AppBlock is blocking my launcher
If AppBlock is accidentally blocking your home screen launcher, your phone may become difficult to use — here’s why this happens and how to fix it.
Why this happens
Your launcher (home screen app) is just another app from Android’s perspective. If you’ve blocked a category (like “Tools” or “Productivity”) that includes your launcher, or selected it directly, AppBlock will block it like any other app — which can make it hard to even get back to your home screen.
How to fix it
If you can, open AppBlock and remove your launcher from the blocklist of the active schedule.
If you’re locked out of your home screen, try:
- Pressing the Home button again — sometimes this brings up a launcher picker.
- Going through Recent apps to find AppBlock and adjust the schedule.
- If Strict Mode is active, fulfill your unlock condition first, then remove the launcher from your blocklist.
How to prevent this
- When setting up category-based blocks, double-check which apps fall under that category before activating.
- If you’ve installed a custom launcher (Nova, Niagara, etc.), make sure it’s specifically excluded from any broad blocks.
Good to know
If you’re stuck and can’t access AppBlock at all, see “Emergency — What should I do if I am blocked?” in the Strict Mode and unblocking section.
