An App That Locks Your Apps While Studying: 7 Powerful Ways To Stay Focused And Actually Remember What You Learn – Stop doomscrolling and turn your phone into a study weapon instead of a distraction.
an app that locks your apps while studying is only half the fix. Pair a focus lock with Flashrecall’s AI flashcards, spaced repetition and smart reminders.
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So, You Want An App That Locks Your Apps While Studying?
So, you’re looking for an app that locks your apps while studying because your phone keeps destroying your focus? Honestly, the best combo isn’t just blocking apps – it’s blocking distractions and turning your phone into a smart study tool. That’s where using a focus/lock app together with a learning app like Flashrecall is insanely effective. Flashrecall (iPhone/iPad: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085) turns your screen time into actual learning with AI-made flashcards, spaced repetition, and study reminders, so every minute you’re “locked in” actually counts. If you’re going to block TikTok, you might as well replace it with something that helps you crush exams and remember stuff long-term.
Why Just Locking Your Apps Isn’t Enough
Alright, let’s be real for a second.
Yes, you can download an app that locks your apps while studying and force yourself off Instagram or YouTube. That’s great for focus, but there’s a catch:
- You block distractions…
- …and then just stare at your notes, reread the same page 10 times, and remember nothing.
The real win is:
That’s where Flashrecall comes in. While a focus app keeps you from wandering, Flashrecall makes sure the time you do spend is actually productive and efficient.
Step 1: Lock Your Distractions, But Keep Your Study Apps
Most “app locker” or “focus mode” tools let you:
- Block social media (TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, etc.)
- Block games
- Limit notifications
- Allow only specific apps (like notes, PDF readers, or flashcard apps)
What you want is a setup like this:
- Blocked: social, games, random browsing
- Allowed: Flashrecall, notes, textbook PDFs, maybe a dictionary / translation app
So when the urge to scroll hits, you literally can’t – and your brain naturally drifts back to the apps that are still open… which should be your study tools.
Step 2: Turn Your Phone Into A Study Machine With Flashrecall
Here’s where things get fun.
If you’re going to lock distractions, you need an app that makes studying so quick and painless that you actually use it. That’s what Flashrecall does.
- Take a photo of your notes or textbook, and it turns the important bits into flashcards
- Import PDFs and it pulls out key concepts
- Paste YouTube links, text, or even audio, and it builds cards for you
- Or just type manually if you’re old-school
So instead of wasting your “locked” time rereading, you’re actively quizzing yourself with flashcards – which is way better for memory.
Why Flashrecall Is Perfect With An App Locker
Here’s the thing: most people install an app that locks your apps while studying, feel motivated for two days, then stop using it because studying still feels boring or chaotic.
Flashrecall fixes that by making the actual studying part smoother:
- Built-in active recall – You’re not just reading; you’re forced to answer questions and think
- Spaced repetition with auto reminders – It tells you when to review, so you don’t cram and forget
- Study reminders – You get a nudge to review at the right time instead of relying on willpower
- Works offline – Perfect if your focus app also blocks Wi‑Fi or you go into airplane mode
- Chat with your flashcards – Stuck on a concept? You can literally chat with the content to go deeper
- Fast, modern, easy to use – No clunky UI, no endless setup, just make cards and study
- Free to start – So you can test it without committing to anything
Put simply:
Your focus app keeps you off junk apps.
Flashrecall makes the “allowed” time actually worth it.
How To Set Up A “No-Distraction Study Mode” With Flashrecall
Here’s a simple setup you can use today:
1. Decide Your Study Block
Pick something realistic:
- 25 minutes (Pomodoro style)
- 45 minutes (deeper focus)
- 60–90 minutes (for big sessions)
2. Turn On Your App Blocker / Focus Mode
- Block: social media, games, browsers (unless you really need it)
- Allow: Flashrecall, notes, PDF reader, maybe a calculator
If your phone has built-in Focus / Screen Time controls, you can use those too.
3. Open Flashrecall And Load Your Material
In Flashrecall, you can:
- Snap a photo of your textbook or handwritten notes → instant flashcards
- Import a PDF from school or uni → generate cards from the important sections
- Paste text from a website or slides → turn it into Q&A style cards
- Add cards manually if you like building your own
4. Study Using Active Recall, Not Just Reading
During your locked session:
- Go through your Flashrecall decks
- Try to answer before you flip the card
- Mark whether you knew it or not – Flashrecall tracks this and optimizes what you see next
5. Let Spaced Repetition Take Over
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
You don’t have to remember when to review stuff. Flashrecall:
- Schedules reviews automatically using spaced repetition
- Sends study reminders when it’s time
- Shows you the right cards at the right time so you don’t waste energy on things you already know well
Example: Using An App That Locks Your Apps While Studying For Exams
Let’s say you’ve got a big exam coming up in 2 weeks.
