HoldOn: Block Apps & Save Time
Slow Down Before You Open Apps
Free · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
Stop before you regret it.
HoldOn helps you break autopilot scrolling and open the apps you choose with intention — not impulse. Built on Apple’s Screen Time framework, HoldOn adds a calm pause between you and the apps that steal your time, so you can decide on purpose instead of reacting on reflex.
THE MOMENT YOU KNOW
You unlock your phone for one quick thing. Minutes later you’re deep in a feed or a loop you never meant to start. The apps you use most are built to pull you back in. Willpower alone rarely wins that fight.
What helps is friction at the right moment: a breath, a question, a single beat before the habit runs. That’s what HoldOn is for.
HOW HOLD ON WORKS
1. Create a block — Choose apps you want to slow down: social, video, games, messaging, or anything you open on autopilot.
2. Set a schedule — Every day, weekdays, weekends, custom days, or overnight windows that match your life.
3. Pick a pause challenge — When you open a blocked app, HoldOn shows a short step first. Finish it, then the app opens for a few minutes. Walk away anytime.
4. Choose with intention — Nothing is permanently locked. HoldOn adds a mindful pause, not punishment.
PAUSE CHALLENGES
15+ challenges across different styles:
• Timed resets — A calm countdown before you continue
• Breathing — Box breathing and guided patterns
• Reflect — Prompts, future-self checks, reflection roulette
• Focus — Quick math, type an intention, name an alternative
• Commit — Hold, tap, or slide to confirm you mean it
Pick one per block or set a default. Preview how a challenge feels before you need it.
BUILT ON APPLE SCREEN TIME
HoldOn uses Apple’s official Family Controls APIs — the same privacy-respecting layer Apple provides for digital wellbeing. No VPN tricks. No overlay hacks.
Grant Screen Time access once. Pick apps through Apple’s secure picker. HoldOn receives opaque tokens, not readable app names. Your choices stay private by design.
PRIVACY YOU CAN VERIFY
• No account or sign-in required
• No backend server — blocks, schedules, and pause history stay on your device
• No ads or third-party analytics SDKs
• Apple hides which apps you select — HoldOn never reads app names
• Reset blocks or delete all data anytime from Settings
HoldOn is for people who want control without surveillance.
FLEXIBLE BLOCKS
• Multiple blocks for work, evenings, or weekends
• Enable or disable without deleting
• 5, 10, or 15 minute unlock after a completed pause
• Optional block start/end notifications
• Home dashboard shows what’s active and what’s next
INSIGHTS WITHOUT SHAME
See intentional pauses completed this week and apps you’re slowing down — honest numbers without guilt streaks or shame mechanics.
CALM BY DESIGN
Dark, minimal interface built for focus. No clutter. No noise. No engagement bait. HoldOn should feel like a quiet hand on your shoulder — not another app shouting for your attention.
WHO IT’S FOR
• Anyone tired of doom scrolling or “just five more minutes”
• Students and professionals protecting focus
• People rebuilding a healthier phone relationship without deleting every app
• Anyone who tried harsh blockers that felt punitive or easy to bypass
GET STARTED
Allow Screen Time access → create a block → pick apps and a schedule → choose your challenge. Next time you open a blocked app on autopilot, you’ll get a pause — and a real choice.
IMPORTANT
HoldOn is a digital wellbeing tool, not medical advice, therapy, or treatment. If you are in crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately.
Download HoldOn. Create your first block. Stop before you regret it.
Ratings & Reviews
- This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
The developer, Ece Birinci, 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
- Ece Birinci
- Size
- 5.3 MB
- Category
- Utilities
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 17.0 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 17.0 or later. - iPad
Requires iPadOS 17.0 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 14.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- Copyright
- © Ece Birinci