Troubleshooting & FAQ

Blocking

Website blocking doesn't work in my browser

Website blocking needs the macOS Automation permission for each browser separately. Check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation → Focusmo and enable the toggle for every browser you use. Then make sure a session is actually running — blocking is only active while the timer is in a working state, never while paused or on a break.

Apps aren't being blocked

Blocking rules live on a Project — the running task must have a Project assigned (or your default Project must have rules). A task with no Project runs with no blocking.
Blocking is active only during a running session (including overtime) — not while paused, idle, or on a break.
Check the Project's mode: on a whitelist, everything not listed is blocked; on a blocklist, only listed apps are.

Windows aren't arranged when my Project launches apps

Window positioning requires the Accessibility permission (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → Focusmo). Apps will still launch without it, but their windows stay where they were.

Activity tracking

The activity timeline is empty

Activity tracking needs the Accessibility permission.
If "Track activity only during focus sessions" is on (Settings → General), nothing is recorded outside sessions.
Free accounts see today only; older days require Pro.

Time I spent away from the Mac was counted as focus

Turn on idle detection — FocusMo will record locked-screen, sleep, and idle stretches separately instead of counting them as activity. The default threshold is 5 minutes.

Sessions & timers

The breathing intro doesn't appear

It only plays when the session is at least the Minimum Session Length set in Settings → Breathing (default 10 minutes) — shorter sessions skip straight to the timer.

The floating timer disappeared

It may have been moved off-screen (for example after unplugging an external display). Use Settings → Appearance → Reset Minimal Timer Position, or toggle the timer off and on.

Do Not Disturb doesn't turn on with my sessions

The DND integration requires two macOS Shortcuts named exactly Enable DND and Disable DND — see the setup guide. The status indicator in Settings → Focus Mode turns green when both are detected. Note this is a Pro feature.

Integrations

My Things 3 / Reminders tasks don't show up

Task sources are a Pro feature — check your plan in Settings → License.
Things 3 must be installed and running, and FocusMo needs the Automation permission for it.
Apple Reminders needs the Reminders permission and a selected list.
Check your Pull Behavior — on Manual, tasks only sync when you press the sync button.

I can't edit a synced task's title

That's by design: titles of external tasks are read-only so the next sync doesn't overwrite your edit. Change the title in the source app — it updates in FocusMo on the next sync. Duration and timer mode are editable in FocusMo.

I completed a task offline and it didn't sync

It will — failed completions are queued and retried automatically with backoff, and the queue survives restarts.

Updates & licensing

How do I update FocusMo?

You don't have to — updates download silently and install on the next quit or relaunch. The menu bar icon shows an orange dot while downloading and a green dot when ready. To force it: right-click the menu bar icon → Install & Relaunch (disabled during an active session on purpose).