XP TRACKERApp Lock: the app blocker you unlock by doing your quests
Pick a number of quests. Until you finish that many today, the apps that eat your mornings stay locked. Do the work and they open again.
Earn your scroll time
Most app blockers work like a fence. You set a timer, you hit the wall, and the first time you feel bored you dig under it. XP Tracker turns the fence into a gate with a lock, and your quests are the key.
You set how many quests you need to finish today. Until you get there, the apps you picked stay locked. Make your bed, train, read your pages, and the lock opens. You haven't given anything up. You've changed the order: quests first, feed second.
It also shifts the question in your head. "Should I open Instagram?" turns into "Two more quests and I can." That second question has a clear answer, and you can act on it in ten minutes.
How App Lock works
App Lock lives in the app's settings under the line "Lock apps until quests are done".
- Switch App Lock on.The app asks for one permission. On Android that's Usage Access, so XP Tracker can see which app is open. On iPhone it's Apple's Screen Time permission.
- Choose what to lock.On Android you pick the apps: TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, X, Reddit, Facebook, Snapchat, Netflix, Discord, Twitch or anything else you have installed. On iPhone, App Lock locks every app except XP Tracker.
- Choose your number.Set how many quests you need to finish each day before the lock opens. On Android you can use one number for all apps or give each app its own.
- Play your day.Each quest you finish counts. That includes the core quests, your class quests and any quests you added yourself. Hit your number and your apps open for the rest of the day.
The difference between the two
Apple and Google give apps different tools, so App Lock behaves a little differently on each.
| Android | iPhone | |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | Usage Access | Screen Time (Family Controls) |
| What gets locked | The apps you pick | Every app except XP Tracker |
| Quests needed | One number for all apps, or one per app | One number for the day |
| System version | Recent Android | iOS 16 or newer |
| Your own quests count | Yes | Yes |
Pair it with the right quests
App Lock gets your quests done before the scroll starts. If you want to cut back on social media itself, add one of these from the optional quest library:
- No social media. A daily quest you confirm on the days you stayed off.
- Screen-time limit. Set a daily limit and keep under it.
- Gaming time limit. The same idea for games.
Start with one. A quest you keep for a month does more than three quests you drop on Thursday. If you want a full plan, read our guide on how to reduce screen time without relying on willpower.
What App Lock can and can't do
App Lock is a nudge you set for yourself. It puts a pause between you and the app at the moment the pull is strongest, and that pause is often all you need.
It isn't a parental control and it isn't a cage. You can change your number or switch App Lock off in settings, because you're an adult and it's your phone. If you find yourself switching it off every morning, lower the number. Two quests you finish beat eight quests you resent.
It also doesn't track what you do inside other apps. On Android, XP Tracker only checks which app is open so it knows when to lock it. On iPhone, Apple's Screen Time system handles the lock.
A good first setting: set the number to three quests. On Android, lock only the two apps you open without thinking. Clean Start, Plan Your Day and one class quest will get you there before breakfast.
Three quests to start with
Questions people ask
Which apps can App Lock block?
On Android you choose the apps from a list of what's installed, for example TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, X, Reddit, Facebook, Snapchat, Netflix, Discord or Twitch. On iPhone, App Lock locks every app except XP Tracker until you finish your quests for the day.
Does App Lock work on iPhone?
Yes, on iOS 16 or newer. It uses Apple's Screen Time permission. You give XP Tracker that permission once when you switch App Lock on.
How many quests do I need to finish to unlock my apps?
You choose. Set one number for everything. On Android you can also give each app its own number, so YouTube might need two quests and TikTok five.
Do the quests I add myself count?
Yes. Quests you add from the optional quest library count toward App Lock the same way as the core quests.
Can I turn App Lock off?
Yes. App Lock has an on and off switch in the app. It's a tool you choose to use, so you stay in charge of it.
Is App Lock a separate app or a paid add-on?
Neither. App Lock is a feature inside XP Tracker. You can start XP Tracker free.
Related pages
Start your journey
Pick a class, do the day's quests, and watch your hero level up with you.
Start free on iPhone and Android.
Scan to install Point your phone camera at the code. iPhone opens the App Store, Android opens Google Play.