Freedom for iOS release notes

Below you will find the release notes for recent updates to Freedom for iOS.

April 14th, 2025

- General improvements
​

March 25th, 2025

iOS schedule reliability improvements

- Implement locally managed app shielding

- Fire session notifications locally

- Prompt message when user creates a schedule with a duration of less than 15 minutes

- Other improvements to schedule reliability

March 11th, 2025

Improvements

- Add option to toggle notification categories

- Other small fixes

March 3rd, 2025

Improvements

- Improve Blocklist Selection UX

- Use short naming for blocklist actions
​

February 24th, 2025

Improvements

- Implement Duplicate Blocklists
​

February 17th, 2025

Improvements
- Guest pass improvements
- Update the copy for the confirmation modal when attempting to end a session
- Other general improvements
​

February 10th, 2025

Improvements

- Implement new error state for Today screen
​

February 3rd, 2025

Improvements
- Add new subdomain to Associated Domains list
- Guest pass and gift icon improvements
- Start Session form should not copy title of a non-recurring session
​
Bugfixes
- iPad tabbed navigation
​

January 27th, 2025

Improvements
- Rename Guest Pass link in settings
- Extend error reporting

January 20th, 2025

Improvements
- Update the iOS guest pass share message
​
Tech Debt
- Add logging to the client when a request fails
​

January 13th, 2025

Bugfix
- iOS user keeps receiving push messages after logout
​
Improvements
- Read universal links from Pasteboard
- Add links to Roadmap Portal on the Settings tab
​

December 19th, 2024

Bugfix
- Blocking unexpectedly stops for Always Active sessions

December 12th, 2024
​
Bugfix
- End session timer shows incorrect countdown
​

Improvements
- Update domain blocked notification copy
- Session improvements
​

November 25th, 2024

Bugfix
- Restore Domain Blocked Notifications on Settings tab
​
Improvements
- Report the current state of the Domain Blocked Notifications to System Details

November 19th, 2024

Improvements
- Add Credit counter to End Session component
- Add "End all Sessions" option
- Add option to opt-out from Credit system in Settings screen
​
Bugfix
- App blocking does not begin when schedule starts
​

November 11th, 2024
​

Improvements

- Display a message when an error occurs on the built-in app selection screen

Bugfix

- Start Session form shows invalid state for a valid preloaded Recent session

November 8th, 2024

Bugfix

- VPN not installing properly for new iOS app downloads

November 4th, 2024

Bugfixes

-iOS users report that app blocking stops working

- Close button is broken on the page that lists the Curated Filter urls

October 25th, 2024

Improvements
- Create End Session component
- Rearrange items on the Settings screen (iOS)
- Show /perks for trial users
- Improve App Blocking actions on Settings tab
- Update validation messages on Start Session tab.
- Adjust displaying the Passcode Important Action only when App Blocking Important Action is visible too
​
Bugfixes
- Fix anonymous signup with SSO
- Display issue on Login screen
​
Techdebts
- Raise deployment target to iOS 16
​

October 9th, 2024

Bugfix

- Revert changes made for "iOS users report that app blocking stops working"a

October 8th, 2024

Improvements
- Send the device name on the creation
- Implement validation logic and tooltip UI on the Start Session screen
- Implement validation logic and tooltip UI on the Create Blocklist screen
- Display an Important Action in case there's no Passcode set on the device

Bugfixes
- Different device hashes being sent depending on the sign in method used for the same account
- iOS users report that app blocking stops working
- Resolve Thread Sanitizer Issues
- Premium iOS customer sees paywall periodically
- Review layout constraint logic for Recent Session cell
​

September 23rd, 2024

- Keep showing "ADD IOS APPS" for users prior iOS 16

- General Fixes

September 16th, 2024

- Improve the Low Power Mode Important Action CTA

- Improve copy for the Allow Notifications prompt

- Update anonymous flow for SSO sign ups and log ins

- Upload preview videos back to AppStore

September 6th, 2024
​

- Fix app failing to navigate to Blocklist Selection on the Recurring Session Tab
​

September 4th, 2024
​
Fixes
- Fix Memory Leak in AuthViewController
- Project and Memory cleanup
- App Blocking doesn't start if permission was allowed during an active session
​

August 20th, 2024

- Fixed a crash on older devices after the app launched

August 15th, 2024

Start Session Simplification
- Apply changes to session name for start now
- Reintroduce End Time switch for Start Session
- Introduce additional duration presets
- Apply latest design on blocklist / devices, start / end times items
​

