start dialog each time you press play When the session ends, the break screen appears for that long. See [Use a Quick Timer](/guides/focus-sessions). ## Recommended configurations | Style | Break every | For | Best for | | ------------------ | ----------- | ---- | ------------------------------------------- | | **20-20-20 rule** | 20 m | 1 m | Eye health — look at something 20 feet away | | **Standard** | 45 m | 5 m | General desk work | | **Intensive** | 25 m | 5 m | Matches a Pomodoro rhythm | | **Extended focus** | 90 m | 15 m | Deep work sessions | ## Combining with other plans A Screen Break plan runs independently of your blocking plans. A social media **Block** on a weekly schedule and a **Screen Break** every 45 minutes can run side by side without interfering. [Learn more about rule types →](/concepts/rule-types) # Troubleshoot: Websites Not Blocked Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/troubleshoot-websites-not-blocked What to do when FocusMe isn't blocking a website as expected. If a website is not being blocked when it should be, work through this checklist from the top. Most cases are solved by the first three steps. ## 1. Check the plan is actually running Open the **Plans** tab and look at the plan's row: * The **Now** ring at the left shows whether it is running right now, and the status pill should read **Active**. **Standby** means the plan is enabled but outside its schedule; **Off** means it is not running at all * If the pill says **Paused**, **Break** or **Waiting**, blocking is suspended until that state ends * For a **Time Limit** or **Session Limit** block, sites are only blocked once the allowance is used up. Click the row to open its drawer and check **COMING UP** ## 2. Check the entry itself Open the plan with **Edit** and look at **What to block**: * Check the spelling and use the current domain (`x.com`, not `twitter.com`) * Enter a plain domain without `https://` or `www.`; a plain domain also covers its subdomains * Click the row and check its type and match. A **URL** entry with **Contains** is right for almost every site * With a **Regex** entry, remember the address is matched with `https://`, a leading `www.` and any trailing `/` already removed, and that the path is included — so a pattern anchored with `$`, such as `\.com$`, will not match `example.com/feed`. See [Regular Expressions](/advanced/regex) * Switch to **Allowed** and make sure the site is not on the allow list, which always takes priority ## 3. Install the browser addon and check it is connected The FocusMe addon is what lets FocusMe see which page a tab is on. Without it, blocking depends on window titles and is far less accurate. 1. Go to **Settings** > **Browsers** and click the button for your browser under **Browser Addon (Recommended)**. Only browsers that are installed are listed 2. After installing, click the FocusMe icon in the browser toolbar. The popup should say **Connected**. If it says **Connecting...** or **Disconnected**, restart the browser 3. If the addon was removed or disabled, FocusMe shows a **Browser Addon** notification with **Check extensions** and **Reinstall** actions. Use them to get back to **Connected** [Full browser addon guide →](/advanced/browser-extension) ## 4. Restart the browser After installing or updating the addon, close every window of the browser and open it again. A browser that keeps running in the background after its last window closes may need to be quit from its own menu or the system tray. ## 5. Decide what happens when the addon cannot see a page **Settings** > **Browsers** > **Addon Verification** controls what FocusMe does when the addon is missing or cannot check a page: | Level | Behaviour | | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Off** | The browser is never closed. Websites may go unblocked while the addon is missing | | **Basic** | If a browser runs without the addon, FocusMe warns you and then closes it | | **Standard** | Like Basic, and also steps in when a page cannot be checked at all, for example Incognito windows where the addon is not allowed. You always get a warning first | | **Strict** | The browser closes within seconds, and only the pages needed to set the addon up stay open. The timer is remembered across restarts | With **Basic** or above you will see **Addon is not found. Browser will be blocked in N seconds.** with an **Install addon** button when a browser has no addon. **Block Browser When Website Block Fails (Caution!)** on the same tab closes a browser that does not close a blocked website on command. It is always on while **Addon Verification** is **Strict**. ## 6. Incognito and private windows Extensions are disabled in Incognito / InPrivate windows unless you allow them. Open your browser's extensions page and enable the FocusMe addon for private browsing. Otherwise, under **Standard** or **Strict**, you will see **Browser will be closed soon — the URL cannot be verified** and the browser is closed. ## 7. Unsupported browsers and Linux Flatpaks * Use a browser that has a FocusMe addon (the list under **Browser Addon (Recommended)** shows which ones are installed on your computer). In a browser with no addon FocusMe falls back to window-title matching; add the site as a **Keyword** entry as well as a **URL** entry to improve the odds * On Linux, Flatpak builds of Chromium-based browsers cannot run the addon. FocusMe tells you **The Flatpak version of ... can't support our addon** and closes the tab or browser; install the standard `.deb` version instead. Flatpak Firefox, Zen and LibreWolf are supported ## 8. Browser windows that are visible but not focused If a blocked site stays open in a second window while you work in another, enable **Settings** > **System** > **Check Secondary Browser Windows**. FocusMe then checks browser windows that are visible but not in focus. **Check Minimized Browser Windows** goes further and is not usually recommended. ## 9. Use the Helper to see what FocusMe sees Click **Helper** in the sidebar while the site is open. The Helper lists every open window with its **Process**, **Title** and **URL** exactly as FocusMe detects them. Compare the **URL** with your entry, and use **Add to plan...