Here’s how you could use a lock app + Flashrecall together:
1. Day 1–3: Build Your Decks
- Take photos of your class notes and textbook pages
- Import your teacher’s PDF slides into Flashrecall
- Let Flashrecall auto-generate cards, then tweak any that need fixing
2. Every Day: 2–3 Focus Sessions
- Turn on your app locker for 30–45 minutes
- Open Flashrecall and do a review session
- Add any new tricky concepts you learned that day
3. Let The System Work
- Flashrecall reminds you when it’s time to review
- Your focus/app lock setup keeps you from “just checking” social media
- You roll into the exam having seen the key info multiple times, right when your brain needed it
Result: way less cramming, way more remembering.
Why This Beats Just Using A Blocker App Alone
If you only use an app that locks your apps while studying, you get:
- Less distraction (good)
- But no guarantee that your study method actually works (meh)
If you pair it with Flashrecall, you get:
- Less distraction
- Plus:
- Active recall baked into every session
- Spaced repetition so things actually stick
- Study reminders so you stay consistent
- AI that builds flashcards for you so you don’t waste time formatting
You’re not just “not on TikTok” – you’re actively feeding your brain what it needs to remember.
Great For Any Kind Of Study
This setup isn’t just for school exams. Flashrecall works really well for:
- Languages – vocab, phrases, grammar patterns
- Medicine / nursing – drugs, diseases, anatomy, protocols
- Law – cases, definitions, principles
- Business / finance – formulas, concepts, frameworks
- Uni courses – lectures, slides, readings
- Certifications – IT, project management, anything with a big syllabus
If it has concepts, facts, or explanations, you can turn it into flashcards and drill it with spaced repetition.
How Flashrecall Compares To Other Study Apps
You might be thinking, “Why not just use any flashcard app?”
Here’s what makes Flashrecall stand out:
- Ridiculously fast card creation
- A lot of apps make you do all the typing
- Flashrecall can pull cards from images, PDFs, YouTube links, audio, and text almost instantly
- Built-in spaced repetition that just works
- You don’t have to tweak confusing settings
- It automatically surfaces cards right before you’re about to forget them
- Chat with your flashcards
- Unsure about a topic? You can ask questions and explore it deeper right inside the app
- Modern, clean UI
- No clunky menus or 2005-style design
- Easy to use on both iPhone and iPad
- Free to start
- You can test it, see if it fits your style, and then decide how deep you want to go
Pair that with an app blocker, and you’ve basically turned your phone from your worst enemy into your best study buddy.
Simple Routine You Can Start Today
Here’s a super basic routine you can try tonight:
1. Download Flashrecall
→ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Set Up A Focus / App Lock Mode
- Block social and games for 30–45 minutes
- Leave Flashrecall + notes apps allowed
3. Create One Deck
- Take photos of today’s notes or import a short PDF
- Let Flashrecall auto-generate your first set of cards
4. Do One Study Session
- Go through your new deck using active recall
- Let the app schedule your next review
5. Repeat Tomorrow
- Add new material
- Do your scheduled reviews
That’s it. No crazy system, no overcomplicated setup. Just:
> Lock distractions → Open Flashrecall → Study → Let spaced repetition handle the rest.
Final Thoughts
If you’re searching for an app that locks your apps while studying, you’re already halfway there – you know your phone is the problem. The next step is making sure that when your apps are locked, the time you free up actually goes into learning.
Use a focus/app locker to block the noise.
Use Flashrecall to turn that quiet time into real progress.
You can grab Flashrecall here:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Set up your first focus session, and turn your phone into something that finally helps you study instead of sabotaging you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fastest way to create flashcards?
Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.
Is there a free flashcard app?
Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.
How do I start spaced repetition?
You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.
How can I study more effectively for this test?
Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.
Related Articles
- App That Locks Your Phone While Studying: The Best Way To Stay Focused And Actually Remember Stuff – Stop doomscrolling, lock distractions, and turn your phone into a study weapon instead of a time sink.
- Apps To Help Improve Memory: 7 Powerful Tools To Remember More And Learn Faster – Stop Forgetting Everything And Turn Your Phone Into A Memory Upgrade
- Best Apps For Focusing On Studying: 9 Powerful Tools To Stay Locked In And Learn Faster – Skip the endless scrolling and grab the apps that actually help you focus and remember what you study.
Practice This With Free Flashcards
Try our web flashcards right now to test yourself on what you just read. You can click to flip cards, move between questions, and see how much you really remember.
Try Flashcards in Your BrowserInside the FlashRecall app you can also create your own decks from images, PDFs, YouTube, audio, and text, then use spaced repetition to save your progress and study like top students.
Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

FlashRecall Team
FlashRecall Development Team
The FlashRecall Team is a group of working professionals and developers who are passionate about making effective study methods more accessible to students. We believe that evidence-based learning tec...
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