# Focus Lab Blocker — Less screen time, more focus > App blocker with customizable rituals and a self-control-based virtual pet. (iPhone/iPad app by Szu-Yu Wang.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-lab-blocker/id6791039670 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Szu-Yu Wang](https://appshunter.io/developer/6791039672) - Category: Productivity, Health & Fitness - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 4 MB - Released: 2026-07-19 - Data updated: 2026-08-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-lab-blocker/id6791039670/reviews.md ## What is Focus Lab Blocker? Focus Lab Blocker puts a moment of friction between you and the apps that pull at you — so opening them becomes a choice, not a reflex. Most blockers are just a wall with an "off" switch. Focus Lab Blocker is different: when you hit a blocked app, you have to earn your way in with a small ritual. By the time you're done, the urge has usually passed. CHOOSE YOUR FRICTION Every app gets its own unlock ritual: • Breathe — a few slow breaths before you go in • Cooldown — wait out a short timer • Intention — type why you need this app right now • Math — solve a few quick problems • Sweat — pushups, squats, or jumping jacks, counted live by the camera • Photo quest — go photograph grass, a book, the sink… something real • NFC tag — tap a physical tag you left in another room • Guardian PIN — a trusted person sets a PIN you don't know • Daily budget — a fixed number of opens, or minutes, per day A COMPANION THAT LIVES OFF YOUR WILLPOWER Adopt a pet that hatches from an egg and lives off your self-control. Every urge that hits a shield dings one of its meters — and every urge you resist earns the care item that heals it. No urges means a healthy pet and nothing to do: it never nags you into opening the app. But let its meters sit empty and it gets sick, and eventually leaves. BUILT TO RESPECT YOU • No account, no sign-up. • No ads. • Nothing leaves your phone. Photo and exercise checks run entirely on-device with Apple's Vision framework. No servers, because there's no network. Focus Lab Blocker uses Apple's Screen Time to enforce blocking, so it's as reliable as iOS itself. Reclaim the ten seconds before the scroll. That's usually all it takes. ## Key features - Customizable unlock rituals (breathe, timer, intention, math, exercise, photo, NFC, PIN) - Virtual pet that grows with self-control - Daily app open/time budget - On-device processing for privacy - No account or sign-up required - Ad-free experience ## Frequently asked questions about Focus Lab Blocker ### What is Focus Lab Blocker? Focus Lab Blocker is a productivity app designed to help users reduce screen time by introducing a 'friction' moment before opening distracting apps. It requires users to complete a small ritual, like breathing exercises or solving math problems, to access blocked applications. ### How does Focus Lab Blocker work? When you attempt to open a blocked app, Focus Lab Blocker presents a chosen ritual. Completing this ritual, such as typing your intention or performing a quick exercise, earns you access. This process is designed to break the reflex of opening apps and allow the urge to pass. ### What are the different unlock rituals available in Focus Lab Blocker? Focus Lab Blocker offers a variety of unlock rituals including breathing exercises, timed cooldowns, typing your intention, solving math problems, physical exercises like pushups, photo quests, tapping an NFC tag, a Guardian PIN set by a trusted person, and daily budgets for opens or minutes. ### Does Focus Lab Blocker have ads? No, Focus Lab Blocker is ad-free. The app is built to respect user privacy and focus, and it does not contain any advertisements. ### Is Focus Lab Blocker free to use? Yes, Focus Lab Blocker is available for free. There are no in-app purchases or subscription fees required to use its core features. ### What devices is Focus Lab Blocker compatible with? Focus Lab Blocker is compatible with iPhone and iPad devices. It utilizes Apple's Screen Time functionality for reliable blocking enforcement. ### How often is Focus Lab Blocker updated? Focus Lab Blocker was last updated on August 6, 2026, with version 1.1. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support for the application. ### What is the age rating for Focus Lab Blocker? Focus Lab Blocker has an age rating of 4+. This means it is considered suitable for children aged 4 and above, with no mature content. ## Version history (last 2 releases) ### 1.1 — 2026-08-06 First: we misspelled our own app's name. Turns out you really do have to Focus to spot the typo — "Foucs Lab Blocker" is now Focus Lab Blocker. Sorry, and also, kind of proud. New in this version: • Text a friend — a new unlock mechanism. To open a blocked app, you send a real text to a friend you chose: confess the urge ("It's 1 AM and I'm trying to open Instagram for the 3rd time today…") or just say hi instead of scrolling. Only hitting Send unlocks. Your friend doesn't need the app — they just need to know you. • Share cards — turn your companion ("Both still alive.") or your stats ("70% of my urges died at the door") into clean little images, scoped to the time range you're viewing. Rendered on your phone, shared only when you choose. • Onboarding now asks for notification permission and explains why: a notification is how the shield hands you off to your unlock ritual. • Mechanism settings live on the mechanism itself — breaths to take, seconds to wait, message style — right where you pick it. • Polish: tighter onboarding copy, a steadier mechanism picker, honest button labels throughout. ### 1.0 — 2026-07-19 No release notes. ## Related topics [app blocking tools for productivity](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/app-blocking-tools-for-productivity) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-10.*