** to add the correct value directly. [Using the Helper Tool →](/guides/using-the-helper-tool) ## Still not working? [Contact Support](https://focusme.com/contact-us/) with: * Your operating system and version * Which browser you use and whether the addon popup says **Connected** * The website address that is not being blocked * A screenshot of the plan's **What to block** step # Update FocusMe Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/updates How FocusMe checks for updates, the Update settings, and what happens while plans are running. FocusMe checks for new versions in the background and either prompts you or installs them automatically, depending on your settings. Updates are never held back by a running plan — your protection carries straight over to the new version. ## Update Settings Everything to do with updates lives in **Settings** → **General** → **Update settings**. | Setting | Description | | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Version** | The installed version. Next to it: **Save Diagnostics** (and **Save Logs** when logging is on) — see [Diagnostics](#diagnostics-and-logs). | | **Check Now** | Checks for an update immediately. The button reads **Checking...**, then **Install** if one is found, and **Downloading...** / **Installing...** while it is applied. An **Update available: x.y.z** label appears once a newer version is known. | | **Change Log** | Opens the release notes. | | **Update Method** | **Prompt** — FocusMe tells you an update is available and lets you choose when to install it. **Automatic** — updates are downloaded and installed without asking. | | **Update Frequency** | How often FocusMe checks and notifies you: **Every 4 hours**, **Daily**, **Twice weekly**, **Weekly** (default), **Every 2 weeks** or **Monthly**. | | **Early Access** | Receive new versions before the general release. Early-access builds are less widely tested. | ## When an Update Is Available With **Update Method** set to **Prompt**, FocusMe shows the **Update Available!** window: *Version x.y.z is ready to install.* with a **What's New** summary. * **Update Now** downloads and installs the update. FocusMe restarts into the new version with your plans in the same state. * **Not Now** dismisses the window; you will be reminded again according to your **Update Frequency**. * **Skip this version** silences reminders for this particular version. You will still be told about the next one. With **Update Method** set to **Automatic**, the update is applied in the background — including while plans are active. ## Updates and Running Plans * **Upgrading while plans run is allowed.** The installer stops the app, replaces the files and starts it again; your plans continue enforcing when it comes back. * **Downgrading while plans run is not.** If you run an older installer on top of a newer version while plans are enabled, the Windows installer stops with *A newer version of FocusMe is already installed. Installing an older version is not possible while plans are running.* With no plans running it asks you to confirm the downgrade instead. * On Windows the installer skips the licence-agreement page when it is upgrading an existing installation, so an update needs no clicks beyond the User Account Control prompt. The old **Protect Install/Updates** setting was removed in August 2026 and is not coming back. It is no longer needed: installing an update does not interrupt, weaken or pause a running plan, and an older version refuses to install while plans are running, so the protection it used to provide is now built in. There is nothing to enable, and no gap to leave in your schedule for updates — you still choose when to update with **Update Method** above. ### macOS Updates are delivered as a PKG. FocusMe installs it silently when it can; if that is not possible on your Mac, the installer opens and asks for your administrator password. With **Automatic** updates FocusMe waits until you are at the computer before launching the installer so that the password prompt is not missed. ### Linux The update is applied by the installer, which manages the background service itself and restarts FocusMe afterwards. ## Diagnostics and Logs If support asks for diagnostics, the **Version** row has what you need: * **Save Diagnostics** collects logs and configuration details into a single archive (`FocusMeDiagnostic.dat`, saved to your Desktop by default). The button reads **Collecting...** while it works. Attach the file to your support ticket. * **Save Logs** appears when logging is enabled and saves just the log files. Logging is off by default. To turn it on, click the version number five times to reveal **Enable Logging**; **Disable** turns it off again. Run **Save Diagnostics** straight after reproducing a problem so the archive contains the relevant entries. # Use the Scheduler Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/use-the-scheduler Set up automated weekly schedules so your plans activate and deactivate on their own. A **Weekly Schedule** puts a plan on autopilot. You draw the hours on a timeline for each day of the week, and the plan starts and stops by itself, every week, with no manual action. ## Setting up a weekly schedule 1. In the Plan Wizard, go to **When it runs** and choose **Weekly Schedule** in the segmented control 2. Click a preset chip to fill the week in one go, or pick days and draw blocks yourself (below) 3. Continue with **Next** to **How strict** and **Review**, then click **Create & Enable** ### Presets | Chip | Fills in | | ---------------- | ---------------------------- | | **24/7** | Every hour of every day | | **Office Hours** | Working hours on weekdays | | **Weekdays** | Monday to Friday, all day | | **Weekends** | Saturday and Sunday, all day | | **Clear** | Removes every block | Presets are a starting point: after applying one, drag the blocks to fine-tune them. ### Drawing blocks yourself 1. Click a day pill to select it. Click several, or use **Select All**, to edit them together. The label reads **Editing: Mon, Tue (changes apply to all selected days)** 2. Drag on the timeline to add a time block. Drag a block's edge to change its length, or select it and type exact start and end times in the **Interval** fields 3. Add as many blocks per day as you need, leaving gaps where the plan should be off If you select days that already have different schedules, the **Different Schedules** dialog asks which day's