Frequently asked questions

FocusDragon is a distraction blocker for macOS. It blocks websites and applications using system-level enforcement — even when the app is closed.

What makes it different?

• System-level enforcement via a background daemon — works even when the app is closed
• 10+ lock types (timer, password, random text, restart, frozen, schedule, delay, breakable, date, sessions)
• Browser extensions for Safari and Chrome
• Free tier is genuinely useful — Pro adds locks, strictness and statistics

The core distraction blocker — manual blocking, blocklists, browser extensions, the Pomodoro timer — is free forever, with no time limit.

Pro unlocks every lock condition and every Pro feature for $4.99, paid once — no subscription, no renewal. If it isn't for you, we refund within 14 days. Or stay on the free tier forever.

Paid tiers

• Pro ($4.99 once, lifetime) — unlocks Locked blocks, Bulletproof Strictness, and Statistics.

Step-by-step

• Open FocusDragon and click "New Block".
• Give the block a name.
• Under Blocked Items, add websites or applications.
• Under Enforcement, pick a lock type. "No Lock" lets you disable anytime; Timer, Password, or Frozen make it harder to bail. (Lock types require FocusDragon Pro.)
• Click Create Block, then hit Start.

FocusDragon requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later. It's a universal binary — runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

You need to sign in (Google or Apple OAuth) to start a block. Browsing the app, configuring blocks, and exploring settings all work without an account.

Why? Your account attaches your subscription, entitlements, and (future) cross-device sync to a stable identity. We store your email, display name, and an optional age range — nothing else.

What stays on your Mac

Block lists, lock configurations, focus session history, statistics, and task contexts — all local. Never uploaded.

What we store server-side

• Account data (email, display name, age range) on EU-hosted infrastructure managed by our authentication partner.
• Subscription status (tier, expiry, payment customer ID) — card details are handled entirely by our payment partner; we never see your card number.
• Monthly AI usage counter (a single integer per user per month) for quota enforcement.

Optional / off-device

• AI classification screenshots + text snippets (paid plan only) — pass through our server to FocusDragon AI. FocusDragon never stores them. The third-party model providers FocusDragon AI routes through do not train on inputs and retain them up to 30 days for abuse monitoring before permanently deleting. See the Privacy Policy for details.
• Crash reports — stack traces with no personal data, handled by our EU-based error-monitoring partner. Disable in Settings → General → Privacy.
• Anonymous product analytics — opt-in, off by default, handled by our EU-based analytics partner. Aggregate events only, no PII.

Full details in our Privacy Policy at focusdragon.app/privacy.

Lock types determine how hard it is to disable a running block. They require FocusDragon Pro ($4.99, one-time).

• No Lock — toggle off anytime (free tier)
• Timer — locked for a set duration
• Date — locked until a specific date and time
• Random Text — type a long random string to unlock
• Password — type the password you set at creation
• Schedule — active only during set hours
• Restart — restart your Mac to disable
• Breakable — breaking out costs escalating delay
• Delay — wait through a cooldown to disable
• Frozen — no way to disable until it expires
• Sessions — Pomodoro-style work/break cycles

Random Text is a hardcore lock. When you try to disable the block, you must type a long random string character-by-character (no copy-paste). It adds friction so your impulsive brain can't instantly unlock.

Use it when softer locks aren't cutting it.

Yes. Every Pro feature is unlocked for 7 days. A card is required to start — we save it, charge you nothing on day one, and make the single $4.99 payment on day 7 unless you cancel first. That one payment is a lifetime unlock, not a subscription: there is no renewal after it.

Cancel anytime before day 7 from your account page on the web, or from Settings → Account in the Mac app, and you are never charged. You keep Pro until the trial's original end date either way — cancelling early does not cut the trial short.

If you would rather skip the trial, you can buy Pro outright at any time. Either way the 14-day refund window applies from the date of the charge.

The free tier (core blocker, unlimited blocks) stays free forever with no time limit.

Pro is account-keyed, so a single purchase covers every device you sign in on.

