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Precursor: Screen Time Limit

Precursor: Screen Time Limit

App blocker that resets hourly

14 ratings
6 reviews
💪 Health & Fitness
📊 Productivity
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

Released
July 31, 2026
Updated
October 29, 2026

Features

Developer

Precursor Labs
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Precursor: Screen Time Limit video #1 for iPhone
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Precursor: Screen Time Limit screenshot #7 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
🧾$99.99
In-App Purchase↘︎
⭐6
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🔄6+ apps
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❓8 answered
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About

This app helps you manage your screen time by setting hourly limits for specific applications. It resets your allowance each hour, preventing you from exceeding daily limits and promoting sustainable usage habits without guilt.

✓Set hourly app limits
✓Automatic hourly reset
✓Customizable daily limits
✓Friction to prevent impulsive overrides
✓Privacy-focused design
✓Optional premium features
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+1

What's New in Precursor

1.2.2

October 29, 2026

- 2 and 3 hour reset windows (Precursor+) now stay set, even after you close Precursor. If yours shows 1 hour, pick it again once. - If your limits stop while Precursor is closed, the dashboard says so and offers Restart limits. - Write your reason in Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Arabic, Russian, Turkish or Vietnamese. The empty box now says how much to write and works as intended. - Asking for More time no longer asks for your passcode. Parent Mode still does. - Translation and layout fixes in German, French, Russian, Vietnamese and Arabic. - Fixed a crash when opening Insights.

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Subscriptions & In-App Purchases

Monthly

Precursor+ billed monthly

$4.991 Month
7 Days trial
How to cancel Precursor subscription ⁉️

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

I kicked my habit in two weeks!!!

This is the first app I have ever WANTED to write a review for. I had a hopeless TikTok doomscrolling addiction. I simply could not stop endlessly depressing myself with hours and hours of bad news and various forms of brain rot. I downloaded this and set it to 10 minutes per hour. Idk what the science is, but not only had this stymied my screen time, my addiction is almost non existent now!!! I used to instinctively grab my phone and swipe to tiktok like a chain smoker grabs cigarettes from his two packs a day. Now there are days when I FORGET to look at tiktok!!! Now I only use it when it’s meant to be used: when I’m waiting for something with absolutely nothing to do. Waiting for my pizza rolls to heat up. Waiting for the subway. Waiting in line at the bank. I feel so much better!!!! Thank you Precursor!!! 😭🙏🏻
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GGAActor

I’ve been waiting for this

Like everyone else I’ve struggled with scrolling endlessly on social media and news. Being able to set HOURLY limits is what I needed.

5 minutes every hour on all social media/ news scratches the itch till I can make it once a day. All the best to the dev and users of this app.

edit: Can we add an inverse time window? So instead of setting hours to run the schedule (8-5) we set a limit where we set free time for certain hours or windows (noon for an hours five minutes) or within an evening window (6-8 5 minute intervals)

Creating app groups or the ability to duplicate existing schedules also makes it easier to further customize time.

Also any way to automatically toggle color filters so the screen goes black and white when five minute is over? Further reinforcing limitations?

Big thanks from a lifetime subscriber!
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Ssupahotfuego

Response from developer

I am so glad Precursor has helped you better manage your screen time habits. Truly that is my goal with this app, to just help people take back their time! Your support and kind words mean a lot!

Great Idea, but still a few bugs to iron out

Its a great idea and very well implemented. However, i did run into a bug where I am not able to modify the limits once set. The app asks me to input a reason but the button to proceed never gets enabled even after entering the reason
PPoseidonUnderWatee

Response from developer

Thank you for the valuable feedback and I am glad that Precursor is useful to you! The bug you described might just be the need to hit a character limit for the reason. In general on normal limits mode the journal entry requires about 1 sentence for the reason, while on hard limits mode it requires about 2-3 sentences. If that doesn't solve the issue please reach out to support@precursorlabs.info with a screenshot so I can investigate further! Again, thanks a ton for the support!

Add minute variation please

Works well but would be nice if instead of screentime minutes being allotted in 5’s you could set them to more specific numbers like 8 or 22
HHi863389965

Response from developer

Hi, thank you so much for the feedback! The minute level granularity is definitely something I am always looking at implementing. While technically possible, the app would be way more prone to misfires and block users out of their apps prematurely. For now the 5 minute increments is the sweet spot I was able to find where Apple's screentime framework (which underlies Precursor) works reliably. Despite the limitation, I will continue to look for solutions because I agree, more fine tuned control would be nice to have!

Bien

Buena app y excelente uso.
JPJunior Pablo

Response from developer

Muchas Gracias!

FAQ

What is Precursor's primary function?

Precursor's primary function is to help users manage their screen time by setting specific hourly limits for applications. This approach aims to break the cycle of exceeding daily limits and encourages more sustainable digital habits.

How does Precursor differ from other screen time apps?

Unlike many screen time solutions that offer a single daily limit, Precursor allows you to set an hourly allowance. This hourly reset mechanism is designed to prevent the feeling of being completely locked out of apps and reduces the temptation to ignore limits.

Can I customize my limits with Precursor?

Yes, you can pick the apps you want to limit and assign them an hourly allowance of 5, 10, or 15 minutes (up to 30 minutes with Precursor+). You can also select specific days for these limits to be active, allowing for stricter limits on weekdays and more lenient ones on weekends.

What happens when my hourly allowance is spent?

When your allowance for a specific app or group of apps is spent, those apps will be blocked. Your limit then automatically resets at the top of the next hour, allowing you to use them again.

Does Precursor have ads?

No, Precursor is ad-free. The app is built on Apple's Screen Time technology and is designed to be private by design, with no accounts and no advertisements.

What are the benefits of the Precursor+ upgrade?

The optional Precursor+ upgrade offers additional features such as more app groups, different reset windows, longer limits (up to 30 minutes per hour), scheduled active hours, and Deep Focus sessions.

How does Precursor handle impulsive moments of wanting to bypass limits?

Precursor adds friction to prevent impulsive overrides. Before stopping limits, it prompts a reflection, allows for a passcode lock, and requires intentionally opening the Precursor app to stop limits, rather than offering an immediate 'ignore' option.

Is Precursor available on multiple devices?

Precursor is available on iPhone and iPad, leveraging Apple's Screen Time technology for its functionality.