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Screen Time (Mac)

Refocus shows how much time you spend in apps and on websites, with daily, weekly, and monthly reports.

This feature is separate from Apple’s Screen Time. Your usage history is encrypted and stored only on your Mac.


Get Started

  1. Open Refocus Settings using the gear icon.

  2. Turn on “Screen Time.”

  3. Select the “Report” tab.

Screen Time is off by default. History starts when you enable it. Refocus must be running and signed in to record usage.


FAQ

Is my usage history private?

Yes. Your usage history is encrypted and stored only on your Mac. It is not uploaded to Refocus or synced with other devices.

Is this connected to Apple’s Screen Time?

No. Refocus measures app and website usage itself.

How does Refocus measure usage?

Refocus records time in the app you are currently using. When it identifies a website in a supported browser, the time appears under that website instead of the browser.

Refocus doesn’t count time while your Mac is asleep or its screen is off. After about five minutes without keyboard or mouse input, it removes the inactive time and pauses until you interact again. This can make recent totals go down.

These measurements are approximate. Reading or watching a video without using the keyboard or mouse may count as inactivity, and very brief app or tab changes may be missed.

Why do websites appear as browser usage?

Missing permissions, an unsupported browser, or an outdated extension can prevent Refocus from identifying websites.

Open Refocus Settings > Advanced Settings > Web Browser Permissions and follow the steps for your browser.

Firefox and Zen require the current Refocus extension for website reports. An older extension may still block websites but not report their usage. To include private windows, allow the extension to run in them.

Why is my report empty or missing some time?

Check that:

  • “Screen Time” is turned on in Refocus Settings.

  • Refocus was running and signed in during that time.

  • You selected the correct date or period.

Allow about a minute for recent usage to appear.

What happens when I turn Screen Time off?

Refocus stops recording new usage and hides the reports. Your existing history is kept and appears again when you turn Screen Time back on.

App and website blocking is unaffected.

How do I delete my history?

Open Refocus Settings > Advanced Settings > Reset Screen Time History.

Type “reset” when prompted, then confirm. This permanently deletes the current Refocus account’s usage history on this Mac.

If Screen Time is still on, Refocus continues recording new usage.

What if I see “Screen Time Unavailable”?

Restart Refocus first.

If the problem continues, use “Contact Us” in Refocus Settings. You can also select “Reset Screen Time History” in Advanced Settings to start fresh, but this permanently deletes your existing history.