• Free — manual blocking, blocklists, browser extension, Pomodoro timer. No locked blocks.
• Pro ($4.99, one-time, lifetime) — Locked blocks (all 9 types), Bulletproof Strictness, Statistics.

No subscription — Pro is a one-time payment. See focusdragon.app/pricing for a side-by-side comparison.

Open the app → click Upgrade in the left sidebar → click "Manage subscription". This opens our payment partner's billing portal where you can cancel, change your card, or switch tiers.

Cancelling stops future charges. You keep access until the end of the period you've already paid for. After that you drop back to Free. If you separately own Pro ($4.99 lifetime), that stays.

CVC (Card Verification Code) and CVV (Card Verification Value) are two names for the same thing — the 3-digit security code on the back of your card. The payment form (hosted by our payment partner) uses "CVC" because it's the ISO payment-industry standard term.

What each brand calls it

• Visa → CVV (Card Verification Value) — 3 digits on the back
• Mastercard → CVC (Card Verification Code) — 3 digits on the back
• American Express → CID (Card Identification Number) — 4 digits on the FRONT, above the card number
• Discover → CVD (Card Verification Data) — 3 digits on the back

This is not a bug in FocusDragon. Our hosted checkout uses "CVC" universally. Every card type is accepted.

All FocusDragon subscriptions can be refunded within 14 days of first purchase, no questions asked. Contact us at focusdragon.app/contact and we'll process it within 2 business days.

Renewals and recurring charges after the first 14 days are not refundable — but you can cancel anytime from Settings → Manage subscription and your access continues until the end of the current billing period.

EU consumers retain their statutory 14-day right of withdrawal.

Yes. Go to Settings → Account → Manage subscription, or visit the billing portal from any payment email.

Cancellation is immediate but you keep access until the end of your current billing period — we don't pro-rate refunds for unused time.

• Safari — extension ships with the app. Enable it in Safari → Settings → Extensions.
• Chrome — extension available on the Chrome Web Store. Search "FocusDragon" or check the Extensions page in the app for the link.
• Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera — can install the Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store.
• Firefox — extension available on Firefox Add-ons (addons.mozilla.org). Search "FocusDragon" or install from the link in the app.

Enabling the extension

• Open Safari.
• Safari menu → Settings → Extensions.
• Check the box next to FocusDragon.
• Click "Edit Websites" and set "All Websites" to "Allow".
• If you use Private Browsing, tick "Allow in Private Browsing" too.

Didn't open? Reach the Extensions page by hand

FocusDragon tries to open your browser straight to its Extensions page. If it doesn't land — the browser was closed, or you can't spot the highlighted item — open it manually:

• Safari: Safari menu → Settings (⌘,) → Extensions, then tick FocusDragon.
• Chrome / Comet: ⋮ menu → Extensions → Manage Extensions — or type chrome://extensions in the address bar.
• Microsoft Edge: ⋯ menu → Extensions — or type edge://extensions.
• Brave: ☰ menu → Extensions — or type brave://extensions.
• Opera: Opera menu → Extensions → Extensions — or type opera://extensions.
• Vivaldi: Vivaldi menu → Tools → Extensions — or type vivaldi://extensions.
• Firefox: ☰ menu → Add-ons and themes → Extensions — or type about:addons.

• Background Service (Login Item) — keeps blocks enforced even when the app window is closed.
• Full Disk Access — lets the background service modify /etc/hosts to block domains system-wide.
• Browser Extension (Safari / Chrome) — blocks sites inside the browser and provides page text to the AI classifier.
• Accessibility (only for AI) — lets the AI read window titles and visible text on native apps (Teams, Slack, VS Code, etc.). Not needed if you only block websites.

The usual suspects

• Settings → Blocking → Background Service — should say "Running".
• System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access — the FocusDragon daemon must be checked.
• Safari / Chrome extension enabled with access to All Websites.
• You're signed in (check the sidebar — the auth pill should show your name, not "Sign in").
• For AI blocks: Accessibility permission granted (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → FocusDragon).
• Try toggling the block Off and On to re-apply rules.