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.

How to Prevent Bypassing Blocks in 1Focus

Here are some steps you can take to ensure your block sessions are not bypassed:

Prevent the Deletion of Blocks

Close the 1Focus window to prevent the deletion of active blocks.

You can still delete blocks that are not active yet. We plan to add an option to prevent that.

Prevent Force Quit and More

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

Open 1Focus.
Create or select a preset.
Select the tab Apps in 1Focus.
Select “Block these apps”.
Click the + button under Apps. A dialog will appear.
Type Activity Monitor in the search field 🔍 in the top right.
Select Activity Monitor and click Open.
Repeat this for the apps Terminal, System Settings (previously System Preferences).
Click the tab Schedule, and enable blocking.
Confirm the block by closing the 1Focus window.

You can also block unsupported web browsers like Firefox here. 1Focus can block websites across Safari, Chrome, Brave, Edge, Opera, and Arc. See Supported web browsers.

Prevent Uninstallation

1Focus automatically prevents you from moving it to the Trash while blocking is active. If you can uninstall 1Focus, contact us and we will help.

Prevent Use of Unsupported Web Browsers

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

Alternatively, you can prevent the use of newly installed applications. This helps prevent the use of unsupported browsers as a way to bypass the block. Here is how:

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

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

Use a Non-Administrator Account

You can make bypassing 1Focus more difficult by using a non-administrator account.

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 occasionally for system changes.
Log into the new account Admin.
Remove Allow this user to administer this computer from your other account under System Settings → Users & Groups → Info icon next to your account.
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.
Log into your other account.
Enable System Settings → Privacy & Security → Advanced → Require an administrator password to access system-wide settings.

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.

Tip: Apps outside the App Store often prompt for the administrator password for app updates, which can be a little annoying. You can fix this by moving them from the system applications folder (Finder → Applications) to your user applications folder (Finder → Your Name → Applications).

Use Parental Control

If you are using 1Focus to protect your child, consider switching to Parental Control. It is derived from 1Focus and is specifically designed for parenting rather than personal productivity. Importantly, it features password protection.

With the password, you can make changes at any time. Without it, your children will be unable to alter any settings.

For help, contact us.