Prevent Bypassing Blocking

1Focus offers a robust solution to help you stay on track by blocking distracting apps and websites. This guide will show you how to prevent blocks from being bypassed, ensuring a distraction-free work session.

Prevent Deleting Blocks

Close the 1Focus window to prevent deleting active blocks.

You can still delete blocks that are not active yet. If that is a problem for you, let us know.

Prevent Force Quit and More

Here is how to prevent force quitting 1Focus and other ways to bypass it.

1. Select the tab Apps in 1Focus.
2. Click the + button below the list. A dialog will appear.
3. Type Activity Monitor in the search field in the top right.
4. Select Activity Monitor and click Open.
5. Repeat this for the apps Terminal, System Settings (previously System Preferences).

You can also block unsupported web browsers like Firefox here. See Supported Web Browsers.

Prevent Uninstallation

To prevent uninstallation, you can hide 1Focus.

1. Log into an administrator account.
2. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → App Management and click the + button. If prompted, enter an administrator account and password.
3. A dialog appears. Type “terminal” in the search bar in the top right. Select Terminal and click Open.
4. Open Applications → Utilities → Terminal.
5. Paste the following command into Terminal and confirm with Enter: sudo chflags hidden /Applications/1Focus.app; defaults write com.apple.dock ResetLaunchPad -bool true; killall Dock
6. Enter the password of your administrator account. It is normal that you cannot see it while typing (not even asterisks). Confirm with Enter.

Done! 1Focus is now hidden, making it more difficult to uninstall. You can still find it using Spotlight. For example, click 🔍 in the top right of Finder and enter “1Focus”.

If 1Focus is not hidden under a different user account, open Applications → Utilities → Terminal under that account. Paste the following command into Terminal and confirm with Enter: defaults write com.apple.dock ResetLaunchPad -bool true; killall Dock

Prevent Use of Unsupported Web Browsers

You can prevent unsupported browsers from being used by blocking them under 1Focus → Apps.

To prevent installing and using a new unsupported web browser:

1. Select 1Focus → Apps → Block all apps except these. If the option is grayed out, either blocking is active (wait for it to end) or you don’t have 1Focus Pro.
2. Click the + button below the list. A dialog will appear.
3. Type “app” in the search field in the top right.
4. Select all apps. One way to do this is to select some app and press Command + A.
5. Click Open.
6. Remove any apps that should be blocked.

Done, now newly installed apps will be blocked by default.

Use a Non-Administrator Account

You can make uninstallation more difficult by using a non-administrator account. You could use a long administrator password that is inconvenient to type. Or you could have an accountability partner keep a part of the password. That way they don’t have access to your computer but you need them to make system changes.

1. Create a new user Admin under System Settings → Users & Groups → Add Account. Be sure to enable Allow this user to administer this computer. Keep the password safe. You will need it every once in a while to make changes to your computer.
2. Log into the new account Admin.
3. Remove Allow this user to administer this computer from your other account under System Settings → Users & Groups → Info icon next to your account.
4. Still under the account Admin, move 1Focus to the Trash, delete it from the Trash and reinstall it from the Mac App Store. Now it’s owned by Admin.
5. Log into your other account.
6. Enable System Settings → Privacy & Security → Advanced → Require an administrator password to access system-wide settings.

Tip: In case of emergencies, you can pause blocking for a limited time. For help, contact us.