Site Blocker

With an entire world of entertainment and tasks available online, it can feel impossible to stay focused. We often need an extra layer of protection around our focus and time to keep from clicking away into distraction.

With Site Blocker, you can block any distracting website while you’re in Focus Mode.

How to use Site Blocker

Site Blocker is available both as a standalone app and within Focus Mode.

With the standalone app, you can begin blocking sites anytime. With Focus Mode, you can block sites automatically anytime you enter a focus timer.

Blocking websites

1. Access Site Blocker: Click on the Site Blocker icon in the Focus Mode settings.
2. Choose Categories: You'll see different categories like social media, entertainment, news, etc. Want to create a new category? Just hit the (+) button in the upper-right-hand corner.
3. Add Websites: Click on a category (e.g., Social Media), press the "+", and type in the URL (like "www.instagram.com") and the website name ("Instagram"). (Note: Site Blocker blocks all URLs under the same domain. So, instagram.com/login will also be blocked.)

1. Start Focusing: Hit "Start Focusing" as usual.
2. Adjust Blocked Websites: Need access to previously blocked websites during your next focus session? Just deselect the website name.

Blocked screen

When you go to a distracting website, you get an "intervention" screen reminding you of your current task, goal or intention.

The blocked screen is intentionally grayscale in order to reduce the appeal of continuing.

1. "Open Momentum": Go back to Momentum to refocus and stay on track (🎉)
2. "Close tab": Go ahead and access the distracting website.

Pause before continuing

In order to make the distracting behavior less appealing, and to give you a moment to reconsider a more intentional action, we have also added a "take a deep breath" step before skipping to the website.

Streaks

We're always seeking to make our intended behavior more fun and rewarding, and so we have added a "Resistance streak" to the blocked screen.

Safari Setup

Safari needs some specific setup in order for Site Blocker to work.

1. In Privacy, disable "Prevent cross-site tracking".

2. In Websites, change "For other websites" to Allow.