General
Does Focus need internet?
Blocking, limits, Downtime, activity tracking — all work offline. License activation and email reports need internet.
Does Focus slow down my PC?
No — it's a passive tracker with negligible CPU and RAM use. The watchdog service uses <50MB RAM typically.
Which browsers does Focus support?
Hosts-file blocking works in every browser. Path-level blocks (specific URLs, YouTube channels) and app enforcement work in: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, Opera, Brave, Maxthon.
Can Focus block mobile apps?
No — Focus is Windows-only. For Android, we make Kaizen Timer which handles screen-time lock for kids. iOS has no equivalent yet.
Blocking & bypassing
Can a user bypass Focus?
Not without the admin PIN. Restrictions are enforced via Windows UI Automation API (URL detection) + process-level enforcement. The lock screen can't be Alt+F4'd. The watchdog restarts Focus if killed.
What if a user boots in Safe Mode?
Safe Mode disables the watchdog service, so Focus isn't running. This is a Windows-level admin action — if your kid can boot into Safe Mode, they have admin rights on that PC, which is a broader issue. For strict setups, make the kid's Windows account non-admin.
Does Focus block VPNs?
Hosts-file blocking is local — VPNs don't bypass it. If a user installs a VPN, Focus still blocks the domains the user tries to hit.
Licensing
What's the Free tier limit?
Free gives: unlimited blocking, app limits, 1 Downtime slot, Free Time with limited exceptions, category filtering, screenshots, in-app My Usage. Pro adds: up to 4 Downtime slots, full Free Time, email reports, priority support.
Does my license cover my whole family?
One license = one machine. For multi-machine households, buy one per PC or contact us for family bundles.
How do I refund?
3-day no-questions-asked refund, 7-day case-by-case, no questions. Details.
Reports & monitoring
Why aren't email reports arriving?
Check: (1) you're on Pro/Premium, (2) the email address in Admin Details is correct, (3) the report isn't in your spam folder (first-time delivery often lands there), (4) you're within the 8pm–10pm send window.
How much data does Focus collect?
Focus logs: app/domain + timestamp + active/idle state + IP. Screenshots if enabled. All stored locally in a SQLite database on your machine. We never see it unless you explicitly email us a log for support.
Couldn't find your answer?
Try the troubleshooting guide or email [email protected].