Frequently asked questions
Plain answers about how the app works, what stays private, and how billing works. Still stuck? Email us.
What does Dopamin Detox do?
Dopamin Detox is a self-control app that helps you block your own apps and websites. You decide what to block and when — by time of day, by how long you have used something, by your location, or with a single tap or voice command. It is meant to help you follow through on limits you set for yourself.
Does it work on iPhone and iPad?
Dopamin Detox is an iPhone app and requires iOS 18 or later. It uses Apple's Screen Time (Family Controls) framework. iPad support is not part of the current release.
Does it block apps for me, or for someone else?
It is built for self-control — you block your own apps on your own device using individual Screen Time authorization. It is not a parental-control or monitoring tool for watching someone else's phone.
Is my data private? Can you see what apps I use?
No. The apps and websites you choose are stored as opaque, on-device identifiers using Apple's Screen Time framework. They are never transmitted, never logged, and never stored on our servers or in iCloud in a form we can read. Your usage statistics are calculated on your iPhone and stay there. App Shaper cannot see which apps or sites you block or how you use your phone. The app does include Firebase services for push notifications, basic analytics, and crash reporting, and subscriptions are handled by RevenueCat and Apple — see the Privacy Policy for exactly what those involve.
What is free, and what needs Pro?
The free version includes one block, a Quick Block of up to three hours, scheduling for a single day, and a daily view of your usage. Pro unlocks unlimited blocks, location and usage-limit triggers, limited-access mode, the full Nudge, Delay, Hard, and Strict friction spectrum, scheduling on any or all days, and weekly and monthly Insights history. Pro is $1.99 per month or $14.99 per year.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Subscriptions are billed through your Apple ID and renew automatically until you cancel. You can manage or cancel anytime in the App Store: open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, choose Dopamin Detox, and cancel. Your Pro features continue until the end of the period you already paid for.
What is Strict mode? Can I turn off a block early?
Strict is the firmest setting on the friction spectrum. You commit to it ahead of time, and there is no quick off-switch until the block ends — that is the point, since it protects your decision from a moment of weakness. Gentler modes (Nudge, Delay, Hard) let you pass or stop a block more easily. Whatever the mode, the app is designed so you are never permanently stuck.
Does it need Screen Time permission? Why? Can I revoke it?
Yes. To pause apps and websites, the app needs Screen Time (Family Controls) permission, which we request only after explaining why. We ask for individual authorization, which is the self-control mode. You can revoke it at any time in the iOS Settings app, and the app will stop being able to enforce blocks until you grant it again.
How do I get support?
Email us at dopaminedetox570@gmail.com. We read every message and aim to reply within a few business days.