August 7, 2024

Start Session Simplification
- Implemented Session Templates
- Implemented pre-filling the "Recurring Session" screen
- Add paywall to session templates screen

Fixes
- Spacing issues on Today screen
- Fixed a workaround on iOS to escape a session

July 30, 2024

Start Session Simplification

- Redesign Scheduling sections on Today screen

- Make the scheduling sections collapsible

- Group section cards on Today screen

- Create new Recent Sessions section and related UI components on Today screen

- Implement handling Recent Session actions

July 14, 2024
​
​Fixes
- Crash on TimeZone selector screen
- Reported crash on Blocklist Details screen

- Other general improvements

July 2, 2024

Fixes
- Blocklist name resets when toggling dark mode appearance

Design System Update
- Import updated set of icons

June 15, 2024

Start Session Simplification
- Apply new design system updates on Blocklist Details screen
- Extract Select Websites section into a separate modal screen
- Implement Extendable Curated Filter item on Select Websites screen
- Update Websites section on Blocklist Details screen
- Create "Save Blocklist" CTA instead of top-right navigation bar item
- Add context menu "..." to the aggregated curated filters (Website Categories and Presets) item
- Redesign the Warning Message on the Blocklist Detail
- Update Blocklist Details screen and Select Websites screen title appearance

Fixes
- Fix crash when disconnecting Audio Interface from the device

June 6, 2024

Improvements
- Implement Recent Sessions requests and necessary models
​
​Fixes
- Fix schedules that are not refreshed properly when a session ends
​

May 28, 2024

General Changes and Improvements
- Recategorize some Focus Sounds as Premium
- Implement Google SSO button (behind a feature flag)
- Update Launch Screen design for iPhone and iPad
​

May 20, 2024

Improvements
- Update Create Blocklist flow by displaying App Selection screen upfront
- Display a tooltip on the App selection screen in case the selection goes beyond the limitation
​
​Fixes
- Remove Vision Pro as a target (the iOS app can be installed on iPhone and iPad only)
- Handle outcome after Sign in with Apple (resolves the SSO sign in vs sign up flows)
​

May 9, 2024

Improvements
- Extend System Details with Local Time Zone
- Update Deployment Target to iOS 14.4
- Update the Google Analytics / Firebase SDK
​
​App Store
- New screenshots
- Copy the English preview videos to the Spanish localization

May 2, 2024

Improvements

- Redesign Add New Blocklist

- Prevent loading Blog Posts if the switch is turned off on Settings tab

Fixes

- Blog Post loading crash AppStore

- Upload a new copy of App Store Video

April 25th, 2024

Improvements
- Introduce Apple SSO
- Limit session duration for Freemium users
- Display Biometric Authentication state in System Details
​
​Fixes
- Restore available blocklists and devices on app launch
- Missing information on the Management Page
- Blocking Tools UI doesn't fit on iPhone 13 mini
​
​App Store
- New Preview Videos

March 20, 2024

Fixes and Improvements
- Fix Premium upgrade button
- Persist session history between app launches
- Implement new font definitions
- Add new color and theme values
​

February 22, 2024

New Features
- Introduced the “Uninstall Protection” feature which prevents app uninstalls during an active session
- Created Home Screen Shortcut “Quick Action” to leave feedback
​
​Improvements
- Added a limitation of max 50 characters to blocklist name length
- Updated the Session Start / End push notification messages
- :Updated the copyright date on the splash screen
​
​Fixes
- Save the time preferences when starting a new session
- Fixed updating Blocklist Details screen after editing
- Fixed landing the app on Today screen in a “trial”-like state
- Fixed the launch screen crash after changing the device language
- Fixed incorrect User state reported to System Details

February 2, 2024

​Improvements
- Persist "End Session" action on the Session Details screen for users not in Locked Mode
- Language updates (End Session, Delete Schedule, Locked Mode prompt message)
- Show the spinner while performing the End / Delete Session request
- Error handling
​
​Fixes
- Fix for VPN stuck in a weird state
- Fix for start/end blocking flakiness

January 22, 2024
​
​Fixes
- Ensure the user is authenticated before prefetching paywalls
- Sync TimeZone settings after sign up

December 11, 2023
​
​General fixes/Improvements
- Select a blocklist after creating it from a schedule editor
- Clear fields after saving a schedule

