Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Pop!_OS
The website and app blocker for Linux
Block distracting websites, apps and games on your Linux desktop, on a schedule you set, with protection that holds when willpower does not. Every browser, every app, X11 and Wayland.
Free 14-day trial. No credit card. Debian-based distributions, Ubuntu 20.04 or later. Version 8.1.1.7.
What to block
Websites, in every browser
Type a site, pick a ready-made list (Social Media, News, Video Streaming, Messaging, Gaming), or block the whole internet except the sites you allow. The installer connects the free FocusMe extension to Chrome, Chromium, Brave and Firefox, Snap builds included, so one list holds in all of them. Flatpak builds of Firefox, Zen and LibreWolf work too; for Chrome, Chromium and Brave use your distribution’s .deb package rather than the Flatpak.
Linux apps and games
Type a process name or pick a window title, with the Helper window showing you what FocusMe can see. Steam, Lutris, Discord, Minecraft, Flatpak apps: if it runs on your desktop, FocusMe can block it or limit it. A blocked app is closed the moment it opens, with a message that says which plan did it.
When it runs
Schedules and time limits that run themselves
A Quick Timer for the next hour. A weekly schedule that blocks social media from 9 to 5 on weekdays and leaves the evening alone. A Pomodoro cycle for a writing session. A multi-day plan for exam week.
Or give yourself a budget instead of a ban: 10 minutes of Reddit a day, three YouTube sessions of 10 minutes, and when it is spent the site is blocked until tomorrow. Screen breaks lock the screen at intervals you choose, with a countdown, so the break happens.
How strict
From a nudge to Enforced Mode
Four levels. Unlocked blocks just the same, but stopping is one click. Gentle Guidance asks you to type five random characters before a plan stops: a decision, not a reflex. Firm but Flexible adds a wait and a daily pause allowance. Lock it Down means 25 characters typed perfectly, then a wait, and no pauses.
Enforced Mode goes further: while a plan runs it cannot be stopped or weakened, FocusMe cannot be quit from the tray, and the plan can only ever be made stricter. On Linux, a background service keeps FocusMe running while a plan is on, and Protect Uninstall keeps the installer’s uninstall option locked. If you want a human in the loop, an accountability partner can approve a stop instead of a typing challenge.
Built for Linux
The Debian family
Ubuntu 20.04 and later, Linux Mint, Debian 11 and later, Pop!_OS and similar. The Qt libraries are bundled; no extra packages.
X11 and Wayland
Full window detection on X11. On Wayland FocusMe uses the desktop accessibility interface, so detection depends on your compositor.
Snap and Flatpak
Snap Firefox and Chromium supported; Flatpak Firefox, Zen and LibreWolf supported; Flatpak apps detected for app blocking.
Works offline
Blocking does not need an internet connection.
Tray and autostart
Close the window; FocusMe keeps working from the tray and starts when you log in.
Command line
Start, stop and list plans from a shell script or cron.
See where the hours went
The Activity tab shows active time per app and site, the distractions blocked and the time reclaimed, for today or the last seven days. Tasks keeps a to-do list beside your plans. The AI Coach reads your week and suggests concrete changes to your plans, applied in one click.
One account, your desktop and your phone
Sign in on Linux and on Android or iPhone and your plans sync. Every licence covers 5 computers and 2 mobile devices, with Premium on mobile included. Also available for Windows and Mac.
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
Requirements and download
- Distributions
- Debian-based: Ubuntu 20.04 or later, Linux Mint, Debian 11 or later, Pop!_OS.
- Version
- 8.1.1.7
- Installer
- FocusMe.bin. Make it executable and run it; it asks for your password once, for the background service, and installs to /opt/FocusMe with an application-menu entry.
- Display server
- X11 full support; Wayland supported.
- Browsers
- Chrome, Chromium, Brave, Firefox and their Snap builds; Flatpak Firefox, Zen and LibreWolf.
- Price
- 14-day free trial, then monthly, yearly or lifetime. 60-day money-back guarantee.
The download starts on the next page, which also shows the install steps.
Frequently asked questions
Which Linux distributions does FocusMe support?
Debian-based distributions: Ubuntu 20.04 and later, Linux Mint, Debian 11 and later, Pop!_OS and similar. The installer bundles the libraries it needs.
Does it work on Wayland?
Yes. FocusMe identifies the active window through the desktop accessibility interface, so detection depends on your compositor and apps. If an app is missed, an X11 session gives full detection.
Does it work with Snap or Flatpak browsers?
Snap Firefox and Chromium: yes. Flatpak Firefox, Zen and LibreWolf: yes. Flatpak Chrome, Chromium and Brave cannot run the extension; use the .deb package of the browser instead.
Can I limit time instead of blocking?
Yes. Set a daily or weekly allowance for a site or app, a number of sessions, or a launch limit. When it is spent, the site or app is blocked until the next period.
What happens if I try to stop a plan early?
It depends on the strictness you chose. Unlocked stops in one click. The stricter levels ask for a typing challenge and a wait, and Lock it Down allows no pauses. An Enforced Mode plan runs to its end.
Is FocusMe free on Linux?
There is a 14-day free trial of everything, with no credit card. After that, monthly, yearly or lifetime plans; one licence covers 5 computers and 2 mobile devices.
Ready to take back your Linux desktop?
Try FocusMe free- 14-day free trial
- No credit card
- 60-day money-back guarantee