Family Foqos

Family Foqos is a focus and screen time management app built for families. It extends the original Foqos app with parent controls and lock codes. Parents can lock specific profiles on their children's devices so kids can activate focus sessions but can't change the rules - bringing intentional screen time to the whole family.

Parents set a lock code that syncs across family devices via iCloud. Profiles are created like normal on the child's device. When a profile is locked, children can still activate it and use it for focus sessions, but they can't edit the blocked apps, websites, or timer settings. Profiles themselves stay on each device - only the lock code is shared across the family.

Yes, they can create profiles in addition to the locked profiles. This is useful for them to develop their own discipline and daily routines.

Absolutely. Family Foqos is privacy-first by design. All data stays on your devices and your private iCloud account. We don't run servers that store your data, we don't track usage patterns, and we don't sell any information. The app is fully open source, so you can verify this yourself.

No - NFC and QR features are optional but powerful. You can use Family Foqos entirely through the app interface. However, physical triggers like NFC tags and QR codes add a tangible ritual to focus sessions. Many families place QR codes in study areas or use NFC tags as focus 'keys' for children.

Family Foqos is available for iPhone and iPad running iOS 17 or later. NFC blocking requires an iPhone (iPads don't have NFC readers), but QR blocking and all other features work on both devices.

No. Family Foqos has a built-in safety feature: profiles can only be locked on devices signed in to iCloud with an Apple Family account designated as a 'child' account. This means the app cannot be installed on an adult's device and used to control them without their consent. Apple's Family Sharing structure ensures that only parents/guardians can manage child accounts. This design intentionally prevents misuse in coercive control or domestic abuse scenarios.

Family Foqos will be free and open source, just like the original Foqos. There are no subscriptions, no ads, and no hidden fees. If you find value in the app, we encourage donations to Common Sense Media, an organization that helps families navigate the digital world.

Apple Screen Time focuses on limits and restrictions. Family Foqos focuses on intentional focus sessions. With Screen Time, you set daily limits and hope your child doesn't find workarounds. With Family Foqos, you create purposeful focus profiles - homework time, bedtime, dinner - that feel less like punishment and more like positive habits. Plus, NFC/QR blocking adds a physical, ritual element that Screen Time can't match.

Locked profiles prevent children from modifying settings, changing blocked apps/websites, or deactivating the profile through normal means - the parent passcode is required for those actions. However, children can still use the Emergency Access feature on locked profiles, just like any other profile. Emergency unblocks are limited (3 per reset period) and work identically regardless of whether a profile is locked.

The Emergency Access feature lets you end any active blocking session immediately - no NFC tag, QR code, or passcode required. It's designed for genuine emergencies when you need your phone right now. To prevent overuse, you get 3 emergency unblocks per reset period (configurable from 2-8 weeks). Once you've used all 3, you'll need to wait for the reset or use your normal unblock method. Emergency Access works the same way for all profiles, including locked ones.