Question 1

Which browsers are supported by Focus Firewall?

Accepted Answer

Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Arc and Brave. Please let us know if you need support for a different browser and we'll add it in a heartbeat.

Question 2

Does Focus Firewall need browser extensions?

Accepted Answer

No, Focus Firewall does not need any browser extensions. It works at the system level, blocking websites and apps regardless of the browser you use.

Question 3

What happens when I visit a blocked website while Focus Firewall is active?

Accepted Answer

It looks like the internet is down just for that website.

Question 4

What happens when I open a blocked app while Focus Firewall is active?

Accepted Answer

The app opens normally, but it will be blocked from accessing the internet, just like websites. Some apps may show an error message, while others just show a blank screen or a loading spinner. There are also apps that show no indication that they are offline (for example WhatsApp) since they still show your previous messages and you can still write new ones. However, messages will not be sent and you won't receive incoming messages.

Question 5

Is there a way to bypass the block?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and that's by design. You can take a break by hitting the Pause button and picking a duration (1 minute, 15 minutes, etc). From the menu bar, you can temporarily turn off blocking for a category (for example, turn off Social Media) or turn off blocking entirely. You can also open the app and toggle blocking off just for the specific website or app you want, while the rest of the category stays blocked.

Question 6

How to tell if the app is running?

Accepted Answer

You should see the app icon in the menu bar while it's running. When blocking is active, the app icon will have a small shield next to it.

Question 7

How do I block a website?

Accepted Answer

To block a website, open Focus Firewall from the menu bar and click on a category that fits your website (for example News). Click on the + button on the bottom left of the list and enter a friendly name (for example The New York Times) and the domain (for example nytimes.com). After saving, the website will be added to the list of blocked websites, and you will not be able to access it while blocking is active and that category is blocked. Note: make sure to remove the https:// and anything after the domain. For example, if you want to block https://www.nytimes.com/section/business, you should add nytimes.com or www.nytimes.com.

Question 8

Can I use Focus Firewall on my iPhone or iPad?

Accepted Answer

No. Focus Firewall is currently only available for macOS. We are considering making it available for iPhone and iPad. If you are interested, please let us know!

Question 9

Is there a trial version?

Accepted Answer

We offer a 7-day free trial so you can try it out and see if it fits your needs.

Question 10

How does Focus Firewall handle my privacy?

Accepted Answer

Our business is about selling great software, not selling your data. We do not collect any personal information about you, your browsing habits, or the websites you visit. We do not track you, we do not profile you and we do not share nor sell your data to third parties. When the app blocks a distracting website for you, all of your browsing data is processed locally on your device, and we do not have access to it. We kindly ask you to send us anonymous usage analytics to help us improve the app, and that is completely optional. You can say no during the installation process, or disable it later in the app settings at any time. This data is only used to improve the app. For example, we'd like to understand if folks are using the new feature we just shipped, how many hours in average do people save every day with our app, how many hours in total did all of our users save, etc. This data is completely anonymous, we have no idea who you are.

Solution: Check browser support