This App Can Actually Hinder Your IPhone Usage
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The problem with distraction-blocking apps is how easy it is to turn them off. But what if you need to access a physical object to unblock distractions? You can leave the object at home or hand it over to someone who will monitor you. That’s the idea behind Foqos , an iPhone app from developer Ali Wasim . It’s open source, completely free, and works really well.
At first glance, Foqos may seem similar to other distraction blocking apps . You can select a set of apps and websites you want to block, then turn on the blocker. The difference comes when it comes time to turn off the distraction blocking. To do this, you need to scan a “key” – an NFC chip or QR code.
If you’re looking for the easiest option, use a QR code: you can print the code on a piece of paper and post it somewhere in your home. Personally, I created a QR code and taped it to the back of my desk drawer. An NFC chip is a bit more complicated. You’ll have to buy a blank chip and set it up yourself. These chips are very affordable and have a variety of uses, from automating routine tasks to sharing Wi-Fi passwords .
The setup process is simple. First, you need to grant the app permission to access your Screen Time settings , which is required to enable blocking. Then you can create profiles. I created one to block social media apps as a category, and then added the web versions of Reddit so I didn’t have to find a workaround. After that, you can choose the key you want. You can use any key — an NFC chip or a QR code — to both activate and deactivate the block. You can also manually initiate the block and require a key to deactivate it.
However you set it up, there are a variety of ways to use it. You could leave the key at home before you go out, making it easier to focus on those around you. Or, during the workday, you could give the key to a friend and ask them not to return it until you finish the current project. I tried this for a couple of days, leaving my phone without access to Reddit or Bluesky. I was hoping to spend the time reading instead of scrolling, and it seems to work. Even if the key is just across the room, there’s enough friction to keep you from scrolling.
The app, as mentioned, is completely free, although the developer asks you to pay some money if you find it useful.