Scroll Brake
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Cognitive App Blocker for iOS & Chrome
Standard screen time limits don't work. This one does.
Scroll Brake creates mindful friction before addictive apps steal your focus. Interrupt automatic phone-checking loops on iPhone and Chrome with zero willpower needed.
Why ordinary limits fail: the 15-minute reflex.
The "Ignore limit for 15 minutes" button in iOS has become an automatic reflex. Your finger presses it faster than you realize you're about to waste another hour on short videos.
spent doomscrolling every single day by an average user
stolen by social media and feeds every week
wasted per year that could be spent on real life goals
| Feature | Standard iOS Limits | Scroll Brake |
|---|---|---|
| Protection from reflexes | None (bypassed in 1 tap) | Math barrier wakes up brain |
| Focus tracking | Passive statistics | Actively prevents doomscrolling |
| Notifications | Annoying alerts | Completely silent focus |
| Privacy | Local storage | 100% Private (Screen Time API) |
How to break the loop?
Install Scroll Brake and select specific apps or entire categories that steal your attention most.
Configure your daily time budget. Tip: if you want a 30-minute daily limit, set 10-minute intervals and enable Strict Mode on the 3rd attempt.
Use your apps as usual until the limit hits. Here you face the first fork: tap "Override limit" to solve a math problem, or tap "I understand" and put your phone down.
If you choose to keep scrolling, you must solve a mental math hurdle. Access stays locked until solved correctly, and switching to the Calculator app instantly reshuffles the problem.
Even after solving correctly, we do not reward scrolling. You get a moment of clarity: return to the app via the top-left link, or tap "Stop Wasting Time" and walk away.
Track your true screen time and weekly trends. Because Scroll Brake intercepts native iOS screen time control, this granular usage history lives exclusively and privately inside our app.
Choose apps & categories
Install Scroll Brake and select specific apps or entire categories that steal your attention most.
Set limits & intervals
Configure your daily time budget. Tip: if you want a 30-minute daily limit, set 10-minute intervals and enable Strict Mode on the 3rd attempt.
Hit limit & decide
Use your apps as usual until the limit hits. Here you face the first fork: tap "Override limit" to solve a math problem, or tap "I understand" and put your phone down.
Solve math (no cheats)
If you choose to keep scrolling, you must solve a mental math hurdle. Access stays locked until solved correctly, and switching to the Calculator app instantly reshuffles the problem.
Mindfulness over dopamine
Even after solving correctly, we do not reward scrolling. You get a moment of clarity: return to the app via the top-left link, or tap "Stop Wasting Time" and walk away.
Private stats & progress
Track your true screen time and weekly trends. Because Scroll Brake intercepts native iOS screen time control, this granular usage history lives exclusively and privately inside our app.
The more often you get distracted, the harder it is to unlock.
The standard "Ignore limit for 15 minutes" button fails because your finger taps it on reflex. Scroll Brake breaks the autopilot: to unlock an app, you solve a quick math problem in your head. And if you keep opening it again and again during the day, the problems get tougher — until it's simply easier to put the phone down and get back to life.
Protection that grows throughout the day
A gentle wake-up first, then a reason to reflect, and on the third time — the phone goes back on the desk.
Gentle warm-up
A quick problem from the multiplication table. Just enough to snap you out of the trance and ask yourself: "Do I really need to scroll right now or am I just doing it out of habit?"
Time to think
Reaching for social media again? Now you need to add two-digit numbers. While you calculate in your head, your brain wakes up and the compulsive urge to scroll fades away.
“Nah, I'd rather go work”
When your brain realizes it has to do serious mental arithmetic just for another 15 minutes of feed, it gives up: "Not worth the effort, I'd rather do something useful." Loop broken.
Difficulty levels for everyone
Whether you dislike math or want an unbreakable barrier, pick whatever level feels right for you:
Junior
Level 1For anyone who dislikes math. Simple numbers up to 20 — just to look away from the screen.
Example challenges at this level
Student
Level 2 Default levelThe sweet spot for most: basic multiplication table that wakes up your mind in seconds.
Example challenges at this level
High Schooler
Level 3Two-digit mental math. A noticeable hurdle, but still comfortable to calculate.
Example challenges at this level
College Student
Level 4Requires real focus. Completely stops autopilot with numbers that carry over.
Example challenges at this level
Scholar
Level 5Serious mental arithmetic. Impossible to solve without putting all distractions aside.
Example challenges at this level
Professor
Level 6A hefty mental workout. After solving one of these, you won't feel like scrolling anymore.
Example challenges at this level
Grandmaster
Level 7The iron wall. You will almost certainly put your phone down and go back to what matters.
Example challenges at this level
3 warm-up questions to find your pace
No complicated setup. When you first open the app, 3 quick questions help pick your comfortable starting level. No grades or pressure — just finding what feels right for you.
Adapts to how you feel
Scroll Brake notices how easily you solve each challenge. If you breeze through, it keeps you on your toes. If you're tired in the evening or make a mistake, it softens up automatically.
Stop mindless tab-switching. Now in your browser.
Tired of opening Twitter, Reddit, or YouTube Shorts on autopilot while working? Scroll Brake brings cognitive friction to desktop. Solve progressive mental math to unlock distracting sites, track true active time, and regain deep focus.
Math barrier before opening sites
Solve a quick mental math problem to earn access. Every repeat unlock gets slightly tougher, snapping you out of autopilot before mindless browsing begins.
True Active-Time Tracking
The timer only counts down when you actively move your mouse, type, or scroll. Leave the tab or minimize the browser, and the countdown pauses immediately.
Surgical URL & Shorts Blocking
Block entire domains or surgically target addictive feeds like youtube.com/shorts* while keeping documentation, tutorials, and work articles accessible.
No Account Required
No accounts, emails, or cloud sync. All rules and counters stay 100% locally in chrome.storage.
Zero Bloat
Pure vanilla JavaScript without heavy frameworks. Consumes near-zero CPU and memory.
Daily Solve Quotas
Set hard limits like maximum 5 unlocks per day. Once reached, access is locked until midnight.
Multi-Browser
Full support for Google Chrome, Brave, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Vivaldi.
Ready to take back control of your browser?
Install the official extension from the Chrome Web Store in one click. No registration, no ads, no subscriptions.
Proven to break the scrolling loop
"The only app that actually forced me to put my phone down and go to sleep instead of scrolling until 2 AM."
Alex
Verified App Store User"I used to switch to Twitter and Reddit tabs every 5 minutes while coding without even realizing it. The mental arithmetic completely snapped me out of autopilot."
Dmitry K.
Software Engineer"Default iOS limits are useless because you click Ignore in 0.5s. Scroll Brake gives that essential 10-second friction to ask myself: do I really want this?"
Sarah M.
Medical StudentFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Scroll Brake, cognitive friction, and privacy.
Stop losing over a month of your life every year to scrolling.
No registration required. Zero data collection. 100% private local storage.
Scroll Brake Privacy Policy
Learn how Scroll Brake handles your data and protects your privacy.