Focus sessions

A focus session switches between focus time and short breaks. You can block apps while you focus.

Start a session

Tap Focus session on Home (or use Quick start).
Pick a focus length, break length, and number of cycles.
Choose the apps to block.
Tap Start.

Focus lengths: 15, 25, 45, or 60 minutes. Breaks: 3, 5, 10, or 15 minutes.

During a session

Pause — pauses the timer and unblocks apps until you resume.
Break — blocked apps are available during the break.
Stop — ends the session early and saves the focus time you finished.
Finish — the session ends after your last focus period.

While a focus phase is running, Milo shows which apps and categories are blocked on the session screen.

Turn on Focus reminders in Settings if you want alerts when a focus period or break ends.

While the app is in the background

When a session is running or paused:

Home screen widget — switches to a live view with the countdown, cycle, phase, and blocked apps (when blocking is active).
iPhone (iOS 16.1+) — a Live Activity can appear on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island on supported models. Enable Live Activities for Milo The Pup in iOS Settings if you do not see it.
Android — an ongoing notification in Notification Centre shows the same session summary.

These update when you pause, resume, or move between focus and break.

If you force-quit or relaunch Milo during an active session, the app restores the timer and returns you to the focus screen (after the Home tour is complete). Blocking resumes for a running focus phase when permissions allow.

Stop challenge

Make it harder to quit early:

Open Settings → Require challenge to stop.
Choose one option:
- Quick math — answer a few questions
- Touch grass — use the camera outdoors
- Push-ups — do reps on camera
Pick the number of math problems (1–8) or push-up reps (3, 5, 8, 10, or 15) with the chip row below the challenge type.

The challenge loads your latest Settings choice each time you tap Stop or Exit before the session finishes. Camera challenges need camera permission. Quick math works offline.

If blocking does not work