# Pause: Doom Scrolling Blocker — Dopamine Detox & App Limit > Reduces screen time by requiring a puzzle before opening selected apps. (iPhone/iPad app by Carlos Velasquez.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pause-doom-scrolling-blocker/id6781665628 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Carlos Velasquez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1814581124) - Category: Productivity, Health & Fitness - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 9 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 23 MB - Released: 2026-06-29 - Data updated: 2026-11-05 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pause-doom-scrolling-blocker/id6781665628/reviews.md ## What is Pause? Pause helps you scroll on purpose. Lowers your screen time. We all reach for the same apps on autopilot. Pause puts a short, calming puzzle between you and those apps, so opening one becomes a choice, not a reflex. HOW IT WORKS • Choose the apps you want to pause. • When you try to open one, Pause asks you to solve a quick puzzle first. • Solve it, then pick how long to unlock it: 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes. • When time's up, the pause comes back automatically. That tiny moment of friction is enough to break the autopilot and remind you why you picked up your phone in the first place. TEN CALMING PUZZLES • Word Jumble • Five Letters • Word Search • Memory Match • Ball Sort • Sliding Tile • Maze • Connect the Dots • Connect the Color • Sixdoku. Every unlock is a small mental reset instead of a mindless tap. Seasonal themes keep things fresh, and this November brings a new Gratitude puzzle. DESIGNED FOR INTENTION, NOT RESTRICTION Pause never locks you out. It adds just enough space to choose. No guilt, no lectures. Just a gentle pause. SEE YOUR PROGRESS Your Week shows how many times you walked away from scrolling and roughly how much time you got back. START WITH 7 DAYS OF PREMIUM, FREE • All ten puzzles, with Easy, Medium and Hard difficulty per app • Pause as many apps as you like • Schedules for work, bedtime or family time • No ads We'll remind you 2 days before your trial ends. Cancel anytime and keep a free version of Pause: 1 paused app, 3 puzzles, with ads. Your privacy comes first. Pause uses Apple's Screen Time technology, and the apps you choose never leave your device, nor do we see the apps that you choose. Scroll less by accident. Scroll more on purpose. — SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Pause Premium is an auto-renewing subscription with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. • Annual — $49.99/year • Monthly — $4.99/month Payment is charged to your Apple Account when the free trial ends, or at confirmation of purchase if no trial applies. Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you start a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://try-pause.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ ## Key features - Puzzle before app access - Reduces mindless scrolling - Nine calming puzzle types - Customizable app blocking - Intentional use timer - Premium ad-free option ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Pause Premium (Annual) | $49.99 | per year | | Pause Premium (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month | ## Is Pause safe? Not enough ratings yet to assess Pause. ## Is Pause legit? Pause: Doom Scrolling Blocker appears legitimate, with a few gaps. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Pause is 65 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data. ## Recent user reviews (9 of 9) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pause-doom-scrolling-blocker/id6781665628/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Exactly what I needed to break my doomscrolling habit *2026-09-19* I used to open my phone constantly without even thinking about it. I would try to check one quick message and end up trapped in a 30 minute scroll. Pause actually changed my daily habits. Instead of just completely blocking my apps, which I always figured out how to bypass anyway, it throws up a quick puzzle like a word jumble or a maze. That tiny 10 second delay is all my brain needs to realize I do not actually want to be on social media right now. My screen time is down by over two hours a day since I started the free trial. It truly forces you to scroll on purpose. Highly recommend this if you want your attention back. ### 5/5 — Screen Time Controls that REALLY Work *2026-09-19* I’ve been using Pause for about a month, and it’s been great in helping me manage my screen time. And the puzzles are fun and challenging, exactly what I need to really know whether I need to scroll or I was just bored. ### 5/5 — It really works! Screen time down by 30% *2026-08-29* HIGHLY RECOMMEND I was hesitant to try it, but have been honestly surprised at how effective it has been at stopping doomscrolling. I’m not a huge fan of puzzles and for me that has become the barrier or boundary I needed go walk away, and with the recent customization features, like unpause timing, scheduling and reporting, I’m enjoying it even more! ### 5/5 — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *2026-08-24* Pause has been a game changer for managing my screen time and social media habits. It creates just enough friction to make me stop and think before mindlessly opening an app, without feeling restrictive or annoying. I’ve become much more intentional about when and why I use my phone, and I’ve definitely noticed myself spending less time endlessly scrolling. It’s simple, effective, and does exactly what it’s supposed to do. If you’re trying to reduce screen time without completely giving up the apps you enjoy, I highly recommend Pause. One of those small apps that can genuinely make a big difference in your daily routine. ### 5/5 — Has really helped me stop using social media apps *2026-08-05* I had been using a similar app for 2 years but I’ve really enjoyed using it the past month. Solving a puzzle helps me calm my hyper brain. Will continue using!!! ### 5/5 — delivers what it promises *2026-07-29* if I go a period without it, for whatever reason, I miss the puzzles, the cognitive stimulation and the barriers it places b/n my fingers’ impulses and the doomscrolling apps! 10/10 recommend ### 5/5 — An awesome twist on Screen Control *2026-07-18* Pause has genuinely changed how I use my phone. Instead of just blocking apps outright, it makes you play a quick game before you can get into Instagram or TikTok — and that tiny bit of friction is enough to make you stop and ask ‘do I actually want to scroll right now?’ Half the time I just close my phone instead of bothering with the game. It’s such a smart, creative twist on the usual screen-time tools that just nag you with reminders. Highly recommend if you’re trying to be more intentional with your phone time ### 5/5 — Take control over mindlessly scrolling! *2026-07-10* I often found myself mindlessly scrolling on social media for hours. I’d even catch myself just going up the stairs and opening instagram — couldn’t even walk without scrolling.. I hated it! Pause has been the perfect barrier my brain needed to break that habit. The games are engaging and challenging enough to interrupt the autopilot scrolling and shift me from mindlessly consuming content to actively thinking and deciding whether I want to open an app. I’ve tried other apps to help with the social media scrolling habit, but this one is my favorite by far! ### 5/5 — It works *2026-07-08* I didn’t think it was going to work, cause “I can manage my time correctly, just need discipline”… but after giving it a try, it really surprised me. My screen time has significantly reduced but most importantly the urge to scroll and open social media apps has significantly reduced. Glad I gave it a shot! ## Frequently asked questions about Pause ### How does Pause help reduce screen time? Pause places a quick puzzle between you and the apps you've chosen to pause. Solving this puzzle creates a moment of friction, breaking the autopilot reflex and encouraging more intentional app usage. ### What kind of puzzles does Pause offer? Pause offers nine different calming puzzles, including Word Jumble, Mini Crossword, Sliding Tile, Ball Sort, Connect the Colors, Maze, and Sixdoku. These are designed to provide a small mental reset. ### Is Pause a restrictive app? No, Pause is designed for intention, not restriction. It aims to add a small space for choice rather than locking you out of apps completely, promoting guilt-free usage. ### What are the benefits of Pause Premium? Pause Premium unlocks all nine puzzles, removes advertisements, and offers a 7-day free trial before starting an annual or monthly subscription. This provides a more comprehensive and uninterrupted experience. ### How much does Pause Premium cost? Pause Premium offers two subscription plans: $9.99 per month or $74.99 per year. Both plans include a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. ### Can I cancel my Pause Premium subscription? Yes, you can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your Apple Account settings. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. ### Does Pause have ads? Yes, the free version of Pause contains advertisements. You can remove ads by subscribing to Pause Premium. ### What devices is Pause available on? Pause is available on iPhone and iPad, indicated by its compatibility with Apple's Screen Time technology. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.7 — 2026-11-01 Pause is ready for Thanksgiving! • A cozy new look all November, with a fresh app icon and harvest-themed puzzles. • New Gratitude puzzle: list three things you're grateful for to unlock. Your answers stay private on your phone and greet you on the Pause screen all month. Reminders are optional and off unless you turn them on. • Word Jumble is friendlier: any real word made from the letters counts, "Mix letters" reshuffles them, and if you're stuck, "Show word" reveals it and gives you a fresh one. • Five Letters now asks before resetting, so a stray tap won't cost you your progress. • Themed puzzles mix in everyday words to keep them challenging. • New "Any" difficulty picks from every puzzle you've turned on. • The free version now includes three puzzles: Word Jumble, Ball Sort and Sliding Tile. • New to Pause? Start with 7 days of Premium free, and we'll remind you 2 days before your trial ends. • Turn on News from Pause in Settings for occasional updates about new features and seasonal puzzles. Never spam. • Small fixes and polish, including clearer Screen Time stats. ### 1.6.2 — 2026-10-08 Improved readability of the puzzle screen buttons ### 1.6 — 2026-10-07 Halloween has come to Pause! Sort candy instead of balls, guide a wrapped sweet to the jack-o'-lantern, follow a spider as it spins its web, and connect felt snakes in Connect the Colors. Word puzzles get a spooky new look too. Happy Halloween! ### 1.5 — 2026-09-16 Added a Send Feedback option in Settings, its the fastest way to tell me what's working or what isn't. A short note from me on why I built Pause, also in Settings. Five Letters now shows you the answer if you run out of guesses. Small bug fixes and polish. ### 1.4.2 — 2026-09-01 Fixed a bug where some of your paused apps could silently become unpaused at random after relaunching Pause. Your full paused-apps list is now preserved across every launch, so the apps you chose stay paused until you say otherwise ## Apps similar to Pause | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Spinbrek: Cute App Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spinbrek-cute-app-blocker/id6781065557) | 4.3 (3) | Free | Productivity | | [MindLock: Quiz App Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindlock-quiz-app-blocker/id6811014351) | — | Free | Productivity | | [Focused: Block distractions](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focused-block-distractions/id6794905497) | — | Free | Productivity | | [Keelder: Screen Time Limit](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keelder-screen-time-limit/id6775031321) | — | Free | Productivity | | [SnapOut : Math App Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snapout-math-app-blocker/id6770075476) | — | Free | Productivity | | [Offscroll: Screen Time Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/offscroll-screen-time-control/id6785019375) | — | Free | Productivity | ## More apps by Carlos Velasquez - [Mustard Seed Faith](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mustard-seed-faith/id6757195407) - [Launch the Capy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/launch-the-capy/id6761528445) All apps by Carlos Velasquez: https://appshunter.io/developer/1814581124 --- *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 2026-11-05.*