Windows - FocusMe

Requirements

FocusMe runs on Windows 10 and later (64-bit). Download it from 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.

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 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.
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.
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.

Troubleshooting

FocusMe won’t start

Look for the tray icon — the window may simply be hidden; the Start Minimized setting does this on purpose
If you installed the Extra Protection Service, wait a few seconds; it relaunches FocusMe automatically
Reinstall over the top with the same installer — settings and plans are kept

Websites not blocked in a specific browser

Install the browser addon for that browser from Settings → Browsers
Make sure the browser is not on the plan’s allow list
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.

​Requirements

​Installation

​Downgrade prevention

​System Tray

​Protection Settings on Windows

​Windows-Only Blocking Options

​Troubleshooting

​FocusMe won’t start

​Websites not blocked in a specific browser

​A blocked app keeps reopening

​Support needs logs