Support

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set my first limit?

Tap Add App on the My Limits screen, pick an app in Apple's app picker, then choose how many minutes per hour it gets. The limit takes effect right away.

When exactly does a limit reset?

On the clock hour — 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 — not on a rolling 60 minutes. Whatever you spent in the last hour is wiped and the full allowance comes back.

Why does the progress ring jump instead of counting down smoothly?

Apple's Screen Time API has no readable usage counter; it only tells HourLimit that a checkpoint was crossed. The App registers several checkpoints per limit and moves the ring at each one, so it steps rather than sweeps. A per-second countdown isn't possible on iOS.

My limit was reached but the app wasn't blocked instantly.

The block lands within a few seconds, not on the exact tick — iOS wakes HourLimit's monitoring extension on its own schedule. Also note that usage only accrues while the limited app is in the foreground, and starts counting from the moment you created the limit, not retroactively from the start of the hour.

Nothing is being blocked at all.

Open Settings in HourLimit and check that Screen Time shows Granted. If it doesn't, tap it and approve Screen Time in iOS Settings — without that permission the App cannot block anything.

Why don't my notifications name the blocked app?

iOS hands limited apps to HourLimit as opaque tokens with no readable name, deliberately, for your privacy. The App can show an app's real name and icon on screen but cannot put it into a notification, so alerts refer to your limits collectively.

Can I get extra time or snooze a block?

No — that's the point. There's no snooze and no extend button. You either wait for the top of the hour or raise that app's limit yourself, which applies from the current hour onward.

How do I remove a limit?

Swipe left on it in the My Limits list and tap Delete. Any active block for that app is lifted immediately.

What does Pro add?

The free tier covers up to 3 apps. Pro removes that cap so you can limit as many apps as you like, either monthly or as a one-time purchase.

How do I manage or cancel my Pro subscription?

Subscriptions are handled by the App Store. Go to Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions on your device to change or cancel. If Pro doesn't unlock on a new device, tap Restore Purchases on the Go Pro screen.

Where is my data stored?

Only on your iPhone. HourLimit has no account and no server, and your limits and usage never leave the device. See the Privacy Policy.