Limits are calculated based on the screen time data provided by Apple’s Screen Time. Sometimes, the data sent by Apple may be incorrect due to a bug on their end. In those rare cases, limits may not work as expected in Jomo.

My apps didn’t get blocked even though I went over my time limit

Refresh the limit

1. Open Jomo > Rules
2. Open the limit
3. Scroll down and tap Refresh 
4. Wait a few seconds
5. Repeat if it doesn’t work the first time

Remove restrictions outside of Jomo

1. If you’ve installed another screen time app, we recommend removing its restrictions or uninstalling the app to avoid conflicts
2. If you’ve set any limits or downtimes directly in Screen Time (from your Settings), we suggest removing them as well

Screen Time is a sensitive system that doesn’t handle multiple services very well. If other apps are using it too, it can interfere with how Jomo works.

Select both apps AND websites

If you’ve set a time limit for services like Instagram.com or  Reddit.com, make sure to also include the corresponding apps along with the websites. Depending on the site, Apple might associate the screen time with the app instead of the URL. To avoid issues, it’s best to always include both.

Reconnect Jomo to Screen Time

1. Open this link from your iPhone / iPad.  
2. When Jomo asks for permission, tap Allow
3. Go to Rules > ?
4. Tap Reset Blocking

Turn off "Monitor usage in real time"

If the issue persists, you can enable an alternative time-tracking method that is more reliable. The downside is that the limit will only update once the threshold is reached, without real-time tracking. To enable it:

1. Open Jomo > Rules
2. Tap the ... icon in the top-right corner. A menu should appear, tap More
3. In the More section, turn off Real-time tracking

Use Breaks instead of a Time Limit (Recommended if nothing else works)

If you’ve tested all other troubleshooting methods and limits are still not reliable on your device, we highly recommend using our Breaks feature to manage your time on distracting apps.  

1. Open Jomo > Rules > + > Recurring Session  
2. Select the apps/websites you want to limit  
3. By default, your blocking session will block apps and websites during the time slot you specify. You can restrict it to a specific period (work hours, evenings) or apply it all day. Configure this in the Active section.  
4. Then go to Difficulty > Breaks. From there, you can configure how many breaks/pauses you can take from blocking. The idea is to replace your time-limit budget with a breaks budget. For example, instead of setting a 15-minute limit on Instagram, you could allow yourself 3 breaks of 5 minutes each (15 minutes total).

With Breaks, you can limit the total amount of time you spend on an app just like time limits, but you also add more intentionality to your usage since you have to manually start each break. You can even add a small exercise to unlock the break, creating more friction. This helps you use distracting apps more mindfully and reduce your screen time even further.  

My apps got blocked even though I didn’t exceed my time limit

If your limit shows more time than expected, it may be because Screen Time synced data from another device.

1. Open Settings 
2. Tap Screen Time
3. Turn off Share Across Devices

The changes will take effect within 24 hours. If the problem continues, we recommend fully disabling Screen Time on your other devices (especially your Mac — a known bug is under investigation).

1. Open Settings / System Settings
2. Click on Screen Time
3. Click Turn Off App and Website Activity

Updated on: 16/12/2025