Frequently Asked Questions

What is Focus and who is it for?

Focus is a calm productivity timer built on a simple, proven rhythm: plan your day, work in focused sessions, take real breaks, and review what you got done. It combines a focus timer with task and project management and time tracking, and it syncs across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro.

It’s for anyone who wants to get meaningful work done and keeps getting pulled off-task — students, makers, knowledge workers — without a heavy, complicated productivity system. Focus is made by Jan and Kerstin, two indie developers at Meaningful Things.

How do focus sessions work — can I change session and break lengths?

A focus session is a timed stretch of single-task work followed by a restful break. You pick a task, start the timer, and give that one thing your attention until the session ends. Then you rest, and the next session starts fresh.

Session and break lengths are yours to change — shorter sessions suit quick, repetitive work, while longer stretches suit deep, creative work. Not sure where to start? Here’s how long a focus session should be for different kinds of work.

Is this the Pomodoro Technique?

Focus builds on the Pomodoro Technique — timed work intervals with regular breaks — but it doesn’t stop there. You can adjust session and break lengths freely, manage tasks and projects, track your time, and review your progress in detailed statistics.

If you love working with Pomodoro, Focus will feel familiar. If the classic intervals never quite fit, you can shape the rhythm to your own work. More in our guide to the Pomodoro Technique.

Is Focus free?

Yes — Focus is free to download and use. Focus Pro, a subscription with a 7-day free trial, unlocks the full experience. See the App Store listing for current pricing in your region.

I subscribed, but Pro isn’t active on my other device — what can I do?

The subscription unlock syncs through iCloud, so first check that both devices are signed in with the same Apple Account. Then restore your purchase:

• On iPhone and iPad, go to Focus Settings > Subscription and tap Restore.
• On Mac, choose Help > Show Subscription Options from the Focus menu and click Restore.

If Pro works on one device but not another, open Focus once on the device you originally subscribed on, so it can sync the subscription status through iCloud to your other devices. If that doesn’t help, try uninstalling Focus and reinstalling it from the App Store.

Still stuck? Send us the diagnostics data from within Focus (Settings > iCloud > Send Diagnostics Data) and email support@meaningful-things.com — we’ll investigate and get back to you with next steps.

Focus for Mac and Focus for iPhone are separate App Store listings — where do I manage my subscription?

Focus for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro and Focus for Mac are separate listings on the App Store. Either way, your subscription is managed through your Apple Account like any App Store subscription — in Focus under Settings > Subscription > Manage Subscriptions, or in your device’s subscription settings.

If you have questions about your subscription and the two apps — for example, which app your purchase is attached to — write to support@meaningful-things.com and we’ll sort it out with you.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Subscriptions are cancelled through Apple: open Focus and go to Settings > Subscription > Manage Subscriptions, or open your device’s subscription settings (on iPhone and iPad: Settings > your name > Subscriptions). Apple’s guide walks you through it step by step.

You keep Pro until the end of the period you’ve paid for — and you’re welcome back any time.

I don’t get notification sounds — what can I do?

Most of the time a settings option is the culprit. A few things worth checking:

• Notification permission. Check that Focus is allowed to send you notifications: open System Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and go to Notifications > Focus.
• Do Not Disturb. A small moon icon in the status bar means Do Not Disturb is on and notifications stay silent. You can turn it off from Control Center.
• Apple Watch. If you wear an Apple Watch, iOS may deliver notifications to your Watch instead of your iPhone — see the next question.

If none of that helps, write to support@meaningful-things.com and we’ll figure it out together.

How do notifications work on Apple Watch?

Focus supports notifications on Apple Watch. Check that Focus is allowed to notify you there: open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Notifications, and make sure Focus is allowed. Our guide to notifications in Focus has more detail.

Can I add, edit, or delete a session afterwards?

Yes. Your activity is yours to correct: add a session you forgot to time, change the task a session was logged under, or delete an entry that doesn’t belong — so your statistics always reflect the work you actually put in. Here’s how to add, edit, or delete a session.

Does Focus have widgets and Live Activities?

Yes. Widgets bring your timer and progress to your Home Screen — here’s how to add a Focus widget. And with Live Activities, your running session shows on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island, so you can glance at your timer without opening the app.

Where is my data stored?

Your tasks, sessions, and statistics live in your own iCloud and sync automatically across your devices — start a session on your Mac and your activity follows you to your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro.

Can I automate Focus?

Yes. Focus works with Siri and Shortcuts, and it has a URL scheme — a great way to interact with Focus from outside the app, whether that’s starting a session from another app or wiring Focus into your own automations.

How do I become a beta tester?

We’d love to have you. Apply via support@meaningful-things.com and tell us a little about the devices you use — being part of our testing community means trying new versions early and sharing your feedback with us.

How do I reach you?

Email us at support@meaningful-things.com for feedback and support. We read every mail and try to get back to you as quickly as possible — sometimes it may take a little time, and we appreciate your patience.