App Pause

App Pause lets you set automated schedules and usage limits for any app. When a block triggers, Curbox shows a pause screen — you decide what it takes to get through it.

Tip

The main difference is that Focus Mode is designed to quickly block apps for a specific duration, whereas App Pause is intended for running automated daily schedules.

How a Group Works

Each App Pause group has two controls:

Control	What it does
Active Schedule	Defines the time window(s) when the block is active. The app is blocked during this period.
Usage Limit	(Optional) Sets how long you can use the app during the active schedule before it gets blocked. Leave this empty if you want to block the app for the entire schedule window without any usage allowance.

For example, an Active Schedule of 9 PM – 7 AM with no Usage Limit blocks the app entirely overnight. Add a Usage Limit of 30 minutes and the app is available during those hours, but only for 30 minutes before it locks.

Creating a Group

1. Open App Pause Tap Reducers in the bottom navigation bar, then tap Apps.

2. Tap the + button The + button is in the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap it to open Create App Group.

3. Enter a name Type a name in the Name field. Something clear like “Instagram” or “Social Media” works well.

4. Select apps Tap Select Apps and choose the apps you want to include in this group.

5. Set the Active Schedule Tap Active Schedule to define when the block should be active — which hours and days of the week.

6. Set a Usage Limit (optional) Tap Usage Limit to cap how long the app can be used during the active schedule. Leave it empty to block the app for the entire schedule window.

7. Configure the warning screen (optional) Tap Configure Warning Screen to choose what happens when the block triggers. See Unlock Challenges for the full guide. By default, you’ll have to wait 15 sec to get an unlock period of 2 minutes.

8. Tap Done Your group is saved and active immediately.

Tip

Press the 3 dots in the app selector to quickly copy an app lists from previously created reducer group

Tip

If you want to set active for entire day, set both the start and end time ranges to 12am.

Caution

A single schedule block cannot cross midnight. For an overnight block like 11 PM to 2 AM, create two separate blocks: 11 PM to 12 AM, and 12 AM to 2 AM. When you create a time range like 9pm to 7 am, curbox automatically splits them for you!

Managing Your Groups

The App Pause screen shows all your groups in a list. Each card shows the group name, how many apps are in it, and its active schedule.

Toggle the switch on any card to pause or resume that group without deleting it.

Using Multiple Groups for the Same App

You can add the same app to more than one group. This lets you apply different rules at different times of day — for example, a strict block at night and a usage limit during the day.

The schedules must not overlap. If two groups contain the same app and their Active Schedules overlap, Curbox will show a warning. Fix the overlap before the groups can both be active.

Example: Daytime cap + overnight block

Group A — “Instagram Daytime”

• Apps: Instagram
• Active Schedule: 9 AM – 10 PM
• Usage Limit: 45 minutes

Group B — “Instagram Night Block”

• Apps: Instagram
• Active Schedule: 10 PM – 9 AM
• Usage Limit: (empty — fully blocked)

What this looks like each day:

• Before 9 AM: Instagram is blocked by Group B.
• 9 AM – 10 PM: Instagram is available for up to 45 minutes. Once the limit is used, it blocks for the rest of that window.
• 10 PM onwards: Instagram is blocked again by Group B, regardless of how much usage time is left.

Example: Weekday schedule only

Group A — “Social Weekday Cap”

• Apps: Instagram, TikTok
• Active Schedule: Monday–Friday, all day
• Usage Limit: 30 minutes

Group B — “Social Weekend”

• Apps: Instagram, TikTok
• Active Schedule: Saturday–Sunday, all day
• Usage Limit: 90 minutes

Each group’s usage counter is independent. Monday’s 30 minutes has nothing to do with Saturday’s 90 minutes.

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