AppBlock on Android

How to block websites?

There are two ways to block websites – either using specific URLs or using keywords for mass blocking.

URL blocking blocks only the specified link and nothing else. This is great for when you spend too much time on specific websites, such as facebook.com, twitter.com, reddit.com or youtube.com.

Here are the steps how to block specific URLs:

• Create a Schedule or QuickBlock as usual.
• In the step where you select the applications, at the top, tap on webs.
• Type in a website you want to block by entering the URL or select from the suggested list. Only the part before the slash character (“/”) is recognised. Tap at “add”. Repeat until you have added all URLs that you wish to add.
• Save.

Note: You may block both websites and apps using the same schedule. Just set up the apps, change to the webs tab, set it up and save.

If you want to add many similar websites at once, you can do so using keywords instead. The keyword is checked in the domain of the URL (before the slash character (“/”), unless specified otherwise. If you want to also block the keyword if it is after the slash, Change the “in domain” to “anywhere in URL”.  It can help you block search results and more.

Steps are pretty similar:

• Create a Schedule or QuickBlock as usual.
• In the step where you select the applications, at the top, tap on keywords.
• Optional: For more information about keywords, press the information bubble on the top right.
• Type in a keyword you want to block by typing it into the field.entering the URL or select from the suggested list.
• If you want the current keyword to be blocked anywhere, choose “Anywhere in URL option”. 
• Tap the “add” button to add it to the list.
• Repeat until you have added all keywords that you wish to add.
• Save

To edit URLs or keywords, hold the item and select edit. Preset websites in the initial list cannot be edited, only selected/unselected.

Do you find yourself downloading new applications to circumvent your blocking?
This may be the solution:

• Create a Schedule or QuickBlock as usual.
• In the step where you select the applications and website you want to block, select Add newly installed apps.
• Read the information in the pop-up and press ADD.
• Save.

Note: It can take a short time until AppBlock gets notified that a new application has been installed.

Sometimes you just need a break. Setting short breaks at set times in your time schedules becomes easy with this guide:

• Go to the Blocking tab. In the Schedules section, tap + Add to create a new schedule.
• As the blocking condition select Time
• Select the days you want to block the apps. Any red days will be blocked.
• Next to times, on the right tap the button Add (+)
• Select your first time interval by selecting the FROM time, switching to the TO tab and finally clicking OK.
• Tap Add (+) again to add a second time interval.
• Repeat as often as needed. You can update intervals by tapping on them or tapping X to remove them. The bar under the times shows when the blocking will be active. The schedule will be ON for any red parts on the selected days.

Note: Schedules are activated automatically after creating them. You do not have to enable them manually after setting them up.

Note: In AppBlock versions 5.X, Schedules are found in the menu on the left > Schedules.

Shortcut will allow you to turn Quick Block ON or OFF with single tap

1. Open Quick Settings – swipe down from the top of the screen to see your notifications and Quick Settings
2. Enter Edit mode – the way to edit your selected Quick Settings can be different on various devices. Look for a pen icon
3. Find and Add Quick Block – scroll to find the icon, then hold and drag to add it.

Does your block seemingly randomly stop? Ignoring battery optimizations will likely resolve the issue.

• Open the AppBlock Settings: More > Settings
• Select Troubleshooting.
• Select Ignore battery optimizations. This will open your device’s battery optimization settings.
• Tap on the dropdown menu that says Not optimized and select All apps.
• Scroll down until you find AppBlock. Tap on it.
• Select Don’t optimize and tap Done.
• You may now return to the home screen.

Note: In AppBlock versions 5.X, Settings are found in the menu on the left > Settings. 

You can switch AppBlock to dark mode in AppBlock > More > Settings > Theme