FAQ

Q1: My apps are supposed to be blocked, but they aren't

Sometimes iOS blocking can get stuck and is a known issue from Apple, which may cause blocking to stop working for certain apps or websites. Another common cause is your phone being close to running out of storage, which can prevent iOS blocking from working correctly.

Follow these steps to fix the issue:

Step 1: Resync Breaktime
  • Open the Breaktime app.
  • Go to your Profile tab.
  • Tap the Settings icon (gear in the top right corner).
  • Scroll down and tap Resync.

If blocking still isn't working, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Close and reopen Breaktime

Force close the Breaktime app and then open it again to refresh the connection.

If this doesn't work, continue to Step 3.

Step 3: Restart your device

Turn your device off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.

If blocking is still not working, try Step 4.

Step 4: Check your phone's storage

If your phone is close to running out of storage, iOS blocking may stop working correctly. Free up some space and then try again.

If blocking is still not working, try Step 5.

Step 5: Reinstall Breaktime

Delete the Breaktime app and reinstall it from the App Store.

Q2: My stats aren't loading and/or refresh button not working

This is a known iOS issue on Apple's side that can occur with the stats display.

To fix this issue:

  • Make sure you do not have other Screen Time apps as this can conflict
  • Swipe up from the bottom of your screen
  • Swipe away the Breaktime app to force quit it
  • Reopen the app

Q3: My stats aren't accurate / data is missing.

Breaktime uses Apple's built-in Screen Time technology to retrieve and display data. However it may not always be reliable. Apple may limit available data Breaktime can display depending on your iOS version and typically only shows data after you installed Breaktime.

First check if Apple's in-built Screen Time data is also inaccurate:

  • Open the Settings app and navigate to "Screen Time".
  • Compare the data displayed there with the stats shown in Breaktime. If it does not match please report this to us.
  • If it does match and looks inaccurate this is an issue on Apple's side. Please see below for some tips to prevent / resolve this.

Some information and tips:

  • Restarting your phone often fixes an issue with screen time reporting 24 hour usage.
  • In some cases using your phone with picture-in-picture mode can cause both apps to be counted towards phone usage.
  • Sometimes apps with background activity can contribute to Screen Time.
  • Make sure you do not have other Screen Time apps as this can cause issues.

Q4: How can I still get notifications from apps that are blocked?

Unfortunately, iOS does not allow notifications from apps that are blocked. This is a limitation of the iOS operating system, and there is no way to bypass it directly.

However, if the notifiations you want are for messages on social media apps, we recommend using an app called Beeper. Beeper allows you to extract direct messages (DMs) from apps like Instagram and send messages in a seperate app.

This means you can block Instagram in your Breaktime block list while still receiving Instagram chat notifications and DM people through Beeper. It’s a great way to stay focused while ensuring you don’t miss important messages.