Support

Getting Started

Pick ONE task each day that matters most. Start a focus session and work for 2 uninterrupted hours (customizable). The app blocks distracting apps, tracks your focus time, and helps you build a streak of productive days. At the end of each day, complete the Shutdown ritual to close out your workday intentionally.

Most productivity is fake. Real progress happens when you ignore 99 things to nail one. By forcing you to choose just one thing, Hardcore Focus helps you focus on what actually matters instead of shuffling through endless to-do lists.

No! The 2-hour default is based on deep work research, but you can customize your daily focus goal in settings. Start with whatever works for you and build up from there.

Features & Usage

Hardcore Focus uses Apple's Screen Time API to block apps during focus sessions. You choose which apps or categories to block. If you try to open a blocked app, a shield screen appears reminding you to stay focused. The app also tracks how many times you resisted temptation.

Shutdown Mode is a daily ritual to end your workday intentionally. It has three steps: (1) Capture any loose ends still on your mind, (2) Review tomorrow's calendar, and (3) Hold to complete the shutdown. This creates mental closure and helps you disconnect from work.

The AI Coach provides personalized insights based on your focus patterns, time of day, and optionally your sleep data from the Health app. It recognizes whether you're a morning person or night owl, analyzes trends in your performance, and gives honest feedback - not empty praise. AI Coach is a Pro feature.

Yes! You can import tasks directly from Apple Reminders. The sync is bi-directional - when you complete a task in Hardcore Focus, it marks complete in Reminders too. Titles and notes stay synced as well.

There are 30+ achievements across multiple categories: goal achievements (1, 10, 50, 100 goals), streak achievements (7, 30, 100 days), focus time achievements (10h, 100h, 1000h), and hardcore achievements like Marathon sessions, Zen Master, and Perfect Week. Achievements come in tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Platinum, and Rose Gold.

Subscriptions & Billing

The free version includes the focus timer, daily goal tracking, app blocking, distraction tracking, streaks, achievements, Shutdown Mode, and Apple Reminders integration. It's a fully functional app.

Pro unlocks Focus Sounds (brown noise), iCloud Sync (across all your devices), AI Coach (personalized insights), Detailed Analytics, and helps keep the app ad-free for everyone.

The app is free to download and use. Pro upgrades are handled through the iOS App Store. You can choose monthly ($5/month) or yearly ($25/year, save 58%) billing. Cancel anytime through your Apple ID settings.

Privacy & Data

We collect zero data. Period. Your focus sessions, tasks, and personal information stay on your device. If you enable iCloud Sync, data syncs through your private iCloud account - we never see it.

No. We don't collect your data, so there's nothing to sell. Hardcore Focus is a productivity tool, not a surveillance platform.

Screen Time (for app blocking), Notifications (optional reminders), Reminders (if you want to import tasks), Health (optional, for AI Coach sleep insights), and Location (optional, for weather-based AI insights). You can decline any permission you're not comfortable with.

Yes! Pro subscribers can export their data. Your data belongs to you.

Troubleshooting

Make sure Screen Time is enabled in your iOS Settings. Go to Settings > Screen Time > App & Website Activity and ensure it's turned on. Then authorize Hardcore Focus to manage your Screen Time within the app.

Streaks require completing your daily focus goal each day. If you missed a day, the streak resets. Check your daily goal setting - if it's set too high, consider lowering it to maintain consistency.

iCloud Sync is a Pro feature. Make sure you're subscribed to Pro, signed into the same iCloud account on all devices, and that iCloud Drive is enabled for Hardcore Focus in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.

iOS updates widgets at its own schedule to preserve battery. Open the app to force a refresh, or try removing and re-adding the widget. Make sure Background App Refresh is enabled for Hardcore Focus.

Still need help?

Can't find what you're looking for? Send us an email and we'll get back to you.

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