schedule to keep for all of them before you edit. ## A rule mode for every block Each block on the timeline carries its own rule mode. Select a block and use the segmented control beside the timeline to choose **Block**, **Time Limit**, **Session Limit** or **Screen Break**; the block is coloured by its mode. The settings for that mode appear in a sentence-style row underneath, for example **Allow** 30 m **per** **Day** for a Time Limit. This lets one plan behave differently through the day, say a full **Block** in the morning and a **Time Limit** in the evening. See [Rule Types](/concepts/rule-types) for what each mode does. ## Options under the timeline * **Auto enable daily** — re-enables the plan every day, so it cannot stay switched off after you stop it * **Set end date** — tick it and choose a date; the plan stops running after that date. Useful with **Enforced** protection, so there is always a way out ## Examples **Work hours:** click **Weekdays**, then drag the block on each day to 09:00 – 17:00 (or start from **Office Hours**). **Evening wind-down:** **Select All**, then draw a block from 22:00 to the end of the day. To carry it past midnight, also draw a block from the start of the day to 06:00; FocusMe treats the two as one continuous run. See [Block Your PC at Night](/guides/block-pc-at-night). **Weekend study:** select Saturday and Sunday and draw 08:00 – 13:00. **Split day:** on each weekday draw 09:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00, leaving lunch free. ## Tips * **Start with your real routine.** Schedule the hours you actually need to focus, not an idealised version. * **Leave gaps.** You need unblocked time too. * **Combine with protection.** A weekly schedule with **Lock it Down** is the ultimate set-and-forget setup. Before you use an **Enforced** stop challenge, set an end date. * **Adjust as needed.** Open the plan with **Edit** and move the blocks. Protection permitting, blocks can be changed even while the plan is running; while it runs, a block's mode can only be tightened to **Block**. [Learn more about schedule modes →](/concepts/schedule-modes) # Using the Helper Tool Source: https://docs.focusme.com/guides/using-the-helper-tool Identify the exact process name, window title, and URL of any running application or website. The Helper shows you exactly how FocusMe sees every open window — its application name, process, window title, address and more — and lets you add any of those values to a plan in a couple of clicks. It is the quickest way to build precise blocking rules. ## Opening the Helper 1. Open the app or website you want to identify 2. Click **Helper** in the FocusMe sidebar (or choose **Helper** from the tray icon menu) The Helper is a small, always-on-top window, so it stays visible while you switch between apps. Drag it by its header to move it, and drag its right or bottom edge to resize it. Close it with the **Close (Esc)** button, the **Esc** key, or by clicking **Helper** again. ## Reading the list The header shows how many windows are open. Each row lists one window with four columns: | Column | What it shows | | --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Application** | The application's friendly name | | **Process** | The executable, e.g. `msedge.exe` | | **Title** | The current window title | | **URL** | The page address, for browser windows with the addon installed | Type in **Filter windows...** to narrow the list, and click a column header to sort by it. The footer shows **Active today:** with the time you have spent on the selected window's app. ## Detail rows Select a window to see its full set of details: | Detail | Use it for | | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Application Name** | Blocking by product name; the best choice for Windows Store apps | | **Process Name** | Blocking desktop software by executable | | **Process Path** | Blocking one installation, or a whole folder of executables | | **Window Title** | Blocking specific content inside an app | | **Window Class** | Advanced matching | | **Program Signature** | Blocking everything from one publisher | | **Type** | Whether FocusMe treats the window as a **Browser** or an **Application** | | **URL** | Blocking a website (browser windows only) | | **Folder Location** | Blocking a folder open in File Explorer | Click any value to copy it — the window confirms with **Copied to clipboard**. Paste it into the add row on a plan's **What to block** step. ## Adding straight to a plan You do not need to copy and paste at all: 1. Hover a detail row and click the **+** that appears, or right-click a window in the list and choose **Add to plan...** 2. In the **Add to Plan** dialog, pick the plan, choose **Block list** or **Allow list**, and check the target type and match 3. Click **Accept** The dialog warns you if the entry already exists (**Duplicate target - this entry already exists in the list**) or is on the plan's other list, and offers **Move to block list** / **Move to allow list**. If the plan is running with allow-list protection, adding to its allow list follows the plan's protection rules — see [Add to a List While a Plan is Active](/guides/add-to-list-while-active). The right-click menu also offers **Copy title**, **Copy process name**, **Copy program signature** and **Copy URL**. ## Common process names | App | Process Name | Notes | | --------------- | ------------- | ---------------------------------- | | Google Chrome | `chrome.exe` | | | Microsoft Edge | `msedge.exe` | | | Firefox | `firefox.exe` | | | Brave | `brave.exe` | | | Microsoft Word | `WINWORD.EXE` | | | Microsoft Excel | `EXCEL.EXE` | | | Discord | `Discord.exe` | | | Slack | `slack.exe` | | | Steam | `steam.exe` | Games have their own process names | | VS Code | `Code.exe` | | ## Tips * **Windows Store apps** show `ApplicationFrameHost.exe` or `WWAHost.exe` as their process. Do not block that; add the **Application Name** or **Window Title** instead. See [Block Windows Store Apps](/guides/block-windows-store-apps). * **Games** each have their own executable. Launch the game, then read its **Process Name** or **Process Path** in the Helper. * **Websites** only show a **URL** when the browser addon is installed and connected. See [Browser Extension](/advanced/browser-extension). # Installation Source: https://docs.focusme.com/installation Download and install FocusMe on Windows, macOS, or Linux. ## Download Don't have a FocusMe account yet? [Start your free trial](https://focusme.com/#free-trial) first — it only takes a few seconds and gives you full access to all features. Download FocusMe from [focusme.com/download](https://focusme.com/download/) — the page automatically detects your platform. You can also download directly for a specific platform: * [Windows](https://focusme.com/download/win/) * [macOS](https://focusme.com/download/mac/) * [Linux](https://focusme.com/download/linux/) ## Windows 1. Download and run the `.exe` installer — you may need to approve a User Account Control (UAC) prompt 2. Follow the setup wizard and choose your installation directory (default: `C:\Program Files\FocusMe`) 3. FocusMe launches automatically after installation A **non-admin installer** is also available on the [download page](https://focusme.com/download/win/) for users without administrator privileges. FocusMe starts automatically and keeps itself running to enforce blocking. This is what makes the blocking tamper-resistant. ### Browser Addon (Recommended) For the most accurate website blocking, install the FocusMe browser addon: * **Chrome / Edge / Brave / Opera / Vivaldi:** [Install from the Chrome Web Store](https://focusme.com/download/addon/) * **Firefox:** [Install from Firefox Add-ons](https://focusme.com/download/addon/) The [addon link](https://focusme.com/download/addon/) automatically detects your browser. You can also install it later from **Settings → Browsers**, which lists a button for each browser found on your computer. The addon talks to the desktop app to detect and block websites in real time — see [Browser Extension](/advanced/browser-extension). ## macOS Two installer options are available on the [download page](https://focusme.com/download/mac/): 1. **PKG installer (recommended)** — double-click to run the guided installer 2. **DMG installer** — drag FocusMe to your Applications folder After installation: 1. Launch FocusMe from Applications 2. **Grant Accessibility permissions** when prompted — FocusMe uses this to read window titles Skipping the Accessibility permission does not stop application blocking — rules that target a **Process Name** still work. What you lose is **Window title** matching and **Enhanced Window Detection**. To grant it later, go to **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility** and enable FocusMe. The Safari addon is available from the Mac App Store; see [macOS](/platforms/macos) for details. ### Supported Architectures FocusMe ships as a universal binary — it runs natively on both **Intel** and **Apple Silicon** (M1/M2/M3/M4) Macs. ## Linux 1. Download the `.bin` installer from [focusme.com/download/linux](https://focusme.com/download/linux/) 2. Make it executable and run it: ```bash theme={null} chmod +x FocusMe.bin ./FocusMe.bin ``` The installer elevates itself and asks for your password — there is no need to run it with `sudo`. 3. FocusMe installs to `/Applications/` and starts automatically on login FocusMe on Linux requires X11 or Wayland. The application integrates with your desktop environment for system tray support. ## System Requirements | | Windows | macOS | Linux | | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------------------- | | **OS** | Windows 10+ | macOS 12+ | Debian-based (Ubuntu 20.04+) | | **Architecture** | x64 | x64 / ARM64 | x64 | | **Disk Space** | \~150 MB | \~200 MB | \~250 MB (includes Qt libs) | | **Display** | 1000×600 minimum | 1000×600 minimum | 1000×600 minimum | ## First Launch FocusMe opens its main window the first time it runs, and afterwards keeps running in the system tray. Click the tray icon to bring the window back at any time. On the first launch you'll be walked through three short screens: 1. **Choose your theme** — pick **Light** or **Dark**. You can change this later in **Settings**. 2. **Quick Setup** — a three-step setup that asks what you're fighting and how strict to be, then builds a plan for each problem you picked. Click **Start blocking** to finish, or **Skip setup** if you'd rather start from the Plan Library or build a plan yourself. 3. **Login** — the **Welcome to FocusMe** dialog asks you to log in or create an account. Logging in starts your free trial; if you already own a licence, it is activated automatically. Tick **Save my login info** so you don't need to enter it again. While you are on a trial, the sidebar shows **Login**, **Upgrade**, and **Activate**, and a **Free trial: N days remaining** banner appears above your plans with an **Upgrade** link. Once you log in with a licence the banner disappears and the sidebar shows **Logout** instead. Skipped the login? Click **Login** in the sidebar whenever you're ready. Your plans stay exactly as they are. Head to the [Quick Start](/quick-start) for a full walkthrough of Quick Setup, the Plan Library, and the Plan Wizard. # What is FocusMe? Source: https://docs.focusme.com/introduction The distraction blocker that helps you stay focused, break bad habits, and take control of your screen time. FocusMe is a desktop application for **Windows**, **macOS**, and **Linux** that blocks distracting websites, applications, or your entire computer on a schedule you control — and makes it as hard as you like to talk yourself out of it. Whether you need to protect deep work, limit social media, take regular screen breaks, or set up parental controls, FocusMe gives you the tools to make it stick. ## What Can FocusMe Do? Block specific sites like Reddit or TikTok, or block every website except the ones on your allowed list. Block any desktop application — games, messaging apps, browsers, or anything else that pulls your attention. Give yourself a daily budget of distraction time (say, 30 minutes of social media) and let FocusMe enforce it. Lock the screen at regular intervals to protect your eyes and prevent burnout. Pick a protection preset from a gentle nudge to a full lock-down, so stopping a plan takes a real decision. The Activity tab shows your active time, the distractions FocusMe blocked, and weekly recaps. ## How Plans Work Everything in FocusMe revolves around **plans**. A plan decides what gets blocked, and when. You build one in a four-step wizard, and every step answers a