Support

Need a hand?

How TimeOut works, answers to common questions, and how to reach a human.

support@timeout-app.com

Getting started

  1. 1

    Grant Screen Time access

    Open TimeOut and tap GRANT SCREEN TIME ACCESS. iOS asks once. Without it, nothing can be blocked.

  2. 2

    Make a block

    Tap + NEW BLOCK. Name it, select the apps, categories and websites to block, set a time window and pick the days.

  3. 3

    Choose exit friction

    SIMPLE pauses instantly. REFLECT makes you wait 30 seconds. DEEP makes you wait 2 minutes and enter your password.

  4. 4

    Or just start a timer

    Under TIMER, pick your timer apps once, then tap 15, 25, 45 or 90 to block them right now.

Questions

Do I need to keep TimeOut open?+
No. Blocks are handed to iOS Screen Time, which starts and ends them on schedule even if the app is closed or you never open it again.
How does Allowed Time work?+
Give a block some allowed minutes and its apps stay open inside the window until you have used those minutes. Then the shield comes down for the rest of the window. Allowed Time resets each time the window starts.
What is ALLOW-ONLY?+
Instead of blocking the apps you pick, ALLOW-ONLY blocks everything except them. It is available for blocks and for timers.
How do breaks work?+
While a block is shielding, tap TAKE A BREAK on the home screen and choose 5, 10 or 15 minutes. Shields come back on their own when the break ends. DEEP blocks cannot take breaks.
What does DEEP do on a timer?+
A DEEP timer has no early exit. Not from the app, not from Siri. It ends when it ends.
How do I set my DEEP password?+
Settings → Deep Mode Password. Until you set one, DEEP blocks only have the 2 minute wait.
What is Smart Shield?+
When Vocab Mode is on in Settings, blocked apps show a flashcard instead of a plain message: a new word and its definition, or a fact about attention. The card changes every hour. Turn it off to write your own shield text.
How are streaks counted?+
Any day your shields go up counts. Consecutive days make a streak. It is stored only on your phone.
Does it block websites?+
Yes. Websites you select in a block are shielded in Safari, and blocking an app also blocks its website where iOS supports it.
Can I use Siri or Shortcuts?+
Yes. Say "Start a TimeOut timer" or "Stop my TimeOut timer", or use the Start Timer and Stop Timer actions in Shortcuts. Pick your timer apps in the app first.
Does it work on iPad?+
Yes. TimeOut runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS 17 or later. Blocks are per device.
Is it really free? What about my data?+
Free. No ads, no account, no subscription. TimeOut collects nothing and makes no network requests. See the privacy policy.

Troubleshooting

Apps aren’t being blocked

  • Check Settings → Screen Time is on and TimeOut has access
  • Make sure the block is ON and today is one of its days
  • Windows must be at least 15 minutes long (an iOS limit)
  • Re-select the apps in the block and save

A block won’t turn off

  • REFLECT and DEEP blocks make you wait on purpose
  • DEEP timers cannot be ended early
  • For a real emergency: Settings → Disarm Everything
  • Deleting the app also removes every shield

Widget looks out of date

  • iOS refreshes widgets on its own schedule. Open the app to nudge it
  • Remove and re-add the widget
  • Update to the latest version of TimeOut

Shield shows the wrong text

  • Vocab Mode on shows flashcards. Turn it off for your own text
  • Tap SAVE SHIELD TEXT after editing

Still stuck?

Bug reports, feature ideas, or just stuck behind a shield. Email us. Include your iOS version and what you expected to happen.

Email support