Focus Sessions on Opal usually use a Block List, asking you to select apps and websites you want to block for the duration of your Session. With our Allow List feature, you can flip this around, blocking all apps and websites on your phone except the ones you explicitly select. Allow List allows you to enable apps you really need for the moment in the real world. With Allow List, you can turn your iPhone into a brick phone (or dumb phone) temporarily at whatever times you choose. To set up an Allow List session, you'll need to take three separate steps.
Your iPhone Screen Time settings has an "Always Allowed" list of apps, which is generated automatically by Apple. Apps that are in the "Always Allowed" category will always be allowed, and supersede any restrictions Opal puts in place. To set up your Whitelist, you'll want to first make sure apps you want to block are not in the "Always Allowed" category of your iPhone's "Screen Time" settings. To check which apps are "Always Allowed", take these steps:
We recommend keeping apps you deem essential in the "Always Allowed" category. We'd suggest any medical apps, maps, camera, or anything else that you need unimpeded access to at all times. Once that's complete, you'll want to create an app group with a Whitelist.
To create an "Allow List", take these steps:
Once that's complete, this Allow List will be selected for your Session and available for selection for future Sessions.
Please note: when using an Allow List, all Private Browsing and Adult Content will be blocked automatically, even if your specified browser is not blocked.
