Frequently asked questions.
Find answers to common questions about Prayer Pause.
What does Prayer Pause do?
Prayer Pause helps you scroll less and pray on time. Salah Focus blocks distractions during prayer, while meaningful pauses bring dhikr, Quran, quizzes, reflection, or du'a to mindless app opens. Sabr, your camel companion, reflects your habits in his changing desert world.
Who is Sabr?
Sabr is your camel companion. On iPhone and iPad, his expression and desert world change with your Sabr Score, which reflects your screen habits and prayers. Tap him on the Home tab and he reacts.
Where are Qibla and my prayer calendar?
On iPhone and iPad, open the Prayer tab. Qibla sits at the top, with your prayer times, streak, and calendar together in the same tab.
How does app blocking work?
Salah Focus blocks apps during your prayer windows, with exceptions for apps you need. Choose which apps stay available in its settings. On iPhone and iPad, blocking uses Apple's Screen Time framework; on Mac, blocking also runs on your device.
What are mindful interventions?
When you try to open a blocked app, Prayer Pause offers a meaningful activity instead of just locking you out. Options include a dhikr counter, Quran reading, an Islamic quiz, a moment of reflection, and du'a. Complete the activity and the app unlocks.
Why do I need to grant Screen Time access?
Screen Time access is required by Apple for any app blocking functionality. This permission allows Prayer Pause to manage app restrictions during prayer times. The blocking is handled on your device by Apple's frameworks, not on our servers.
How accurate are the prayer times?
Prayer times are calculated using established Islamic calculation methods (ISNA, Muslim World League, etc.) based on your location. You can choose the method that matches your local mosque or preference.
What is Guardian Mode?
Guardian Mode uses background location updates to keep your prayer times, widgets, and blocking schedules accurate while you travel, so everything stays in sync as your location changes.
How do streaks work?
Streaks track your consecutive days of completing all prayers with your phone blocked. You earn protective passes (hearts) as you build your streak. Using an emergency unblock costs one heart. On iPhone and iPad, find your streak and prayer calendar in the Prayer tab.
Can I customize which apps are blocked?
Yes. On iPhone and iPad, open the Block tab to create or edit a blocker. App Lists saves selections to reuse across blockers. For Salah Focus, choose the apps you want to keep available during prayer; other apps are blocked.
Why aren't my widgets updating?
Make sure Location Services is enabled for Prayer Pause (Settings, then Privacy, then Location Services). Widgets need location access to show accurate prayer times.
How do I change the calculation method?
Go to Settings, then Prayer Times, then Calculation Method. You can choose from various methods or use Auto-detect based on your region.
Is Prayer Pause free?
Prayer Pause is free to download. On iPhone and iPad, you can use Brick Mode with one app for free. Premium adds more features, with a free trial.
Does Prayer Pause drain my battery?
Prayer Pause is designed to be lightweight. Location is only used when needed to calculate prayer times, and the app uses Apple's efficient background refresh system. Most users see minimal battery impact.
What devices and OS versions are supported?
Prayer Pause runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS 16 or later, and on Mac with macOS 14 or later. It is a single universal purchase on the App Store, so one download covers all of your Apple devices. Prayer Pause is also available for Android on Google Play.
How do I delete my data?
Go to Settings, then Reset All Data, to delete all your local data including prayer logs, streaks, and preferences. If you use iCloud sync, you can also remove your data from iCloud through your device's iCloud settings.
Can Prayer Pause see which apps I block or my screen time?
No. On iPhone and iPad, app blocking runs entirely on your device through Apple's Screen Time and Family Controls API, so Prayer Pause never sees which apps you choose to block or your screen time data. The app uses anonymous analytics to improve the experience, and the Meta ad-attribution SDK only runs if you opt in through Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt.
Which apps and times can Prayer Pause block?
Salah Focus blocks distractions during your prayer windows. You can also set schedules for Jummah, Tahajjud, Taraweeh, and the Last 10 Nights of Ramadan, or use Brick Mode for all-day focus. On iPhone and iPad, Daily Limits lets you cap app usage each day from the Block tab.
Does Prayer Pause need an Apple Watch?
No. Prayer Pause works fully on your iPhone, and no Apple Watch or other device is required. If you want your settings and streak history to follow you to a new iPhone, you can turn on optional iCloud sync, but it is never required to use the app.
Can I still use my phone during a prayer block if I really need to?
Yes. Add apps you need to Salah Focus's allowed list so they remain available during prayer. If you need a blocked app, you can use emergency unblock. Doing so during an active prayer window uses a protective streak pass.