Help center

Find answers, solve issues and get in touch.

Troubleshooting

Resolve common issues.

Common issues

Most common issues reported by our users.

Unable to start: the app tries to start but changes back to stopped
Permissions: the network extension is waiting for your permission. This is typically done during onboarding but sometimes people skip it.

Solutions

Common solutions for everyday issues.

Focus Firewall stopped working on my Mac (macOS Sequoia 15.2 or older)

Find out which macOS your Mac is using

If you are using macOS Sequoia version 15.2 or older and Focus Firewall stopped working for some browsers, you might be affected by a known macOS bug. We have reported it to Apple and last we heard it may be fixed on macOS 15.3 (to be released around late January 2025).

Here's how to tell if you're affected by the issue:

Make sure Focus Firewall is running and active, and it still doesn't block websites
Try restarting your Mac, reviewing permissions and force reactivation

Temporary fix: if you tried all of the above and it still doesn't work, the current workaround suggested by Apple is to disable the macOS firewall on System Settings > Network > Firewall. If this solves the issue, then you are affected by the bug and should wait for the next macOS update. You can pause your Focus Firewall subscription while you wait for the fix.

Disclaimer: we do not recommend disabling the macOS firewall as it may expose your computer to security risks, especially when using public networks. If you disable it, do it at your own risk and discretion and make sure to enable it back as soon as possible.

I can't find how to "allow" the network extension on macOS Sequoia (15)

During onboarding, you are asked to grant permissions to our network extension. On the newest macOS version, Apple moved the "allow" to a different place. Here's how to find it:

System Settings
Go to General > Login Items & Extensions
Scroll all the way to the bottom and find Network Extensions
Click on ⓘ to the right of Network Extensions and Toggle Focus Firewall on

It should look like this:

In the next version we'll be updating the app screenshots to better guide Sequoia users.

Restart your computer

Sometimes your Mac may need to be restarted to complete the network extension installation. We typically automatically detect this scenario and show you a message if that's the case, but sometimes restarting can fix other issues.

Reset onboarding

Go to Settings > Advanced > Reset and select Reset onboarding, open Focus Firewall main window and do the onboarding from scratch again.

In the Network Setup step, make sure to follow the instructions and grant permissions when asked by the system.

Review permissions

Focus Firewall uses a network extension in order to filter distracting websites and you need to grant it permissions in your Mac for it to work properly.

This is typically done during onboarding – you are asked to start Focus Firewall for the first time. Your Mac should show the following popup, which you should click on Open System Settings.

Once you are in the system settings, you must click on "Allow" as shown below:

Once that's done, your Mac presents you with yet another popup to grant the network extension permission to filter network content. We need this permission in order to identify which websites are being accessed and block them in case they are distractions. Please click "Allow" to continue.

PS: Focus Firewall needs these permissions in order to identify which websites are being visited and decide whether they should be blocked. This happens entirely in your computer and data is never sent to the cloud. Please check our Privacy Policy for a complete overview.

Force reactivation

In rare scenarios, the network extension installation gets to a stuck state and stops working. If you tried everything else, this is the last resort and should be able to fix any issues.

Open the troubleshooting tool on Settings > Advanced > Open troubleshooting.
In the tool, scroll down and click on Manage > Force extensio deactivation, which forces the extension to be uninstalled.
Restart your computer.
Open the troubleshooting tool again, and now click on Manage > Force extension activation, to install the network extension from scratch again. You may be asked for permissions again, which you need to grant both in the Privacy & Security and on the pop-up.

Get in touch

Report bugs, request features, offer feedback and ask questions.