Freedom provides uninstall protection across all supported platforms to help ensure your distraction-blocking sessions remain uninterrupted. The steps to prevent uninstallation vary by device.
Windows
Built-in Uninstall Protection
The Freedom Windows app includes built-in uninstall protection as long as the app remains active. To secure the app, enable the following settings from the Freedom Options Menu.
Recommended Settings:
Locked Mode: Prevents quitting the app and changing critical settings. Learn more about Locked Mode.
Block Task Manager: Prevents force-quitting Freedom through Windows Task Manager.
Block System Settings: Disables access to uninstall Freedom through the system settings.
Run on Startup: Ensures the Freedom app automatically launches after restarts or logouts.
These settings cannot be changed while a Freedom session is running.
If the app is kept active using these settings, uninstallation is not possible on Windows.
Mac
Mac users can prevent uninstallation through two main methods: blocking the uninstaller app and preventing the app from being moved to the trash.
1. Block the Freedom Uninstaller
Add the Freedom uninstaller to your Blocked Apps List.
Make sure to include Desktop Apps in your session for the block to take effect.
ℹ️ The uninstaller must be running in order to appear in the list. You can learn more about app blocking on Mac here: How to block apps on Mac.
2. Prevent Moving Freedom to Trash
Ensure the app is running to prevent it from being moved to the trash. Enable the following settings:
Locked Mode – Prevents quitting the app.
Start at Login – Keeps Freedom running after restart or logout.
Block Activity Monitor – Prevents quitting via macOS Activity Monitor.
These settings cannot be changed during an active session.
⚠️ Do not uninstall Freedom by moving it to the trash. This results in an incomplete uninstall and the app may still run in the background. For information on how to properly uninstall the Mac app, please see How to Uninstall Freedom from your Mac.
Android
Enable Device Admin Permissions
To prevent Freedom from being uninstalled on Android:
Open the Freedom app settings.
Find the Permissions section.
Tap Enable next to Device Admin.
ℹ️ Enabling Device Admin will prevent uninstallation via the home screen. Block the Settings app to prevent uninstalling via system settings. See How to block apps on Android for app blocking instructions.
iOS
Enable Uninstall Protection (iOS 16+)
To prevent deleting the Freedom app on iOS:
Open the Freedom app.
Go to the Settings tab.
Toggle on Uninstall Protection.
Tap Enable in the confirmation popup.
ℹ️ Uninstall protection is only available for iOS versions 16 and above.
⚠️ Uninstall protection will block deletion of all apps from the device.
If Locked Mode is enabled, Uninstall Protection cannot be turned off.
Having trouble?
If you're having any difficulty, please feel free to contact us. We're happy to help!