Android’s new Advanced Protection affects AppBlock from blocking

What changed

Advanced Protection is Google’s one-tap security mode, comparable to Lockdown Mode on iOS. Turning it on applies a bundle of protections at once: no app installs from unknown sources, restricted USB data access, mandatory Google Play Protect scanning, and more.

With Android 17, that bundle also restricts the Accessibility API. Only apps Google classifies as accessibility tools, such as screen readers, Braille support, and voice or switch-based input, can use it. Every other app is blocked from receiving Accessibility access, and apps that already had it can have it revoked automatically once Advanced Protection is enabled.

The reason behind the change is sound. Accessibility access is one of the most abused permissions on Android, used by banking trojans and other malware to read screens and control devices. Restricting it closes a real attack path, and we support Google’s goal here. AppBlock is not the only app affected: automation tools, custom launchers, password managers, and security apps run into the same limitation.

What it means for AppBlock

App blocking is not affected. Blocked apps stay blocked, because that part of AppBlock does not depend on the Accessibility permission. Your profiles, schedules, and Strict Mode continue to work.

Website blocking and floating windows are affected. AppBlock uses Accessibility to see what is happening on screen, which is what allows it to recognise a blocked website in your browser and to display floating windows and overlays on top of other apps. Without that permission, blocked websites may open normally and floating windows may not appear or behave as expected.

We looked hard for a way around this within Android’s rules. At the moment Android offers no alternative that delivers the same reliability for these features, and we will not declare AppBlock as an assistive tool to sidestep the restriction, because that is not what AppBlock is. The behaviour is enforced by the system, so it cannot be changed from inside the app.

Getting website blocking and floating windows back

If you need these features, you will have to turn off one specific optional protection: Device protection, found under Advanced Protection in your device settings. Afterwards, re-enable the Accessibility permission for AppBlock.

Our help article has the exact steps, including where to find the setting on different devices:

Advanced Protection affects AppBlock blocking on Android

We are doing our best to keep your privacy and data safe 🙂