FAQ
Answers to common questions about Locked In, how blocking works, who it is for, and how Guardian accountability adds friction when willpower alone is not enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Locked In?
Locked In blocks distracting apps and websites to help people reduce phone use. Users set schedules, location-based blocks, or on-demand app-blocking sessions, and the apps they choose to block become inaccessible during those times. Unlike basic timers, Locked In adds friction layers — math problems, waiting periods, or accountability partner approval — that make it harder to bypass blocks impulsively.
How does Locked In actually block apps?
Locked In uses Apple's Family Controls and Screen Time APIs to enforce app and website blocks at the system level. When a block is active, attempting to open a blocked app shows a shield screen instead of the app. The block runs even if Locked In is closed, the phone is restarted, or the user attempts to circumvent it through Settings.
What types of blocks can I set up?
Locked In offers three blocking modes. Schedules block apps during recurring time windows (e.g., 9am-5pm weekdays) that you can fully customize. Red Zones block apps when you're physically at specific locations (e.g., your office or a library) — you enter the location's address, drop a pin on a map, or search for the location by name (e.g., New York University or WeWork in Downtown SF). Quick Blocks start an immediate session for a chosen duration. All three can run simultaneously, and any combination of apps, app categories, or websites can be blocked.
What makes Locked In different from other phone-blocking apps?
Locked In has two distinguishing features: Red Zones (described above) and the Guardian system. The Guardian system allows users to designate a trusted person who must approve any attempt to end a block early or weaken the blocking setup. This adds external accountability that self-imposed apps lack, since the user can't bypass the friction by simply changing their mind. Combined with schedule and location-based blocks and customizable friction layers, Locked In is designed for people who have tried and failed with self-only accountability tools.
Who is Locked In for?
Locked In is designed for adults who struggle to control phone use through willpower alone. Typical users include knowledge workers fighting social media distraction during work, students who need focused study time, parents who want to model better phone habits for their children, and anyone using their phone in ways that conflict with their stated values. The Family Controls framework Locked In uses also makes it suitable for parents managing their children's phones with the child's awareness and participation.
How much does Locked In cost?
Locked In is freemium. The free tier includes one Quick Block per day, capped at 5 minutes. Premium unlocks unlimited Quick Blocks up to 4 hours each, plus Schedules, Red Zones, the Guardian accountability feature, and removes early-unlock friction limitations. Premium is available as a monthly or annual subscription.
What is the Guardian feature?
The Guardian is a trusted person — partner, parent, friend, accountability buddy — designated as the user's external check on impulsive unblocking. When the user tries to end a block early or modify blocking rules during an active block, the Guardian receives an SMS request and must approve it for the change to take effect. This converts blocking from "self vs. self" to "self with a partner," addressing the core failure mode of willpower-based systems.
Does Locked In collect my data?
Locked In does not require you to set up any kind of account within the app, so it does not collect your name, email address, phone number, or payment information. Payments are handled by Apple. Locked In stores blocking schedules and Guardian phone numbers but does not see which apps you use, when you use them, or any content within those apps. Apple's Family Controls API explicitly prevents apps like Locked In from accessing app contents, screen time history, or user behavior patterns. Guardian SMS notifications are sent through the user's own messaging system, not through Locked In servers.
What devices does Locked In work on?
Locked In is iPhone-only and requires iOS 18 or later. There is no iPad-specific version yet, though the app may run on iPad in iPhone-compatibility mode. There is no Android version. The blocking technology depends on Apple's Family Controls framework, which is iOS-exclusive.
Can I bypass the blocks if I really need to?
Yes, but with effort proportional to the friction level the user chose. Quick exits include solving a math sequence, waiting through a timer, or sending a Guardian approval request. The friction is intentionally designed to interrupt impulsive unblocking without making genuine emergencies impossible. Users who fully delete Locked In remove the blocks entirely. Premium users with a Guardian configured will have their Guardian notified by SMS when this happens.
How is Locked In different from Apple Screen Time?
Apple Screen Time is built into iOS and provides basic app limits with a single password override that users can easily disable themselves. Locked In is built on the same underlying Family Controls framework but adds external accountability through Guardians, location-based blocks Apple doesn't offer, and friction systems designed to interrupt the specific moments when users typically circumvent self-imposed limits. Locked In is for people who have tried Screen Time and found that knowing the password defeats the purpose.
How do I get started with Locked In?
Download Locked In from the App Store, complete the brief onboarding to authorize Screen Time access, and either start an immediate Quick Block or set up your first Schedule or Red Zone. The free tier lets users try the core blocking experience without payment. Premium can be added at any time to unlock the full feature set including the Guardian accountability system.