A focus session begins and ends the same way: by scanning a tag. FocusFlow supports two scanning methods so it works on any device.

NFC tag

Tap the focus button, then hold your phone near the tag.

QR code

Long‑press the focus button to open the camera and scan the code.

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Scan an NFC tag

1

Tap the focus button

On the main screen, tap the large icon. The app arms the NFC reader.
2

Hold the phone to the tag

Bring the top of your phone close to the FocusFlow tag.
  • iPhone: hold the top edge near the tag.
  • Android: hold the centre/back of the phone near the tag.
3

Done

The session starts (or ends). The screen colour and status text update to confirm.
No NFC? Some phones don’t have NFC hardware. That’s fine — use QR codes instead; they do exactly the same thing.

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Scan a QR code

1

Long‑press the focus button

Press and hold the large icon for about half a second. The camera scanner opens.
2

Point at the QR code

Frame the FocusFlow QR code in the camera. It scans automatically — no button to press.
3

Done

The session starts (or ends), just like an NFC tap.
A FocusFlow QR code carries the same identifier as an NFC tag, so scanning either one has the same effect. Your admin can print QR codes for places where NFC tags aren’t practical.

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Locking and unlocking

  • First scan → starts a focus session and applies the right profile.
  • Second scan → ends the session and unblocks your apps.

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Unlocking with a different tag

You can end a session by scanning any valid tag — handy if you’ve moved away from the original one. When you do, FocusFlow records it as a “cleared” scan (rather than a normal unlock) so your organisation can see how often people don’t return to the original tag.

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Troubleshooting

Make sure NFC is turned on in your phone’s settings, and that you’re holding the correct part of the phone near the tag. Try again slowly. If your phone has no NFC, use the QR option (long‑press).
The tag isn’t registered to your organisation yet. Ask an admin to add the tag with the correct Tag UID.
The Accessibility service must be enabled. Open the app, tap Enable app blocking, and turn FocusFlow on under Settings → Accessibility.
Make sure you granted Screen Time / Family Controls permission. You can check under Settings → Screen Time.
Open Authorised Scope (shield icon) and make sure you’ve added apps to that category on your device.