Last updated: 2026-06-05
Welcome! This page covers how to get the most out of FocusTimes, common questions, and how to reach us.
FocusTimes is a focus and study timer for iOS. It helps you stay on task using structured focus and break cycles — either with built-in routines like Pomodoro and Deep Work, or with your own custom schedule (e.g. “Study 4 hours with 15-minute breaks”).
Highlights
Q: Do I need an account? No. FocusTimes works fully offline and doesn’t require sign-up.
Q: Is my session data synced across devices? Not at the moment. Sessions and scenarios are stored only on the device you’re using. iCloud sync is on our backlog.
Q: Does FocusTimes work on iPad or Mac? The app is designed for iPhone first. iPad and Mac (via “Designed for iPad”) may run but the layout is optimized for phones.
Q: Does the timer keep running when I close the app or lock my phone? Yes. The timer is anchored to a wall-clock end time, so even if the app is suspended, when you return iOS will fast-forward the timer to the correct phase and update the UI. Local notifications fire on schedule regardless.
Q: Why didn’t I get a notification when a phase ended? Check:
Q: Can I skip ahead to the next phase? Yes — tap the forward button next to the Play/Pause control.
Q: Can I edit a built-in preset? Not directly. The built-in presets are read-only. To customize, create a new scenario via the + button using your preferred values.
Q: How do I create a 4-hour study session with 15-minute breaks? Tap + on the home screen → set:
This gives you four 60-minute focus blocks with 15-minute breaks between them = 4 hours of focus.
Q: Can I delete a custom scenario? Yes. On the home screen, long-press the scenario card → Delete.
Q: Can I edit a custom scenario? Long-press the scenario card → Edit.
Q: Why is the sound section in Settings showing “None”? That means no ambient sound is selected. Tap the picker and choose one (e.g. Countryside Birds or Sea Waves).
Q: The sound is too loud / too quiet — can I adjust? Yes. In Settings, drag the volume slider while a sound is selected. Use Preview to test.
Q: Why does the sound stop during a break? By design — ambient sound plays only during focus phases. It automatically fades back in when the next focus phase starts. Tap the speaker icon in the top right of the timer to mute mid-session.
Q: Can the sound keep playing when my phone is locked? Yes — make sure your phone isn’t on silent ringer and the system volume is up. The app declares the audio background mode, so playback continues with the screen off.
Q: I don’t see the Live Activity on my Lock Screen. Live Activities require:
Q: I don’t see the Dynamic Island timer. The Dynamic Island is available only on iPhone 14 Pro and newer Pro models. On other iPhones you’ll still see the Lock Screen Live Activity.
Q: How is my streak calculated? Your streak is the number of consecutive days (ending today) on which you completed at least one focus session. If today has no completed session yet, the streak shows the count up to and including yesterday — start a session to extend it.
Q: Can I export my session history? Not yet. This is on our roadmap.
Try:
If it still crashes, please email us with your iPhone model and iOS version.
End and restart the session from inside the app — the activity ends and a new one starts. If the issue persists, swipe the activity off the Lock Screen to dismiss it manually.
This is rare. Open the app and the timer will re-sync to the correct phase. The notification time is authoritative.
Settings save instantly. If you don’t see the change, try fully closing and reopening the app.
We love hearing how you focus! Please include:
Email: phanminhtam002@gmail.com
We’ll do our best to respond within a few days.
We collect no data. See the Privacy Policy for the full statement.
Thank you for using FocusTimes. Stay focused.