# KanjiLock: App Blocker & Focus — Beat Screen Time, Learn Kanji

> Learn Japanese kanji by locking distracting apps and practicing character recognition. (iPhone/iPad app by Vladyslav Korzh.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanjilock-app-blocker-and-focus/id6767473128 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Vladyslav Korzh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1417922376)
- Category: Education, Productivity
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 78 MB
- Languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and 5 more
- Released: 2026-06-04
- Data updated: 2026-07-29
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanjilock-app-blocker-and-focus/id6767473128/reviews.md

## What is KanjiLock?

Doomscroll less. Read Japanese.

KanjiLock locks your most distracting apps-and the only way back in is to practice kanji. Every scroll you skip becomes a character you can actually read and write. The wall pays for itself.

THE TRADE (and it really does pay for itself)
You pick the apps that eat your day. Apple Screen Time shields them. To unlock, you open KanjiLock and run a short practice session-so the time you'd have lost turns into real Japanese.
• Sprint - 2 min of practice = 15 min unlocked
• Practice - 10 min = 30 min unlocked
• Deep Dive - 20 min = 45 min unlocked

THREE WAYS TO PRACTICE (not just tap-tap flashcards)
• Draw - handwrite the kanji; on-device recognition checks your strokes and animates the correct stroke order.
• Read - match a kanji to its romaji reading.
• Recall - pick the kanji for its English meaning.
Nail all three and a kanji "graduates"-proof it stuck, not just a lucky guess.

REMEMBERS FOR YOU
Modern FSRS spaced repetition (90% retention target) schedules every review automatically. No decks to build, no cards to bury. Quit the deck-management grind, keep the science.

ALL 2,136 JOYO KANJI, ORGANIZED FOR YOU
• Sorted by JLPT level, N5 through N1
• 10 theme packs: Anime, Nature, Business, Travel, Food, Samurai, School, Weather, Tech, Love
• Build your own custom packs

KANJI OF THE HOUR - RIGHT ON YOUR LOCK SCREEN
A fresh kanji every hour with its reading and meaning, on your Home and Lock Screen. Tap to jump straight into practice.

KEEP THE MOMENTUM
• Daily streaks and clean stats
• "Sunday Wrapped" - a shareable weekly recap built for Stories
• A daily reminder you set on your terms
• Three strictness modes - Gentle, Standard, Strict - that decide how forgiving your handwriting has to be to earn unlock minutes

BUILT TO ACTUALLY USE
Warm cream-and-ink light mode, cozy dark-brown night mode, a vermillion accent, and authentic stroke-path rendering. It feels less like a willpower wall you'll smash through in five seconds - and less like homework - more like a daily ritual.

WHO IT'S FOR
• Phone-addicted learners who want screen time to count for something
• Anime and manga fans ready to read the real thing
• JLPT studiers grinding toward a level
• Anyone who bounced off the old deck-management apps because the busywork won

Stop trading your attention for nothing. Trade it for Japanese.

**Access to all features requires a paid subscription. Additional information can be found on the in-app paywall.**

Privacy: https://kanjilock.website/privacy
Terms:   https://kanjilock.website/terms

## Key features

- App blocking with kanji practice unlock
- Handwriting recognition for kanji drawing
- Spaced repetition for memorization
- All 2,136 Joyo Kanji organized by JLPT level
- Customizable kanji theme packs
- Lock screen kanji display
- Daily streaks and weekly recaps

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| Monthly | $10.99 | per month |
| Annual | $49.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Access | $99.99 | one-time |



## Frequently asked questions about KanjiLock

### How does KanjiLock help me learn Japanese?

KanjiLock locks your most distracting apps. To unlock them, you must complete short kanji practice sessions, turning wasted screen time into active learning.

### What practice methods does KanjiLock offer?

KanjiLock offers three interactive practice methods: drawing kanji with on-device stroke recognition, matching kanji to romaji readings, and recalling kanji from their English meanings.

### Does KanjiLock use spaced repetition?

Yes, KanjiLock utilizes modern FSRS spaced repetition to schedule reviews automatically, aiming for a 90% retention target and eliminating the need for manual deck management.

### How is the kanji content organized in KanjiLock?

KanjiLock includes all 2,136 Joyo Kanji, sorted by JLPT level (N5-N1) and available in 10 theme packs. You can also build your own custom packs.

### Can I see kanji on my lock screen with KanjiLock?

Yes, KanjiLock features a 'Kanji of the Hour' that displays a fresh kanji with its reading and meaning on your Home and Lock Screens every hour.

### What are the subscription options for KanjiLock?

KanjiLock offers monthly and annual subscription plans. The annual plan has two pricing options, one of which includes a 7-day free trial.

### Does KanjiLock have ads?

Yes, KanjiLock contains advertisements. As a free app with in-app purchases, ads are part of the user experience.

### What devices is KanjiLock available on?

KanjiLock is available on iPhone and iPad devices, supporting iOS.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.4 — 2026-07-01

We polished the screen you see most: when a locked app tries to pull you away, KanjiLock now greets you with a cleaner, redesigned lock screen and a clearer prompt to get back to practice.

We also sped up onboarding and made a few under-the-hood improvements. Thanks for studying with us!

### 1.3 — 2026-06-23

More satisfying practice
Sound effects when you check answers and finish a session, plus a
completion sound and a confetti burst when you earn your unlock.

Custom unlock times
Set exactly how many minutes each practice mode earns - Sprint,
Practice, Deep Dive, and Word Builder are now individually configurable.

Rock-solid iCloud restore
Your progress reliably comes back after reinstalling, and KanjiLock now
asks before restoring so you stay in control.

A smarter daily reminder
One practice-aware nudge (defaults to 8 PM) that you can turn off anytime.

Fixes
• Newly added apps now block reliably
• Word Builder shows your configured unlock time on the Home screen
• Clearer focus-screen wording and a dark-mode label fix

### 1.2 — 2026-06-09

Change your level, your way.

• Set your JLPT level (N5–N1) anytime from Settings — your practice pool updates instantly.
• New "Reset all progress" lets you start fresh while keeping your settings, packs, and language.
• Stability improvements and small fixes.

### 1.1 — 2026-06-05

No release notes.

## More apps by Vladyslav Korzh

- [Every Day Holiday Calendar](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/every-day-holiday-calendar/id6758392581)

All apps by Vladyslav Korzh: https://appshunter.io/developer/1417922376

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*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 2026-07-29.*
