What is Desktop App Blocking?
With Desktop App Blocking, Freedom quits desktop apps during your Freedom session. This means that you can block your access to mail clients, games, music streaming, editing software, word processors, and more. For example, let's say you've got a great game on your computer that is distracting you when you're working. You'd simply add that game to your list of apps to block, and Freedom will quit that game if you try to open it!
How to use Desktop App Blocking
To select which apps you'd like to block, select "Manage Blocked Desktop Apps" from the Freedom menu.
Next, a window will open up which allows you to select the apps you want to block. Click on the apps you'd like to block, and then press "Save".
Note: Only open and active apps will populate in this list. If the app you want to block doesn't appear, just launch the app and it will appear on the list!
In this case, we're going to block Chrome, Edge, and Opera. Once you've selected the apps you wish to block, press Save.
Finally, visit your dashboard and add "Apps" to your session under "Block these distractions." This lets Freedom know when to turn on App Blocking when this blocklist is running.
Let's Recap
To get blocking working on a Windows computer, you need to:
- Select the apps you wish to block with the Freedom desktop app.
- Add "Block Apps" to your Session.
- When you run a Freedom session containing the Block Apps blocklist, the app blocking feature will turn on.
Hide vs Quit Apps
Desktop app blocking, by default, will hide blocked apps. We've found this to be a pretty useful approach - if you try to re-open the app, it hides instantly. However, if you'd like to actually quit the app, you can choose "Kill Blocked Apps" in the Freedom desktop menu under Options. Please use caution with this setting, it will quit the app, potentially losing unsaved work if a Freedom session starts while you are working in an app you wish to block (e.g. drafting an email).
Windows Store Apps like Facebook and Instagram
To block Windows Store apps, such as Facebook and Instagram, please add "Windows Store Apps" to your list of apps to block. Please note this will affect most Windows Store apps. Windows security settings do not allow us to individually block Windows store apps, unfortunately.
Apps requiring "Run as Administrator"
For some apps, you may have to run Freedom as an administrator to have sufficient permissions for blocking. If you are having trouble finding an app on the list even though it's actively running, or if blocking just isn't working for a particular app, try quitting the Freedom app and then restarting it by right clicking and selecting "Run as Administrator."
A few important points.
- You must select the apps you wish to block individually on your devices. Because there are so many different types of apps and installations, the apps you choose to block on your desktop only affect that device. So you'll need to set up the apps you wish to block on each device.
- To make it impossible to edit your Blocked Windows App list while a block session active you can select the "Disable Quit During Session" option from the Options menu below "Manage Blocked Windows Apps".
Still having trouble?
If you're having any difficulty, please feel free to send us an email at support@freedom.to or chat with us via the green chat bubble in the bottom right corner of the page. We're happy to help!