How to block apps on my iPhone using Focus Modes?
This article explains how to use Apple's Focus feature in combination with Jomo to block apps when a Focus Mode is active.
Apple's Focus feature allows you to reduce distractions by controlling when you receive alerts and notifications, and letting other people and apps know when you're busy. With the introduction of Focus Filters in iOS 16, you can take it one step further by syncing Focus Modes with Jomo to automatically disable certain apps when a specific mode is active.
With iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 or later, Focus allows you to silence notifications and customize your home screen appearance. You can set a schedule for different modes, such as "Do Not Disturb" or "Work," which will automatically activate at specific times. You can find Focus Modes in your iPhone or iPad's Settings → Focus.
Focus Filters are additional behaviours that can be enabled on your device for each Focus Mode. By default, Focus Filters allow you to customize the behaviour of certain Apple System apps:
Hiding work calendars when you're spending time with family
Hiding friend's messages when you're focusing on work
Apple has also opened Focus Filters to developers, so third-party apps can offer their own Focus Filters. When setting up your Focus Mode, you'll see a list of all the Focus Filters available for your apps.
The Jomo Focus Filter enables you to automatically block apps on your device when a specific Focus Mode is active. The concept is straightforward: a Jomo session starts when a focus is enabled and ends when that focus is disabled.
Let’s take a look at how to configure this.
Select a Focus
Start by navigating to Settings → Focus → and select a Focus, in our case “Sleep”.
Add Filter
Then scroll down to the “Focus Filters” section and tap “Add Filter”.
Choose a Session Template
Select Jomo, and choose the session template you want to start when this Focus is enabled. Tap "Add" in the top-right corner.
Once created, you will see the new Focus Filter in the settings.
That’s it! Now when the “Sleep” focus is enabled, a Jomo session will begin.
To delete / remove a Session from a Focus Filters, simply tap on "Filters" then "Delete Filter". To delete a focus mode completely press "Delete Focus".
Apple's Focus feature allows you to reduce distractions by controlling when you receive alerts and notifications, and letting other people and apps know when you're busy. With the introduction of Focus Filters in iOS 16, you can take it one step further by syncing Focus Modes with Jomo to automatically disable certain apps when a specific mode is active.
What are Focus Modes?
With iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 or later, Focus allows you to silence notifications and customize your home screen appearance. You can set a schedule for different modes, such as "Do Not Disturb" or "Work," which will automatically activate at specific times. You can find Focus Modes in your iPhone or iPad's Settings → Focus.
What are Focus Filters?
Focus Filters are additional behaviours that can be enabled on your device for each Focus Mode. By default, Focus Filters allow you to customize the behaviour of certain Apple System apps:
Hiding work calendars when you're spending time with family
Hiding friend's messages when you're focusing on work
Apple has also opened Focus Filters to developers, so third-party apps can offer their own Focus Filters. When setting up your Focus Mode, you'll see a list of all the Focus Filters available for your apps.
How to set up a Jomo Focus Filter?
The Jomo Focus Filter enables you to automatically block apps on your device when a specific Focus Mode is active. The concept is straightforward: a Jomo session starts when a focus is enabled and ends when that focus is disabled.
Let’s take a look at how to configure this.
Select a Focus
Start by navigating to Settings → Focus → and select a Focus, in our case “Sleep”.
Add Filter
Then scroll down to the “Focus Filters” section and tap “Add Filter”.
Choose a Session Template
Select Jomo, and choose the session template you want to start when this Focus is enabled. Tap "Add" in the top-right corner.
Once created, you will see the new Focus Filter in the settings.
That’s it! Now when the “Sleep” focus is enabled, a Jomo session will begin.
To delete / remove a Session from a Focus Filters, simply tap on "Filters" then "Delete Filter". To delete a focus mode completely press "Delete Focus".
Updated on: 15/11/2023
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