Report a bug
Tell me what you were doing, what you expected, and what happened instead. Your macOS or iOS version and a screenshot or recording help a lot.
Support
FocusLock is built and maintained by one person. Bug reports, questions and feature ideas are read personally, and replies usually come within a couple of days.
Suggest a feature
A new timer face, a different break behaviour, a shortcut you keep reaching for. Feature ideas genuinely shape where FocusLock goes next.
General questions
Not sure how something works, or whether FocusLock fits your setup? Send a note and I'll point you in the right direction.
Frequently asked
Which versions are supported?
The Mac app requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later and runs natively on both Apple silicon and Intel. The iPhone app is a separate App Store listing.
I launched it and no window appeared. Where is it?
On the Mac, FocusLock is a menu-bar app with no Dock icon. Look for the timer beside the clock at the top right of your screen and click it for start, pause, skip, breaks, the timer window and settings.
Can I get stuck behind a strict break?
No. Even during a strict break with input blocking on, ⌘Q always quits FocusLock immediately. That escape hatch is guaranteed — you can never be locked out of your own Mac.
How do breaks work with multiple monitors?
When a break starts, the overlay opens on every connected display at once. Plug in or unplug a monitor mid-break and it rebuilds to cover the new arrangement.
Why does it ask for the Accessibility permission?
Only if you turn on "Block keyboard & mouse on strict break". That feature uses a system event tap to swallow input during a strict break, which macOS gates behind Accessibility. Leave it off and the permission is never requested.
Does FocusLock collect any data?
No. There are no analytics, no telemetry and no servers of ours. The one thing that leaves your device is iCloud sync, and only if you turn it on — it goes to your own iCloud account, which we cannot read. With sync off, your preferences and session history stay on the machine. Sign in with Apple is optional and only lets your devices recognise one another. The privacy policy has the detail.
Does it block apps and websites?
Not in the way that phrase usually implies. On macOS, FocusLock can push a distracting app back to the background with a reminder while a session runs. It cannot force-quit apps, and it does not filter the web — a sandboxed App Store app cannot do either. Website entries can be saved but are not yet enforced.
Can my Mac and iPhone share a session?
Yes, with iCloud sync on. A running session appears on the other device and keeps counting, and your settings follow. Both apps must be signed in to the same Apple Account.
Can FocusLock start when I log in?
Yes — turn on "Launch at login" in Settings and it starts straight into the menu bar.
Still stuck?
Email hello@rami-alkaro.com and include your app version and OS version. It goes to a person, not a queue.