single question: | Step | Question it answers | | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **What to block** | Which websites and applications are blocked — or allowed, if you block everything else. | | **When it runs** | A **Quick Timer** you start by hand, a recurring **Weekly Schedule**, a **Pomodoro** cycle, or a **Multi-Day Plan**. Each time block can use its own rule mode: **Block**, **Time Limit**, **Session Limit**, or **Screen Break**. | | **How strict** | A protection preset — **Unlocked**, **Gentle Guidance**, **Firm but Flexible**, or **Lock it Down** — that sets how hard it is to stop, pause, or loosen the plan. **Customize** lets you tune each challenge individually. | A final **Review** step summarises the plan before you click **Create & Enable**. You can run as many plans as you like at once. One plan can block social media during work hours while another enforces a screen break every 45 minutes. Too many choices? **Quick Setup** asks two questions and builds plans for you, and the **Plan Library** has ready-made plans for the common battles. See the [Quick Start](/quick-start). ## A Tour of the Sidebar | Tab | What it's for | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Plans** | Your dashboard. Create, start, stop, and organise plans. | | **Activity** | Where your time went, how many distractions were blocked, and weekly recaps. | | **Tasks** | A simple to-do list that lives alongside your plans. | | **Coach** | The FocusMe Coach generates reports about your work patterns and suggests what to change. | | **Settings** | Application-wide options: start at logon, browser addons, protection, notifications, and the timer window. | | **Helper** | Opens a floating window that lists every open window and browser tab with the details you need to block it — and an **Add to plan...** shortcut. | Below the tabs you'll find **Login** (or **Logout** once signed in), **Docs**, **Helper**, and **Quit**. While you are on a trial, **Upgrade** and **Activate** appear here too. ## Supported Platforms | Platform | Versions | | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | | **Windows** | Windows 10 and later | | **macOS** | macOS 12 (Monterey) and later, Intel + Apple Silicon | | **Linux** | Debian-based distributions (Ubuntu, etc.) | A browser addon for **Chrome**, **Firefox**, **Edge**, **Safari**, and other Chromium- and Gecko-based browsers works alongside the desktop app for the most accurate website blocking. See [Browser Extension](/advanced/browser-extension). ## Next Steps Download and set up FocusMe on your computer. Get your first plan running in a few minutes. Understand the Plans dashboard and the anatomy of a plan. Choose how hard it should be to bypass a plan. # Linux Source: https://docs.focusme.com/platforms/linux Linux-specific installation, display-server support, browser notes and troubleshooting for FocusMe. ## Supported Distributions FocusMe targets **Debian-based** distributions — Ubuntu 20.04 and later, Linux Mint, Debian 11 and later, Pop!\_OS and similar derivatives. The bundle includes the Qt libraries it needs, so no extra packages are required. ## Installation Download the `.bin` installer from [focusme.com/download/linux](https://focusme.com/download/linux/), then: ```bash theme={null} chmod +x FocusMe-*.bin ./FocusMe-*.bin ``` The installer needs root for the background service and elevates itself — through a graphical password prompt (pkexec) when you run it from a desktop session, otherwise through sudo. Running it with `sudo` directly also works. It asks you to accept the licence agreement, then: * Installs FocusMe into a `FocusMe` folder in your home directory * Adds an application-menu entry and an autostart entry so FocusMe starts when you log in * Installs and starts a background **systemd service** that relaunches FocusMe if it is closed * Connects the [browser addon](/advanced/browser-extension) for Chrome, Chromium, Brave, Firefox and their Snap builds Installer options: | Option | Description | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | `-s`, `--silent` | Install without prompts (accepts the licence) | | `--uninstall` | Remove FocusMe for the current user | | `--license` | Show the End User Licence Agreement | | `--version` | Show the installer's version | | `-h`, `--help` | Show the options | Running the installer over an existing installation updates it and keeps your settings and plans. ## Display Server Support | Display server | Status | | -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **X11** | Full support — active-window and title detection for application blocking | | **Wayland** | Supported. FocusMe uses the desktop accessibility interface to identify the active window, so detection depends on your compositor and the apps you run; some windows may not be identified. | If application blocking is unreliable on Wayland, log in with an X11 (Xorg) session instead. ## Quitting and Restarting FocusMe runs from the tray icon; closing the window does not stop it. **Quit** from the tray menu is refused while any plan is enabled. When you do quit, FocusMe stays stopped until you start it again from the menu or log in again — the background service does not relaunch it after a deliberate quit. **Restart** in the tray menu (available an hour after launch) relaunches FocusMe into the same state, plans included. **Start at Logon** in **Settings** → **General** is disabled on Linux; the installer's autostart entry handles this instead. ## Browsers on Linux * Install the addon from **Settings** → **Browsers** as on other platforms * **Flatpak** builds of Firefox-based browsers — Firefox, Zen, LibreWolf — work with the addon * **Flatpak** builds of Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Chromium, Brave and others) cannot host the addon. FocusMe reports *The Flatpak version of this browser can't support our addon* and, at the **Basic** verification level or above, closes the browser. Install the distribution's standard (`.deb`) package of the browser instead * **Snap** builds of Firefox and Chromium are supported Flatpak applications in general are detected for application blocking. ## Uninstalling ```bash theme={null} ./FocusMe-*.bin --uninstall ``` This stops and removes the service, the autostart and menu entries, the browser connection files and the `FocusMe` folder. **Protect Uninstall** is not offered on Linux. See [Uninstall FocusMe](/advanced/uninstall). ## Troubleshooting ### Window detection not working 1. On Wayland, try an X11 session (see above) 2. Some tiling window managers expose windows differently; use **Helper** from the sidebar to see what FocusMe can identify and pick a target type that is populated (for example **Process Name** rather than **Window Title**) ### Browser addon not connecting 1. Check the browser is not a Chromium Flatpak (see above) 2. Reinstall FocusMe with the installer — it rewrites the files that connect the browser to the app 3. Restart the browser ### Support needs logs Use **Save Diagnostics** in **Settings** → **General**. It produces a single archive that includes the service status and browser connection details as well as the logs. See [Update FocusMe](/guides/updates#diagnostics-and-logs). # macOS Source: https://docs.focusme.com/platforms/macos macOS-specific installation, permissions, features and troubleshooting for FocusMe. ## Requirements FocusMe requires **macOS 12 (Monterey) or later** and runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Download it from [focusme.com/download/mac](https://focusme.com/download/mac/). ## Installation Two downloads are available: | Download | Description | | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **PKG installer** | A standard macOS installer with introduction and summary pages. It sets FocusMe up to start at login and is the format used for updates. Recommended. | | **DMG** | Drag **FocusMe** to the **Applications** folder. | ## Accessibility Permission Blocking applications by **process name** works without any special permission. FocusMe asks for **Accessibility permission** so that it can also read window titles: **Window title** targets and **Enhanced Window Detection** depend on it, and those rules cannot match until it is granted. Grant it unless you only ever block by process name. 1. Open **System Settings** → **Privacy & Security** → **Accessibility** 2. Enable **FocusMe** in the list (click **+** and add it from Applications if it is missing) If the permission is removed while a plan is running, FocusMe reports *App blocked because accessibility permission was revoked. Please re-enable it in System Settings.* After a macOS update or an app update, macOS sometimes needs to re-verify permissions; FocusMe will then ask you to **restart your computer** — *macOS needs to re-verify app permissions. Please restart your computer to ensure FocusMe works correctly.* ### Enhanced Window Detection **Settings** → **System** → **Enhanced Window Detection** → **Enable** requests an additional permission that lets FocusMe detect which apps and websites are open, even in the background, making blocking faster, more reliable and lighter on the battery. FocusMe does not capture, record or transmit any screen content — the permission is used only to identify windows. ## macOS-Specific Settings | Setting | Description | | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Block Activity Monitor** | Blocks Activity Monitor while a plan is active (the macOS counterpart of Block Task Managers) | | **Block Terminal / iTerm** | Closes terminals while a plan is active | | **Block Date & Time Preferences** | Stops the clock being changed to skip a schedule | | **Block Users & Groups / Security & Privacy Preferences** | Stops those System Settings panes being opened while a plan is active | | **Protect Guest Account** | Prevents the macOS guest account being used to bypass blocking | | **Protect Uninstall** | Protects the app bundle so it cannot be moved to the Trash while on — see [Uninstall FocusMe](/advanced/uninstall) | | **Block Secondary Browser Windows (Caution!)** (Settings → Browsers) | Allows only one window per browser; extra windows from the same browser are closed. Can lose unsaved work. | | **Check Secondary Browser Windows** | Lets FocusMe block websites in a browser that is visible but not in front | ## Browser Blocking on macOS * Install the addon for Chrome, Firefox, Brave and the other supported browsers from **Settings** → **Browsers**, exactly as on Windows * **Safari** uses **FocusMe for Safari** from the Mac App Store. Click **Safari** in **Settings** → **Browsers** to open it, install it, then enable it in **Safari** → **Settings** → **Extensions** See [Browser Extension](/advanced/browser-extension). ## Blocking Behaviour on macOS * The **Close** application action asks the app to quit gracefully; **Kill** terminates it immediately. Pick **Kill** for apps that ignore a normal quit. * Timer windows are shown on every Space, so the countdown stays visible when you switch desktops. * The **Hide** application action and **Network block** website action are Windows-only. ## Keeping FocusMe Running FocusMe starts at login and keeps running when you close its window; blocking continues from the menu-bar icon. **Quit** from the menu-bar icon is refused while any plan is enabled. ## Updates Updates arrive as PKG installers. FocusMe applies them silently when it can, otherwise the installer opens and asks for your password; with **Automatic** updates it waits until you are at the Mac before doing so. Updates run while plans are active. See [Update FocusMe](/guides/updates). ## Troubleshooting ### "FocusMe would like to control this computer using accessibility features" This is the Accessibility prompt. Grant it — see above. ### App blocking not working 1. Confirm the app is on the plan's list with the right target type — open **Helper** from the sidebar to see the exact **Application Name** and **Process Name**. Process-name rules block without any permission, so start here 2. If the rule targets a **Window title**, check **Accessibility** is granted and enable **Enhanced Window Detection** if it is not already — window titles are the part that needs the permission 3. If you recently updated macOS or FocusMe, restart the Mac so macOS re-verifies the permission ### Websites not blocked in Safari Make sure **FocusMe for Safari** is installed and turned on in **Safari** → **Settings** → **Extensions**, and that the addon popup shows **Connected**. ### FocusMe not starting at login Open **System Settings** → **General** → **Login Items** and make sure FocusMe is allowed. # Windows Source: https://docs.focusme.com/platforms/windows Windows-specific installation, features, protection settings and troubleshooting for FocusMe. ## Requirements FocusMe runs on **Windows 10 and later** (64-bit). Download it from [focusme.com/download/win](https://focusme.com/download/win/). ## Installation Two installers are available: | Installer | Use it when | | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Standard (admin) installer** | You have administrator rights. Installs to `C:\Program Files\FocusMe`, runs FocusMe elevated, protects the installation folder, and makes the **Extra Protection Service** available. This is the recommended choice. | | **Non-admin installer** | You cannot install as an administrator (a work or school account). Installs into your own user profile. Some protections that need administrator rights are unavailable. The two cannot coexist — uninstall the standard version before installing the non-admin one. | The standard installer offers a few optional components: shortcuts for all users, **Share Settings for All Users**, removal of old installer copies it finds lying around (a common way of downgrading around plan protection), and opening this documentation site when it finishes. When you install a newer version over an existing one, the installer skips the licence-agreement page and keeps your settings and plans. ### Downgrade prevention Running an older installer over a newer version is refused while plans are enabled: *A newer version of FocusMe is already installed. Installing an older version is not possible while plans are running.* With no plans enabled you are asked to confirm the downgrade. See [Update FocusMe](/guides/updates). ## System Tray FocusMe lives in the notification area. Right-click the icon for: | Item | Action | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Open FocusMe** | Show the main window | | **Quick Add Task** | Add a task without opening the Tasks tab | | **Open Tasks** | Open the Tasks window | | **Activity** | Open the Activity window | | **Coach** | Open the Coach window | | **Helper** | Show or hide the Helper window that identifies open windows and processes | | **Restart** | Relaunch FocusMe — allowed even while plans run, since it comes back in the same state. The item appears one hour after each launch. | | **Quit** | Exit FocusMe. Refused while any plan is enabled: *Cannot shutdown FocusMe unless all plans are disabled.* | Closing the main window does not quit FocusMe; blocking continues from the tray. ## Protection Settings on Windows **Settings** → **System** includes several protections that only exist on Windows: | Setting | Description | | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Extra Protection Service** | Installs a background service that automatically restarts FocusMe if it is closed or terminated. Requires administrator permission. Click **Install** to set it up and **Uninstall** to remove it — removal is refused while plans are enabled. | | **Run in Safe Mode** | With the service installed, also launches FocusMe when Windows starts in Safe Mode. | | **Kill Tampering Processes** | Detects and terminates processes that attempt to kill or tamper with FocusMe. | | **Protect Process Suspending** | Stops FocusMe's processes being put into a suspended state. | | **Protect PowerShell History** | Prevents PowerShell command history being used against FocusMe. Ordinary FocusMe [CLI](/advanced/cli-plan-control) commands are recognised and left alone. | | **Protect Terminal Commands** | Monitors terminal windows and closes them if protected keywords are detected. PowerShell (including `pwsh.exe`) counts as a terminal. | | **Block Command Prompt** / **Disable Command Prompt/Scripts** | Blocks the command prompt, or scripts as well, while a plan is active. | | **Block Task Managers** | Blocks Task Manager and similar tools while a plan is active. | | **Block W10/W11 PC Settings** | Blocks the Windows Settings app while a plan is active. | | **Protect Switch User** / **Protect Sign Out** | Stops switching user or signing out being used to escape a plan. | | **Protect Uninstall** / **Block 3rd Party Uninstallers** | See [Uninstall FocusMe](/advanced/uninstall). | | **Protect Startup Cleaners** | Keeps start-up cleaning tools from removing FocusMe's start-up entry. | | **Show 'Delete' Application Block Method (Advanced Users)** | Adds a **Delete** action to the application block methods. | Most of these can only be turned off when no plans are enabled. ## Windows-Only Blocking Options * **Network block** — a website action (wizard → **Advanced** → **Blocking behaviour**) that stops the site loading at the network level instead of closing the tab. Needs the standard (admin) installation. See [Blocking Websites](/concepts/blocking-websites). * **Hide** — an application action that hides the window instead of closing it. * **Windows Store apps** — Store apps share a host process, so add them by **Application Name** or window title, or pick them from the **Open Windows** tab while they are running. FocusMe warns you with **Windows System Process** if you try to add the host process itself. See [Block Windows Store Apps](/guides/block-windows-store-apps). ## Troubleshooting ### FocusMe won't start 1. Look for the tray icon — the window may simply be hidden; the **Start Minimized** setting does this on purpose 2. If you installed the **Extra Protection Service**, wait a few seconds; it relaunches FocusMe automatically 3. Reinstall over the top with the same installer — settings and plans are kept ### Websites not blocked in a specific browser 1. Install the [browser addon](/advanced/browser-extension) for that browser from **Settings** → **Browsers** 2. Make sure the browser is not on the plan's allow list 3. Raise **Addon Verification** so a browser without the addon is not left open ### A blocked app keeps reopening Some apps have launchers, updaters or companion processes. Open **Helper** from the sidebar to see every related window and process, then add them to the plan with **Add to plan...