PauseFirst: App Blocker
Use your phone mindfully
Only for iPhone
Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPhone. Not verified for macOS.
iPhone
Reaching for your phone out of habit? PauseFirst puts a short task before blocked apps. Really need the app? You're in quickly.
A short moment between reaching for your phone and opening the app: PauseFirst gives you a small task before selected apps open. If you really need the app, you solve it in seconds. If you're just reaching out of habit, you notice, and often let it go.
HOW IT WORKS
• Choose the apps or categories that should get a pause.
• Open one of them and a block screen appears with "Start task".
• PauseFirst opens with a short task. Solved? The app is free for 15 minutes, then it locks again.
• Each further unlock on the same day takes a little longer. At midnight the day starts over with the first unlock.
• Prefer to go direct? In PauseFirst, tap "Start task" next to the app. The Control Center control takes you to that list in one tap.
12 TASKS TO BREAK THE AUTOPILOT
Math chain, Stroop, Digits backwards, Anagram, Letter Hunter, Typing, Tiles, Precision Tap, Slow swipe, Breath hold, Gyro Balance and Table lock. Some need your head, some a steady hand, some a long breath. In "Practice tasks" you can try every task at any level without anything counting. Tasks are available in English and German.
SCHEDULE AND STATISTICS
• Block on a schedule, for example only during work or in the evening.
• Statistics for today and the last 7 days: unlocks per day, by weekday and time of day.
FOR EMERGENCIES
One emergency unlock a day frees an app for 5 minutes without a task. It doesn't count as an unlock, but it shows up in your statistics.
SOLVABLE FOR EVERYONE
Anything you physically can't solve, for example because of motor skills or color vision, you exclude for free under Accessibility.
EVERYTHING STAYS ON YOUR IPHONE
No account, no server, no ads, no tracking. Only iOS sees which apps you block. PauseFirst collects no data.
PAUSEFIRST PRO
Everything above is free to use, with no time limit. Pro gives you more control over your pauses:
• Choose the unlock length: 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes
• Multiple schedules, each with its own app selection
• Turn off any task type (at least 3 stay active)
• Two emergency unlocks a day instead of one
• Set your own highest level (level 2 to 20)
• Statistics history for all days, with trends and CSV export
• Admin code for your settings: makes it harder for others who get hold of your iPhone to change your blocks
Pro is a one-time purchase, no subscription, with Family Sharing. PauseFirst is made by one person; Pro supports its further development.
TO BE HONEST
PauseFirst isn't a safe, just a short pause. Removing PauseFirst's access in iOS Settings under Screen Time lifts all blocks. That's on purpose: you stay in control.
REQUIREMENTS
iPhone with iOS 27 and Screen Time. PauseFirst is meant for self-control on your own iPhone. On devices in Family Sharing, a parent manages Screen Time.
Ratings & Reviews
- This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
• Turned down Screen Time access? PauseFirst now shows you exactly where to allow it later in Settings.
• During setup, you see right away why PauseFirst needs Screen Time and that everything stays on your iPhone.
The developer, Tobias Reithmeier, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Tobias Reithmeier
- Size
- 11.1 MB
- Category
- Health & Fitness
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 27.0 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 27.0 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 27.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 27.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English and German
- Age Rating
9+
- 9+
- Contains
Health or Wellness Topics
- In-App Purchases
Yes
- Pro $2.99
- Copyright
- © 2026 Tobias Reithmeier