November 27, 2023

​Onboarding improvements
- Introduced Blocking Tools Install Flow
​
​Fixes
​- Fixed Restore Purchase endless loading on the Settings tab
- Fixed supporting the Widget on native iOS 17

October 17, 2023
​
​Pricing Model Updates
- Introduce new IAP yearly plan with 7-day trial
​
​Fixes
- Fix Session length custom time picker to update reliably prior to iOS 16
- Implement reloading Sounds tab when returning back online
- Resolve display issues on iPhone SE 1st generation
​
​General changes/improvements
- Switch fonts to Nunito font family in the entire iOS app
- Remove an old “App Only” logic from iOS App
- Remove filtering of magic blocklists

September 18, 2023

​Fixes
- Fix crash reading persisted device info
- Blocklist not reloaded automatically after turning on Locked mode
- Launching iOS app via widget appears to crash app
​
​General changes/improvements
- Update minimum iOS deployment target to 13.4
- Add missing Spanish translations
​
​Start Session Redesign
- Implement Dark mode for the redesigned start session pages
- Remove traces of old start session page
​
​Push Notifications
- Support textual notifications on iOS App
​

August 24, 2023

​Fixes
- Website not blocked when domain in blocklist contains capital letters
- App Freezes when tapping to block apps
- iOS Create Blocklist screen oddity
​
​General changes/improvements
- Prevent editing Block All Websites and Block Desktop Apps blocklists
- Prevent deleting blocklist if that is in a schedule
- Resolve 32-bit app support deprecation warning
- Restrict Locale to supported localizations
- Blocklist is refreshed on every page visit
​
​Start Session Redesign
- Implement Recurring page in Start Session
- Implement Start Later page in Start Session
- Implement Start Now page in Start Session
- Add All day toggle for recurring page in create session tab
- Send session title during creation to backend
​
​App Store Page Updates
- Create Spanish version of preview video in app store

August 9, 2023

Fixes
- Resolve an issue that caused a crash for some users when the app launched
​
​App Blocking
- Screen Time permission changes
​
​General changes/improvements
- Report the last known state of the Screen Time permission to System Details

July 25, 2023

Fixes
- Resolves the issue which caused the App Blocker to fail to install

July 18, 2023

Fixes
- Resolves the freeze/delay issue at app launch

July 18, 2023

General changes/improvements
- Remove Trial sessions counter from Today screen
- Remove 7 sessions limit for trial users
​
​Start Session Redesign
- Add a feature switch in Settings
- Implement the redesigned Start Session tab wireframes
​
​Fixes
- Display app selection on the blocklist card in the Blocklists screen in case the Block All Internet switch was enabled for that
- Prevent creating Distractions blocklist on signup
- Prevent editing the custom domains of a blocklist when Locked Mode is enabled
- Fix preselecting "Block All Websites" and "Block Desktop Apps" blocklists when starting a session after clean install
- Resolved issue that caused crash on launch on devices using iOS 13
​
​Localization/ASO updates
- Add support for Spanish language
- Create App Store page for Spanish (Spain) language (Translated Description, Release notes, Screenshots)
- Add different keywords for Arabic, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish (Mexico), Vietnamese languages
- Add different app title/subtitle in the AppStore for the above languages

May 19, 2023

Client Redesign - Blocklist Initiatives
- Redesign the Blocklists screen (Blocklists tab)
- Redesign the Blocklist Editor screen
- Redesign Blocklist Selector screen
- Redesign Read Only Blocklist View
- Implement Learn About Blocklists guidance

Today screen improvements
- Improve Today screen layout on iPad App

Blocking advertisement changes
- Display VPN Install in Important Actions only when required

General improvements/fixes
- Synchronize "Log In" & "Sign Up" language cross platform
- Skips creating Distractions blocklist on sign up
- Drops the legacy Block All Websites and Block Desktop Apps
​

March 27, 2023

iOS App Blocking improvements/fixes

App Blocking advertisement changes

Today screen improvements

General improvements/fixes

App Store / App page improvements

March 14, 2023

iOS App Blocking improvements/fixes

App Blocking advertisement changes

Today screen improvements

General improvements/fixes

App Store / App page improvements

February 27, 2023

iOS App Blocking improvements/fixes

Introducing Today screen

General improvements/fixes

App Store / App page improvements

January 30, 2023