**. Tick **Include background processes** in the wizard's **Advanced** panel for apps that run without a window. ### Support needs logs Use **Save Diagnostics** in **Settings** → **General** — see [Update FocusMe](/guides/updates#diagnostics-and-logs). # Quick Start Source: https://docs.focusme.com/quick-start Get your first focus plan running in a few minutes. A **plan** decides what gets blocked, and when. This guide gets your first plan running three different ways, then walks through the Plan Wizard step by step to build a work-hours plan that blocks social media. ## Three Ways to Get Your First Plan Until you have a plan, the **Plans** tab shows **Nothing is blocked yet** with three cards. The same options live in the toolbar at the top of the page. Two quick questions and you're blocking — FocusMe makes the technical calls for you. Ready-made plans for the common battles — social media, gaming, adult content and more. Build exactly what you want in the wizard — four steps, presets included. ## Quick Setup Quick Setup opens automatically the first time you run FocusMe, right after you pick a theme. You can also start it with the **Quick Setup** button, which is shown while your plans list is empty. ### Step 1: The problem **What are you fighting?** Pick everything that applies — each choice becomes its own plan: * **Distractions at work** — blocks social, news, video & messaging during work hours * **Social media** — time-limits social media every day * **Gaming** — time-limits games and launchers * **Adult content** — blocks adult sites, always on, locked down * **No screen breaks** — reminds you to step away regularly * **All of it - detox** — blocks every distracting category at once ### Step 2: How strict **How bad is it, honestly?** This sets how hard it is to talk yourself out of stopping: * **Gentle Guidance** — type 5 random characters to stop. Pause freely. * **Firm but Flexible** — a 2-minute wait, then 10 random characters. 3 pauses a day. * **Lock it Down** — a 10-minute wait, then 25 random characters typed perfectly. No pauses. An **Adult content** plan always uses **Lock it Down**, whatever you pick here. ### Step 3: Ready **Your plans are ready.** Each card shows what the plan **Blocks**, its **Schedule** (**Always on (24/7)**, **Weekdays 9-5**, or **On demand** — the suggested one is marked), and its **Protection**. Switch a plan off with its **Enabled** toggle if you're not sure, or click **Fine-tune →** to open it in the wizard. Then click **Start blocking**. Optionally enter your email to sync your trial across devices. You'll be invited to log in afterwards — logging in starts your free trial or activates a licence you already own. ## Plan Library Prefer to start from something that already works? Click **Plan Library**. 1. Browse the cards, or narrow them down with **Search templates...**, a category chip (**Official**, **Social Media**, **Gaming**, and so on), or the sort menu (**Most voted**, **Most imported**, **Newest**, **A-Z**) 2. Click one or more cards to select them 3. Click **Import (N)** Imported plans arrive switched off. Click the play button on a row to start it. See [Use the Plan Library](/guides/plan-library) for voting and submitting your own plans. ## Build a Plan with the Wizard Let's build a plan that blocks social media during work hours. Click **+ Add a Plan** to open the wizard. The header holds the plan name — it's pre-filled with `Focus Plan`; change it to something like `Focus at Work`. ### Step 1: What to block On the **Websites** tab, type a site into **Type a site to block, e.g. youtube.com...** and click **Add**. Repeat for `facebook.com`, `instagram.com`, `tiktok.com`, and any others. Quicker still: in the **Lists:** row, click the ready-made **Social Media** list to add the lot in one go. You don't need `https://` or `www.` — just the domain. Switch to the **Applications** tab to block desktop apps as well. Click **Next**. ### Step 2: When it runs Pick a timing at the top of the page: | Timing | What it does | | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | **Quick Timer** | You start it; it runs for a set duration | | **Weekly Schedule** | Runs automatically at set times each week | | **Pomodoro** | Focus sprints with built-in breaks | | **Multi-Day Plan** | A different schedule for each day of a sequence | Choose **Weekly Schedule** and click the **Office Hours** preset chip — that gives you Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00. Adjust by dragging on the timeline, or pick days and use the **Weekdays**, **Weekends**, or **24/7** chips. Each time block uses the **Block** rule mode by default. Select a block and switch it to **Time Limit**, **Session Limit**, or **Screen Break** for a different behaviour at that time of day — see [Rule Modes](/concepts/rule-types). Click **Next**. ### Step 3: How strict Choose a protection preset. **Gentle Guidance** is selected for new plans and is a good place to start: | Preset | Stopping the plan | | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Unlocked** | Always one click | | **Gentle Guidance** | Type 5 random characters; pause freely | | **Firm but Flexible** | 2-minute wait, then 10 random characters; 3 pauses a day | | **Lock it Down** | 10-minute wait, then 25 random characters typed perfectly; no pauses | Click **Customize** to set each challenge individually. See [Plan Protection](/concepts/plan-protection) before choosing **Enforced** — there is no way out on your own until the plan ends. Click **Next**. ### Step 4: Review Check the **Blocks**, **Schedule**, and **Protection** rows — each has an **Edit** link. Expand **Options** to add a description, choose notifications, show the floating timer, or change the idle timeout. Click **Create & Enable** to create the plan and switch it on. (**Create** creates it without starting; on the earlier steps the same button reads **Create now**.) ## Your Plan is Live Your plan appears in the Plans list with its progress ring, targets, timing, and strictness. A Weekly Schedule plan shows **Standby** outside its hours and **Active** inside them. A Quick Timer plan starts when you click its play button. While the plan is active, blocked websites show FocusMe's block page and blocked apps are minimised (or closed, depending on the block action you chose). Single-click the row to see what it blocks and what's coming up today. ## What's Next? Block desktop apps alongside websites. Make plans harder to bypass when temptation strikes. Get the most accurate website blocking. Find out where your time went and how many distractions were blocked.