As a pro user for over a year (4/2025 sign up) I am VERY disappointed by the new update. The single biggest issue is the fact you can now EASILY unlock each app individually once blocked without a waiting room at all. Like what?! The waiting room is such a great idea and been a game changer for me. The longer and longer wait in particular really helped limit me during work, bedtimes and so forth. Why create such a massive loophole?!
Also, just had to turn the live activities off all together. I liked when it would show the timer when I did do a time limited unblocking in prior version but why in the heck would you ever show how much longer I’m blocked for?! I’ve seen at least one other person complain about this so really hoping you get ride of that quickly . Makes no sense at all to have that for something that we’re all using to try to limit our overall screen time on these apps. I saw your update in the App Store saying you’re hearing this negative feedback and working on it but I really hope it’s quick or you will have lost a loyal pro user.
Hi @Opal_Pro2025 thank you for the detailed feedback and for being a Pro user for over a year. Both of these are legitimate issues that the team is actively working on.
On the waiting room: For time limit rules specifically, this has already been tightened — the direct Unblock button was removed from the block screen in the latest update (4.2), leaving only Dismiss. For open limit rules, the team is still working on it. The waiting room itself is being actively built out with new mini-games and challenges and needs to be wired more consistently across all unblock paths.
On Live Activities: The timer Live Activity was designed to show focus session progress but you’re right that showing “X minutes left of your block” can backfire as knowing the end is close is exactly the kind of information that erodes willpower. The team has seen this feedback and it’s being worked on.
These are features that made v3 work for you at a deep level, and the new version should match that. I’ll make sure both of these land as logged feedback from a long-term Pro user.