Is FocusForge really free?+
Yes. FocusForge is free and open source, with no ads and no subscriptions. The Android app is available from our GitHub releases.
Can I still watch my lectures?+
Yes. Supported YouTube feed and Shorts filtering is designed to leave lecture links available. Filtering depends on supported screens and can change when YouTube updates.
Do I need an account?+
The focus timer works without an account. Choose Skip for now to start locally without waiting for Firebase sign-in. Linked accounts use Firebase for private study and badge backups, groups and the optional leaderboard. Using the app without an email account is not a promise of no network activity.
What permissions does shielding need?+
Normal app shielding uses Usage Access to detect the app in use and Draw over other apps to display a pause screen. Accessibility is requested separately when you enable supported YouTube Shorts or feed filtering. App boundaries run with a foreground notification and a Stop action. All access is optional and can be revoked in Android settings.
Does it work on iPhone?+
FocusForge is currently Android-first, for Android 7.0 and above. We do not currently offer an iOS download.
Can I use my own profile photo?+
Yes. Choose a photo in the app’s profile avatar settings. FocusForge creates a small square thumbnail and removes embedded image metadata before saving it. Guests keep it on their device; linked accounts privately back it up. If leaderboard sharing is on, your photo appears with your name, level and weekly minutes. You can remove the photo or use initials instead.
Will updating the app sign me out?+
An update keeps a confirmed existing login and local study setup. Saved account data syncs in the background. Signing in after signing out or reinstalling can show a recovery screen while your goals, subjects and history are restored. Only data that finished syncing can be recovered on another installation.
What happens when I sign out?+
Your linked account keeps its private study backup, including your name, chosen profile photo, subjects, plans, goals and dated focus sessions, so you can recover them by signing in again. If you opted into the leaderboard, your name, chosen photo, level and weekly minutes can remain visible in that week’s top 100 after sign-out. Turn sharing off in the leaderboard’s Sharing options menu or delete your account to remove published entries.
Can I delete my account and data?+
Yes. Sign in on our Delete account page using the same email/password or Google account as the app, then confirm deletion. Private study and badge backups, saved profile photos, shared progress and leaderboard entries are removed before your login. You can also delete your account in the app. The website cannot erase phone-local history; clear app storage separately. Signing out keeps your data. Delete your account →