If you are having trouble using Freedom to block apps or websites on your Android device, please check some of the troubleshooting tips below.
Apps or websites are not blocked
If you have a session running but neither apps nor websites are blocked, make sure you have enabled permissions. To do this, go to the Settings section of the Freedom app, and scroll down to the Permissions section. You should see an option for Block Applications and Websites. Click Enable, and you will be taken to a screen where you can turn permissions on for Freedom. Once these permissions are set, this setting should say "Enabled."
ℹ️ If tapping "Block applications and websites" takes you to the Accessibility screen but the Freedom permission doesn't appear there, look for a page called something like "Installed Services" or "Added Services." Freedom may be on this page instead.
If blocks still are not working after permissions are set correctly, you may need to adjust your battery optimization settings. Please see Android Battery Optimization Settings.
Notifications aren't blocked
For notifications from blocked apps to be blocked, a separate permission needs to be enabled. This can be found under Settings -> General in the Freedom app:
Freedom App loses permissions after they've been enabled
Freedom uses accessibility services in order to work properly. If you have successfully enabled accessibility settings when installing Freedom, only to find that they have to be enabled again shortly after, there are steps you can take to correct this. Here are some common reasons:
Interference from battery-saving services
On some devices, battery-saving services may automatically remove or revoke accessibility services. This is common in Xiaomi, Vivo, Letv, Oppo, Gionee, Karbonn, Coolpad, and LeEco devices.
We have some guidance for this issue here: Android Battery Optimization Settings.
Interference from cleaner apps
On Android, “cleaner apps” (often used for optimizing device storage and performance) can sometimes inadvertently reset app permissions, including accessibility permissions.
To prevent accessibility permissions from being reset by cleaner apps, ensure Freedom is excluded from cleaning or optimization within the cleaner app’s settings.
Interference from Android Accessibility Shortcut
On some devices, you may see a “Freedom Shortcut” option in your accessibility settings. We recommend that this feature is turned OFF, as it may add a shortcut to the home screen on your device which makes it easy to disable accessibility services for Freedom.
To disable the Freedom shortcut:
Go to Android Settings > Search "Accessibility"
Tap where you see Freedom to open settings
Toggle "Freedom Shortcut" off
Ensure that “Use Freedom” is set to ON. If Freedom is not working, you may need to toggle 'Use Freedom' OFF and then ON again.
If you have tried these steps, and you are still having trouble with Freedom losing permissions, please contact our team at [email protected] and we can provide you with further assistance.
Freedom app notifies you to enable permissions, but they are already enabled in your device settings
If the Freedom app says you need to enable permissions, but they appear to already be enabled in your device's accessibility settings, it's possible that a battery saver setting has revoked access.
You may get a message that says the setting is "malfunctioning" when you view Freedom's permission in your Android Accessibility settings.
To fix this, try turning the permission off and back on again in your device's accessibility settings. When you go back to the Freedom app, it should now say 'Enabled' again next to 'Block applications and Websites.'
For more information, see Android Battery Optimization Settings.
Having trouble?
If you're having any difficulty, please feel free to contact us. We're happy to help!