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How AuraLock works

Learn how AuraLock helps you create intentional phone environments for focused work, study, and life.

AuraLock is built around one idea: your phone should support your intention, not work against it. The app is whitelist-first. You choose what stays alive, and everything else waits outside.

The Aura concept

An Aura is a focused phone environment that you create. It has four parts: a purpose, the apps that stay alive, a duration, and a boundary (Standard or Strict).

The AuraLock flow

1. Choose what matters

Start by defining your purpose. AuraLock comes with presets:

  • Deep Work — make space for meaningful work
  • Study — stay with learning
  • Health & Fitness — move with intention
  • Family Time — be present
  • Personal Time — make room for yourself
  • Custom — create anything you need

2. Choose what stays alive

This is the most important step. Select only the apps that genuinely support your purpose.

What stays alive?

Instead of thinking "what should I block?" ask "what do I actually need right now?" This question is at the heart of AuraLock.

On the Home screen you can also start one-tap presets, such as Quick Focus (15 min), Deep Work (45 min), or Power Hour (60 min, strict), without opening the full Aura builder.

3. Choose your boundary

Decide how strong your focus boundary should be:

  • Standard Aura — you can pause, extend, or end your session. Flexible focus for everyday use.
  • Strict Aura — your boundary holds until the Aura ends. A deliberate commitment for deep work.

Strict Aura asks you to confirm before entering, because the session cannot be casually ended. Essential functions such as calls, emergency, and system settings always remain available.

4. Set your duration

Choose how long the Aura lasts, for example 25, 45, 60, or 90 minutes, a custom time, or a recurring rhythm with a schedule. If you are in flow, you can extend mid-session.

5. Enter your Aura

Your selected environment becomes active. A timer ring shows your remaining time, and only your chosen apps remain accessible. Everything else waits outside.

During an Aura

While your Aura is active, you will see the Aura name and purpose, a timer ring showing remaining time, the apps that stay alive, and session controls for pause, extend time, and changing allowed apps.

The boundary screen

If you open an app outside your Aura, AuraLock shows a calm message: "This app is outside your Aura." It does not shame or punish you. It simply asks you to decide whether this is what you need right now.

Scheduling Auras

You can schedule Auras to begin automatically or with your confirmation. Schedule templates such as Deep Work Mornings or Evening Wind-Down make this fast, and you can snooze or skip a day without breaking your rhythm.

After an Aura

When your Aura completes, AuraLock shows you what you protected. Your daily goal tracks progress, streaks build with honest consistency, and a journal entry with a mood tag closes the loop. Insights give you a weekly view of your protected time.

Reliability built in

AuraLock works to protect your focus reliably:

  • Guardian — verifies permissions and battery settings on your device
  • Permission health — live status with one-tap fixes
  • Restore after restart — if your phone reboots mid-Aura, AuraLock offers to restore the session

Emergency access

Even during a Strict Aura, essential system functions and emergency access remain available where appropriate. AuraLock protects your focus without compromising safety.

AuraLock

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