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Fix Blocking Issues

Refocus relies on Apple’s Screen Time technology, which can sometimes behave in unexpected ways. Start with the steps below.

Try These First

  1. In Refocus, go to Settings → Advanced Settings and press Fix App Blocking.

  2. Disable other Screen Time management apps and unnecessary Apple Screen Time restrictions. Using multiple apps with Screen Time access can cause many side effects. Learn more about using multiple Screen Time apps.

  3. Confirm whether you should have an active Stop Blocking session. If you do not, apps will remain blocked. See the Help & FAQ.

  4. If you use Refocus Pro, check your Strict Mode. Modes such as Always Block and Unblock Limit are designed to prevent unblocking.

  5. Update Refocus, update iOS, and restart your phone.

Where are Refocus Settings? On the Home tab—the first screen Refocus shows—press the gear icon in the top-right corner.


Find Your Issue

Continue with the section that best matches what you are seeing:

  • 🔒 I Can’t Unblock Apps

  • 🔓 Apps Aren’t Being Blocked

  • 🔀 The Wrong App or Website Is Blocked

  • 🌐 Website Blocking Isn’t Working

  • ⏱️ Time Limits Activate Incorrectly

  • 📱 The App Picker Crashes or Shows Deleted Apps

  • 📊 Screen Time Reports Are Incomplete or Slow

  • 🗑️ Apps Stayed Blocked After Deleting Refocus

These known issues have been reported to Apple. Refocus continues to develop workarounds that make the experience more seamless.


🔒 I Can’t Unblock Apps

If you see the screen on the left below, Refocus is not blocking the app. Either the app is blocked by your Apple Screen Time settings, or you encountered a bug in Screen Time technology.

If you see the left side, Refocus is not blocking your app!

Check Your Stop Blocking Session

  • Make sure you have an active Stop Blocking session. Without one, apps will remain blocked.

  • If a Stop Blocking session is active but the problem continues, delete or recreate that session.

Refresh App Blocking

Go to Refocus Settings → Advanced Settings and press Fix App Blocking.

Remove Other Screen Time Restrictions

If the previous steps do not help, the apps may be blocked by another app or by Apple Screen Time itself.

  • Open the Apple Settings app, go to Screen Time, and turn everything off except Refocus permissions.

  • Under Apps With Screen Time Access, disable access for every other app. Using multiple apps with Screen Time permission increases the chance of this problem.

  • Restart the device.

Apps can very rarely fail to unblock when a scheduled session ends or after pressing Stop Blocking. This should be less common—or entirely resolved—on iOS 18. If you use iOS 16 or iOS 17, update to iOS 18 or later. (FB12952408, FB14185770, FB11888225)

Reset Strict Modes for Refocus Pro

If you use Unblock Limit or Always Block, set the Strict Mode back to Normal before unblocking. You can also use Reset Strict Modes in Advanced Settings. This button can optionally be hidden.

Reset Strict Modes setting in Refocus


🔓 Apps Aren’t Being Blocked

Refresh the Blocking State

  • Unlock your phone. To preserve battery, Apple sometimes activates or removes blocks only while the device is unlocked and being used. If the phone has not been used for a while, is in Low Power Mode, or has a low battery, the blocking state may briefly be incorrect after you pick it up.

  • Open Refocus. Every time the app opens, it recalculates the blocking state.

  • Go to Refocus Settings → Advanced Settings and press Fix App Blocking.

Check the Number of Selected Apps and Websites

Blocking more than 50 apps or websites can cause apps not to block. Learn more about the blocking threshold.

Check Device Conditions

  • Turn off Low Power Mode. It reduces device performance and can delay background work. It can delay background work.

  • Update Refocus and iOS.

  • Restart the phone.

Apps can very rarely fail to block when a scheduled session starts, or fail to unblock when it ends. This should be less common—or entirely resolved—on iOS 18.


🔀 The Wrong App or Website Is Blocked

Known App and Website Pairings

Because Apple associates some apps and websites, blocking one can sometimes block another:

  • Blocking the Amazon app can also block Amazon Alexa. As a workaround, block amazon.com instead; it can block Amazon without blocking Alexa. (FB11988641)

  • Blocking facebook.com or m.facebook.com can also block Messenger. As a workaround, block the Facebook app, which automatically blocks facebook.com.

  • Blocking the Instagram or WhatsApp website can block the corresponding app.

