A calming puzzle between you and your most-tempting apps. Real screen time control, not restriction. Free to try, no card needed.
Pause helps you scroll on purpose. Lowers your screen time.
We all reach for the same apps on autopilot. Pause puts a small, calming puzzle between you and those apps, so opening one becomes a choice, not a reflex.
HOW IT WORKS
• Choose the apps you want to pause.
• When you try to open one, Pause asks you to solve a quick puzzle first.
• Solve it, and the app unlocks for 15 minutes of intentional use.
• When time's up, the pause comes back automatically.
That tiny moment of friction is enough to break the autopilot—and remind you why you picked up your phone in the first place.
NINE CALMING PUZZLES
Word Jumble, Mini Crossword, Sliding Tile, Ball Sort, Connect the Colors, Maze, Sixdoku, and more. Every unlock is a small mental reset instead of a mindless tap.
DESIGNED FOR INTENTION, NOT RESTRICTION
Pause isn't about locking yourself out—it's about adding just enough space to choose. No guilt, no lectures. Just a gentle pause.
PAUSE PREMIUM
• Unlock all nine puzzles
• Remove ads
• Start with a 7-day free trial, then annual or monthly
Your privacy comes first. Pause uses Apple's Screen Time technology, and the apps you choose never leave your device.
Scroll less by accident. Scroll more on purpose.
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SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS
Pause Premium is an auto-renewing subscription. (7-day free trial for new subscribers)
• Annual — $74.99/year
• Monthly — $9.99/month
Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you start a subscription.
Privacy Policy URL:
Terms of Use URL: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Exactly what I needed to break my doomscrolling habit
userinstagre
I used to open my phone constantly without even thinking about it. I would try to check one quick message and end up trapped in a 30 minute scroll. Pause actually changed my daily habits. Instead of just completely blocking my apps, which I always figured out how to bypass anyway, it throws up a quick puzzle like a word jumble or a maze. That tiny 10 second delay is all my brain needs to realize I do not actually want to be on social media right now. My screen time is down by over two hours a day since I started the free trial. It truly forces you to scroll on purpose. Highly recommend this if you want your attention back.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
HumbertoMV
Pause has been a game changer for managing my screen time and social media habits. It creates just enough friction to make me stop and think before mindlessly opening an app, without feeling restrictive or annoying.I’ve become much more intentional about when and why I use my phone, and I’ve definitely noticed myself spending less time endlessly scrolling. It’s simple, effective, and does exactly what it’s supposed to do.If you’re trying to reduce screen time without completely giving up the apps you enjoy, I highly recommend Pause. One of those small apps that can genuinely make a big difference in your daily routine.
Take control over mindlessly scrolling!
Aumar31
I often found myself mindlessly scrolling on social media for hours. I’d even catch myself just going up the stairs and opening instagram — couldn’t even walk without scrolling.. I hated it! Pause has been the perfect barrier my brain needed to break that habit. The games are engaging and challenging enough to interrupt the autopilot scrolling and shift me from mindlessly consuming content to actively thinking and deciding whether I want to open an app. I’ve tried other apps to help with the social media scrolling habit, but this one is my favorite by far!
An awesome twist on Screen Control
alexxxo
Pause has genuinely changed how I use my phone. Instead of just blocking apps outright, it makes you play a quick game before you can get into Instagram or TikTok — and that tiny bit of friction is enough to make you stop and ask ‘do I actually want to scroll right now?’ Half the time I just close my phone instead of bothering with the game. It’s such a smart, creative twist on the usual screen-time tools that just nag you with reminders. Highly recommend if you’re trying to be more intentional with your phone time
Added a Send Feedback option in Settings, its the fastest way to tell me what's working or what isn't.
A short note from me on why I built Pause, also in Settings.
Five Letters now shows you the answer if you run out of guesses.
Small bug fixes and polish.
Version 1.5
The developer, Carlos Velasquez, 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 Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
Location
Identifiers
Usage Data
Diagnostics
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
Carlos Velasquez
Size
12.2 MB
Category
Productivity
Compatibility
Requires iOS 16.0 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 16.0 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 16.0 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 13.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
