Autopilot mode

Set an Aura that starts itself — up to 24 hours of automatic focus protection on the days you choose. Learn how Autopilot works, when to use it, and how to set it up.

Autopilot turns your best intentions into automatic protection. Schedule an Aura that activates at a set time, runs for up to 24 hours, and holds the boundary until the session ends — without you lifting a finger.

What is Autopilot?

Autopilot is a scheduling mode where your Aura starts automatically at a chosen time and runs for up to 24 hours. It is designed for long focus sessions — weekend deep work, full-day study blocks, or overnight reading — where you want the boundary to appear without thinking about it.

Unlike a quick manual Aura, Autopilot is set-and-forget. You choose the day, the time, the duration, and the boundary. Then the schedule handles the rest.

When to use Autopilot

• Weekend deep work — schedule a Saturday morning Aura that starts at 8 AM and runs for 8 hours, protecting your most productive weekend hours
• Full-day focus — set a 24-hour Aura for a deadline day where you need every hour protected
• Study marathons — an afternoon block that starts automatically and holds until evening
• Evening wind-down — an Aura that activates at bedtime and keeps distracting apps out of reach overnight
• Weekly rhythm — recurring weekend Auras that build a consistent focus habit without daily setup

Setting up Autopilot

1. Open an existing Aura or create a new one
2. Tap the Schedule option
3. Enable Autopilot (automatic start)
4. Set the start time — when the Aura activates
5. Set the duration — up to 24 hours
6. Select the days — weekdays, weekends, or specific days
7. Choose your boundary — Standard or Strict
8. Save the schedule

Duration: up to 24 hours

Autopilot sessions can last from 15 minutes up to a full 24 hours. This makes it suitable for:

• Short sessions — a 25-minute Pomodoro that starts at a fixed time
• Medium sessions — a 2–4 hour deep work block
• Long sessions — an 8-hour workday protection
• Full-day sessions — 24-hour Auras for deadline days or extended focus periods

The duration is set when you create the schedule. You cannot change it while the session is active, but you can end or pause it (Standard mode) at any time.

Weekend protection

Weekends are when distraction is highest and focus matters most. Autopilot lets you protect your weekend hours automatically:

• Saturday morning deep work — 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, your most productive hours protected
• Sunday reading — 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, a calm block for learning
• Weekend full-day — Saturday or Sunday, 24 hours of uninterrupted focus
• Both days — separate schedules for Saturday and Sunday with different purposes

Each day can have its own Autopilot schedule with a different Aura, different apps, and a different boundary. Build the weekend rhythm that works for you.

Lock screen visibility

When an Autopilot Aura is active, you can see it directly on your lock screen:

• The Aura name — what this session is for
• The timer — how much time remains
• The apps staying alive — which apps are available
• The boundary type — Standard or Strict

The lock screen notification keeps your Aura visible at a glance. You do not need to open AuraLock to know what is protected.

Boundary: Standard or Strict

Standard Autopilot

Standard mode gives you flexibility during long sessions. You can pause when you genuinely need a break, extend the session when you are in flow, or end it early if plans change. This is the best choice for most Autopilot sessions.

Strict Autopilot

Strict mode locks the boundary for the full duration. No pause, no early exit — the Aura holds until the timer reaches zero. Use this for deadline days or sessions where you need an unbreakable boundary. Emergency release is available for genuine emergencies only.

Automatic vs confirmation

When creating an Autopilot schedule, you choose how it starts:

• Automatic — the Aura begins at the scheduled time without prompting. Best for established routines you want to protect without thinking.
• Ask first — you receive a notification before the window opens, and the Aura starts only when you confirm. Best when your schedule varies day to day.

Managing Autopilot schedules

• Edit — open the Aura and change the schedule times, days, or boundary
• Skip today — when a schedule fires, skip this one instance without changing the recurring schedule
• Snooze — delay the start by a short period (15 or 30 minutes)
• Pause — if the session is active in Standard mode, pause it temporarily
• Delete — remove the schedule entirely. The Aura template is preserved for manual use.

Tips for reliable Autopilot

• Anchor to routines — schedule Autopilot for times you already focus, not aspirational times
• Start with weekends — lower stakes, easier to build the habit
• Use Standard first — learn how long sessions feel before committing to Strict
• Run Guardian — verify battery optimization and background settings so schedules fire on time
• One schedule at a time — avoid overlapping Autopilot Auras until you are comfortable with the flow

What's next

Now that you understand Autopilot:

• Set up your first recurring schedule
• Understand when to use Standard vs Strict
• Learn about the active Aura experience
• Keep your setup reliable with Guardian