Stop mindless scrolling and earn app access through effort
ScreenBreak helps you cut off app addiction by adding effort at the exact moment you try to open a distracting app. Instead of simple blocking, it asks you to complete a quick challenge—tap fast, shake your phone, or draw a circle. Win, and you get a short access window; fail, and the urge breaks. ScreenBreak also provides detailed hourly and weekly screen-time insights to help you understand and improve your habits.
Hi everyone! 👋
I built ScreenBreak because traditional app blockers never worked well for me. Hard blocks felt too rigid — either I locked myself out completely, or I tapped Ignore Limit and kept scrolling. There was no middle ground.
But in real life, we do sometimes need to open addictive apps — to search something, reply to someone, check updates. The problem isn’t the intentional use; it’s the unconscious, endless scrolling that follows. Soft blocking creates a balance: you can still access the app when needed, but you must put in effort, which naturally filters out mindless usage.
After nearly a year of iteration, I designed multiple flexible ways for ScreenBreak to activate:
- Schedule Block – block during certain hours
- App Launch Limit – block after too many opens
- Usage Budget Limit – block after hitting time caps (daily or hourly)
When a block triggers, you must complete a quick challenge — tapping fast, shaking your phone, drawing a circle, etc. Win for a short access window; fail, and the urge usually fades.
I’d love your feedback on challenge design and which blocking rules fit your habits best. Thanks for checking it out! 🚀
Greg Zeng