FAQ

Blocker is half app, half guide that makes Screen Time effectively impossible to bypass by keeping your Screen Time recovery credentials hostage until a blocking period ends.

The system uses a dedicated Apple Account for Screen Time recovery:

1. Create a separate Apple Account just for Screen Time recovery
2. Store the Apple Account password in Blocker (you won't be able to see it)
3. Set your blocking schedule (e.g., work hours)
4. When blocking starts, set Screen Time with a random PIN you don't remember
5. During blocking, you can't bypass because you don't know the PIN and Blocker won't release the password
6. When blocking ends, Blocker releases your password so you can reset Screen Time

When you need to change Screen Time settings during a block, macOS will ask for the Screen Time passcode. If you don't know the passcode, you can only reset it via Screen Time Passcode Recovery, which requires the Apple Account password for the recovery account.

1. In Screen Time settings, go to Lock Screen Time Settings
2. If it's locked, click Change Passcode…
3. In the passcode prompt, choose Forgot Passcode
4. You'll see Screen Time Passcode Recovery
5. Enter the Apple Account email (or phone number) you created for Screen Time recovery
6. Follow the prompts and sign in to that Apple Account to reset the Screen Time passcode

Note: If you don't have the recovery account password either, you can't reset Screen Time during a block.

Screen Time has a "Forgot Passcode?" option that lets you reset using your recovery Apple Account. If you use your main Apple Account, you could bypass Screen Time at any moment. A dedicated recovery Apple Account with a password only Blocker knows closes this loophole.

Your password is stored encrypted on our servers and is never displayed in the app during blocking periods. It's only released when your scheduled blocking period ends. The app is hosted on Cloudflare and the source code is open source on GitHub. We recommend only using this Apple Account for this app.

The whole point of Blocker is that you can't bypass it during blocking. That's what makes it effective. If you truly need emergency access, you'll have to wait until the blocking period ends. Plan your schedule accordingly and start with a short block.

Blocker is designed for macOS Screen Time. The web app works in any browser, but the Screen Time blocking itself is a macOS feature.

There's a way to turn your MacBook into a typewriter where you can only work inside a small slice of the internet you intentionally allow. It requires some setup.

Check out Insano mode →

Yes! Safari lets you load a custom CSS file that styles all pages - including the Screen Time block page.

How to set it up:

1. Create a CSS file (e.g., block-style.css) with your custom styles
2. Open Safari → Settings → Advanced
3. Find "Style sheet" dropdown and select your CSS file

Example - dark mode block page:

body:has(.restricted-page) {
  background: #000 !important;
}
.restricted-page h1 { color: #fff !important; }
.restricted-page p { color: #666 !important; }
.restricted-page button { display: none !important; }

Example - motivational message:

body:has(.restricted-page)::before {
  content: "Get back to work.";
  position: fixed;
  top: 50%;
  left: 50%;
  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
  font-size: 3em;
  font-weight: bold;
  color: #333;
}
.restricted-page { display: none !important; }

Note: Only works in Safari.

I genuinely believe it's not good to profit from others' bad habits, so I made Blocker free to use. However, you can donate via GitHub Sponsors if you feel generous.

I'm Joachim Aaløkke Sørensen, and I built Blocker to keep myself off the internet when I'm writing. You can find my other projects on GitHub.