Guides / Block Lists and Focus Sessions
What is a focus session and how does it work?
A focus session is a set stretch of time, with a clear start and end, where you commit to one task and keep distractions out of reach. You choose what to restrict, such as particular apps and websites, start a timer, and stay on task until it runs out. A blocker app makes this stick by shutting those apps and sites for the whole session, so you decide once up front instead of fighting the urge every time it shows up.
A focus session in plain terms
A focus session is a stretch of time with a start, an end, and one rule: no distractions in between. You decide ahead of time what counts as a distraction, start the clock, and work on one thing until it stops.
The point is to make the decision once, before the urge shows up. Deciding mid-task, with a notification glowing and your thumb already moving, is a fight you lose more often than you win.
A plain timer runs on the honor system. A blocker adds the part that does the work: the apps and sites you picked are actually shut while the clock runs.
How a focus session works in bloq
A session in bloq has three moving parts:
- A block list. A named set of apps and websites you want restricted.
- A timer. The length of the session. You start it, and it runs.
- Blocking. While the timer runs, blocked apps and sites redirect back to bloq instead of opening.
That is the whole loop. Open a blocked app mid-session and you land back in bloq. A bloq ends when the timer ends, not when the craving does, and there is no snooze button.
How to start a focus session on iPhone
- Open the Block Lists tab and tap "+".
- Name the list, then pick the apps and websites you want blocked.
- Go to the Focus tab and select that list.
- Start the session. The timer runs and the blocking begins.
You can keep several lists, for example one for work and one for evenings, and pick whichever fits the session. For the full walkthrough, see How to Block Apps and Websites on iPhone.
What stops you from quitting early
A blocker you can talk your way out of is a suggestion. That is what Super Strict Mode is for. Turn it on with the toggle before you start a session, and while the timer runs:
- You cannot pause the timer or stop the session.
- You cannot edit the active block list.
- You cannot delete the app during the session.
- You cannot switch Super Strict Mode off mid-session.
Because nothing can be undone once you press start, use it wisely and set up your list first. How Super Strict Mode Works covers the details.
Focus sessions across iPhone and Mac
Sync runs both ways
Sessions, schedules, and block lists sync through your account between iPhone and Mac. Start a session on one device and the other is blocked at the same moment. When the session ends, every synced screen is unblocked at once.
Websites are blocked system-wide on Mac
On Mac, website blocking is system-wide, so switching browsers does not get around it. Safari, Chrome, Arc, and any other browser are covered. More in How to Block Websites on Mac (Every Browser) and How to Block Apps on Mac.
The iPhone catch
When a session starts on another device, your iPhone is woken by a silent notification to apply the block. That has conditions:
- Background App Refresh must be on. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and enable it globally and for bloq.
- iOS never wakes an app you have force-quit by swiping it away in the app switcher.
- Low Power Mode can delay the wake-up.
- Opening bloq always syncs and applies the block immediately.
Two other ways sessions start or limit you
- Scheduled sessions start a focus session for you automatically, so tomorrow starts itself. Schedules sync across iPhone and Mac.
- Limit sessions watch how long you use the selected apps and websites each day. Once you pass your allowance, they are blocked for the rest of the day, until midnight, and the counter resets daily. On Mac, time counts while the app or site is active in front of you. On iPhone, Screen Time does the counting.
If built-in limits keep failing you, why Screen Time limits fail explains what tends to hold instead.
When a focus session is the right tool
A session suits work that needs an unbroken stretch: writing, studying, a hard problem, or a phone-free evening. It is a blunt instrument on purpose.
- Build the list before you start. With Super Strict Mode on, you cannot edit the active list, so leave out anything you genuinely need during the session.
- Pick a length you can finish. A session blocks for its full length, so a realistic duration beats an heroic one.
- Use a limit session for light daily habits. If you only want to cap total time rather than lock everything, a daily limit fits better.
- Check the platform. bloq is for iPhone and Mac. Devices outside those two are not covered.
Ready to try it? Get bloq for iPhone or download it for Mac.
Try it
bloq locks distracting apps and websites on your Mac and iPhone at once. Start a session on one device and the other locks the same second.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pause or end a focus session early?
Not with Super Strict Mode on. You cannot pause the timer, stop the session, or edit the active block list, and there is no snooze. Switch it on before you start, because it cannot be turned off mid-session.
What happens when I open a blocked app during a session?
You get redirected back to bloq. The same goes for blocked websites. The block holds for the full length of the session.
If I start a session on my Mac, does my iPhone get blocked too?
Yes, sessions sync through your account and the iPhone is woken to apply the block. That needs Background App Refresh on, does not work if you force-quit bloq, and can be delayed by Low Power Mode. Opening bloq on the iPhone applies the block immediately.
Do I need an account or to pay to try a focus session?
bloq is free to start, and no account is needed to try it. Syncing sessions, schedules, and block lists between iPhone and Mac runs through your account.
How is a focus session different from a daily usage limit?
A focus session blocks your chosen apps and sites for the whole length of the timer. A limit session lets you use them until you pass your daily allowance, then blocks them until midnight, when the counter resets.