  • Blocking the YouTube app can also block m.youtube.com in Safari. Use a third-party browser such as Chrome when you need to visit the website.

  • Blocking the Facebook app can also block m.facebook.com in Safari. Use a third-party browser such as Chrome when you need to visit the website.

Check Apple Communication Limits

During an active block, Apple Screen Time restrictions outside Refocus can affect communication apps. Go to Apple Settings → Screen Time → Communication Limits. Set both During Downtime and During Screen Time to Everyone.

Check Other Screen Time Apps

Using an allowlist while another Screen Time app is active can cause allowlisted apps to be blocked. Disable Screen Time access for the other app.

Check Apple’s Always Allowed List

Apple’s Always Allowed list can affect blocking behavior. Apps in Apple Settings → Screen Time → Always Allowed may stay unblocked when you block an entire category or use an Allowlist. Remove any app you want Refocus to block from Always Allowed.


🌐 Website Blocking Isn’t Working

Additional Websites and Third-Party Browsers

When using Additional Websites, or a third-party browser such as Chrome, website blocking may happen only after the page reloads. For blocking without page reloads, use Safari and select the website through the app & website picker. Learn how to block websites.

Known Website Limitations

  • Time Limits for websites work only with Safari.

  • With Time Limit, selecting www.reddit.com may not work. Select the Reddit app instead; this can block the website as well. (FB15160892)

  • With Additional Websites, pinterest.com or twitch.tv may not work on some earlier iOS versions.

  • twitter.com may not work in some browsers.

  • tiktok.com may sometimes fail to block.

Safari Settings Changed

During blocking, Safari private browsing or the ability to clear history may be disabled, and Google SafeSearch may be enabled. Learn about disabled Safari features.


⏱️ Time Limits Activate Incorrectly

The Limit Activates Too Early

A Time Limit may unexpectedly activate before the limit is reached. Learn more about Time Limit issues.

The Limit Activates Late

Time Limits can be delayed. Wait at least one minute. If the limit never activates, open Refocus and use Settings → Advanced Settings → Fix App Blocking.

A Website Limit Does Not Work

Website Time Limits work only with Safari. For some popular websites, including Reddit, selecting the app instead of the website may work better.


📱 The App Picker Crashes or Shows Deleted Apps

The Picker Crashes or Freezes

The app & website picker can sometimes crash or freeze. See app picker troubleshooting. (FB15208071, FB11442734, FB12937776, FB11737092, FB11994816)

When creating or updating a session, the app may temporarily freeze while selected app icons load. (FB11836901)

Deleted Apps Still Appear

The picker may show apps that were previously deleted or that exist on another shared device, particularly on iOS 18 and later. Try the App Picker Reset Fix.


📊 Screen Time Reports Are Incomplete or Slow

  • Reports may be incomplete for new users or after Refocus was recently deleted and reinstalled. Reports inside Refocus begin populating from the time you first install the app.

  • Reports can lag, take a long time to load, or occasionally fail to load because the data is supplied by Apple Screen Time. Learn more about Screen Time reports.


🗑️ Apps Stayed Blocked After Deleting Refocus

Deleting Refocus before stopping an active block can leave apps blocked. Learn how to safely delete Refocus and fix this problem.


Still Not Working?

Refocus has limited visibility into what is happening on your device. To help us understand the problem, use the Contact Support button in Refocus and send a single screen recording captured while the problem is happening.

Please show:

  • The Refocus Home screen with the affected blocking session

  • The session’s details, including selected apps or websites, times, blocking type, and Strict Mode

  • The affected app or website opened

  • "Settings" app → Screen Time first page top-to-bottom and any other Screen Time settings relevant to the issue (ex. Content & Privacy Restrictions)

If the problem involves Time Limits, please also show:

  • The relevant activity in "Settings" app → Screen Time → See All App & Website Activity

  • The session’s Usage screen accessible from Refocus Home screen

  • The Refocus Report tab

Please also explain:

  • What you expected to happen

  • What happened instead

  • When the problem occurred and whether it happens consistently

  • Which troubleshooting steps you already tried

We know these problems are frustrating, and we’re sorry when they happen. Sometimes Refocus may be responsible for a bug; other times, the cause is Apple Screen Time. Either way, we care that Refocus works well for you, and your feedback helps us improve the experience. Thank you 🙏 ❤️