Android
Stay Focused has stopped working.
Stay Focused runs in the background and relies on Android Accessibility permission. Below are the factors that can cause background services to be killed and how to address them:
Enable/Re-enable Accessibility Permission
Ensure that Accessibility permission for Stay Focused is enabled and not killed. If it is killed, please try disabling and re-enabling it in your device settings.
Third-Party App Cleaners
If you have installed a third-party app cleaner or optimizer, make sure to exclude Stay Focused from its cleaning processes. Alternatively, you may consider uninstalling such apps.
Disable Battery Optimization
On most phones, battery saver options can disable background services, affecting app functionality. Check if battery saver is enabled for Stay Focused and disable it if necessary.
Manufacturer-Imposed Restrictions
Some device manufacturers impose restrictions on background services to enhance device performance (e.g., Huawei). Check your device settings for any such restrictions and adjust them accordingly.
Grant All Required Permissions
Check if you have granted all the necessary permissions required by Stay Focused. Missing permissions can affect app functionality.
Set Stay Focused as Home App
As a last step, you might try setting Stay Focused as your home app to ensure it stays active.
What are the Supported Browsers?
Stay Focused currently supports blocking and monitoring on Chrome, Samsung, Brave, Firefox, Opera, Edge, Yandex, Kiwi, Spin, Huawei, Vivaldi and Ecosia browsers.
App Stops Working on Phone Restart?
When your phone restarts, Stay Focused's process is killed but it will resume blocking as soon as the OS restarts it. To ensure continuous functionality, you can try setting Stay Focused as your home app or you can enable 'Block Power Off' feature from the Settings screen of the app.
Handling Parallel Apps
Set Stay Focused as your home app, which will hide the parallel apps created, ensuring your focus remains intact.
Stay Focused is not blocking split screen.
Currently, it is not possible to reliably block split screen. We have attempted to block split screen using accessibility permission. Please enable accessibility permission for Stay Focused to see if it helps. We are actively searching for other solutions.
Does Stay Focused Track and Block Background Apps?
Due to OS restrictions, Stay Focused cannot manage background apps. Instead, use profiles to manage foreground usage effectively.
Can Simply Pause Profiles to Use Apps.
To prevent this, you can turn on Strict mode. This will ensure that users cannot easily pause profiles to bypass restrictions.
Can Safe mode be used to get around Stay Focused?
Yes. In Safe mode, Android turns off every app you installed, including Stay Focused, and no app can prevent that. To close this gap, ask someone you trust to set your phone's screen lock PIN or password and not tell you. After any restart, including a restart into Safe mode, the phone asks for that PIN or password before fingerprint or face unlock works, so you can't use Safe mode without them. You'll also need them after a normal restart.
iPhone & iPad
How to block Phone Settings
iOS doesn't let any app block Settings, but there are two ways to stop yourself from turning Stay Focused off there.
Option 1: Use a Shortcut
Create an automation that opens Shortcuts whenever Settings is opened, then block Shortcuts in Stay Focused. Follow the steps below.
Creating Automation:
1. Open Shortcuts app 2. Select the Automation tab 3. Click "Plus" icon 4. Select "App" from the list 5. For the "App" parameter choose "Settings" from the App list 6. Check "Is Opened", "Run Immediately" and uncheck "Notify when run" 7. Click Next 8. On the "Actions" screen click "New Blank Automation", click "Add Action", seach for "Open App" and select it 9. Click "App" next to "Open" select "Shortcuts" 10. Confirm with Done
Blocking Settings:
1. Open Stay Focused 2. Edit or Create a new Profile 3. In the Apps select the Shortcuts app 4. Save it to start blocking the settings
Option 2: Lock Screen Time with a passcode
Ask someone you trust to open Settings > Screen Time, tap Lock Screen Time Settings and set a passcode you don't know. Without that passcode, Screen Time settings can't be changed, so Stay Focused can't be turned off there.
App is Not Working or Has Stopped Working
Check for Conflicting Restrictions
If the app is not functioning as expected, ensure that you haven't set restrictions on the selected apps in other apps or through the iOS native Screen Time feature. Conflicting restrictions can prevent the app from working correctly.
Pause and Re-enable the Profile
Sometimes, temporarily pausing and then re-enabling the profile can resolve issues. Try this step to refresh the app's settings and functionality.
Limit of 50 Apps or Websites to Block
iOS limits the number of apps or websites that can be blocked at the same time to 50. If you're attempting to block more than 50 apps or websites, reduce the number to resolve the issue.
Time Interval Limit
iOS allows monitoring up to 20 unique time intervals at once. Two of these intervals are reserved for the "Take a Break" and "Strict Mode" features, so ensure that you are using no more than 18 unique intervals to avoid exceeding this limit.