Launched this week
Scroll Brake — App Blocker
Stop doomscrolling with conscious math friction on iOS
2 followers
Stop doomscrolling with conscious math friction on iOS
2 followers
Scroll Brake is a lightweight (~4MB) iOS app that replaces mindless scrolling with healthy mental friction. Standard limits fail because tapping 'Ignore' is pure muscle memory. Instead of an easy bypass, Scroll Brake locks distracting apps behind quick math puzzles, cooling impulsive dopamine cravings in 10 seconds. Built natively on Apple's Screen Time API with zero battery drain and 100% on-device privacy. Up to 3 rules are completely free forever, with no ads, trackers, or subscriptions.
Hey Product Hunt! 👋
I’m the creator of Scroll Brake I am obsessive about personal productivity, yet I kept catching myself falling into the same trap: picking up my iPhone for a "two-minute breather" and waking up 40 minutes later in an infinite Reels loop.
I tested the category leaders on the App Store, and the current landscape left me frustrated:
1. The Notification Paradox: Why does an app meant to keep me *off* my phone ask for push notification permissions? (Turns out competitors use local notification hacks to work around older iOS sandbox limitations).
2. Aggressive Paywalls: Aggressive subscription screens before you even see the UI, hoping you forget to cancel a free trial.
3. Apple’s Screen Time Flaw: Tapping "Ignore limit for 15 minutes" has become pure unconscious muscle memory.
Willpower alone fails against algorithms fine-tuned by thousands of engineers to keep our dopamine hooked.
🧠 How It Works: Cognitive Friction
Instead of an easy "Ignore" button, Scroll Brake places your locked apps behind a quick mental math puzzle.
Doomscrolling happens in an automatic, hypnotic state. Forcing your brain to solve an equation forces your prefrontal cortex to wake up. In the 10 seconds it takes to calculate, the impulsive dopamine craving fades away.
🛠️ How I Configured It For Myself (And Why The Free Version Is All You Need)
I built this tool to solve my own problem. Here is my exact setup:
• 1 Rule: "Social Networks" category blocked.
• Base Limit: 5 minutes per day.
• Extension: 5 minutes granted per solved puzzle.
• Hard Stop: Maximum 5 extensions per day.
With this setup, I physically cannot spend more than 25 minutes a day inside social apps. 8 times out of 10, just seeing the math puzzle is enough for me to put the phone face-down and get back to deep work.
In the free version, you get up to 3 rules completely free forever.
Personally, I only use one single rule, and it completely cured my doomscrolling. There are no subscriptions, no forced trials, and no ads. (For anyone who eventually wants unlimited rules, there is an optional one-time Lifetime unlock).
⚡ Built Native & Private:
• ~4.5 MB size: Pure Swift, no cross-platform bloat, zero tracking SDKs.
• No Notification Hacks: Built on modern iOS Screen Time APIs with direct native transitions.
• Anti-Dopamine UX: No fireworks or confetti when you unlock an app. We don't reward your brain with cheap dopamine for opening social feeds.
I’d love to hear your thoughts:
1. What is the #1 app that steals the most time from you each day?
2. What kind of friction or rules would work best for your workflow?
I'll be hanging out here all day to answer your questions and chat about digital focus! 🚀