Apps To Lock Phone While Studying: 7 Powerful Focus Tools Students Use To Actually Get Work Done

Stop Doom-Scrolling: The Best Apps To Lock Your Phone While Studying

So, you’re hunting for apps to lock phone while studying because your brain somehow opens TikTok before your notes. Totally get it. The best combo right now is using a focus/lock app plus a study app like Flashrecall) so your phone is only useful for learning, not scrolling. Lock apps block distractions, and Flashrecall turns your screen into a study machine with instant flashcards, spaced repetition, and reminders. Put those together and your phone stops being the enemy and actually helps you remember stuff faster.

Why Just “Locking” Your Phone Isn’t Enough

Here’s the thing:

If you only use apps to lock your phone while studying, you’re just blocking distractions… but not actually improving how you study.

You need two things:

1. Something to block distractions

2. Something to make studying efficient so you don’t waste the focus time you just created

That’s where Flashrecall comes in. Once your social apps are blocked, you can open Flashrecall) and:

• Turn your notes, PDFs, screenshots, or YouTube videos into flashcards instantly
• Use spaced repetition and active recall automatically
• Get study reminders so you don’t forget to review
• Study offline on iPhone or iPad

So yeah, lock apps help you stop touching your phone. Flashrecall makes it worth touching your phone only for studying.

1. Forest – Lock Your Phone With a Cute Guilt Trip

If you like visuals and a bit of guilt, Forest is perfect.

• You set a focus timer (say 25 or 50 minutes)
• A virtual tree starts growing
• If you leave the app to check socials… your tree dies
• Over time, you grow a whole forest of “focus trees”

• You’re motivated by streaks and visuals
• You like Pomodoro-style sessions (work + short break)
• You want a soft lock, not a hardcore “no access at all” system

Start a Forest session, then open Flashrecall) and run through your flashcards while the timer runs. One tree = one study block.

2. Flipd – Full Lock Mode For When You Don’t Trust Yourself

Flipd is for those “if I don’t lock this thing, I WILL end up on Instagram” days.

• Lets you fully or partially lock your phone for a set time
• You can’t easily exit once you start a full lock session
• Tracks how much time you’ve stayed focused
• Has study “rooms” where you can focus with others virtually

• It’s harder to cheat
• Great for exam prep or deep work sessions
• The stats can be motivating if you like numbers

• Use partial lock so only study apps work
• Whitelist Flashrecall)
• Then you’re basically forced to either:
• Study with flashcards
• Or stare at the wall

…and your brain will pick flashcards pretty fast.

3. Stay Focused / AppBlock – Custom Blocking For Specific Apps

If you don’t need your whole phone blocked, just the worst offenders (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc.), app blockers like Stay Focused or AppBlock are super useful.

• Block specific apps or websites for certain time periods
• Set daily limits (e.g., only 30 mins of TikTok)
• Create study schedules (e.g., no social apps 6–9 pm)

• You still keep access to “good” apps like Flashrecall, calculator, notes, etc.
• You can create different modes: “Study”, “Sleep”, “Exam Week”

• Block social + games during your usual study hours
• Keep Flashrecall) open for:
• Language vocab
• Med school facts
• Exam formulas
• Lecture summaries

Your phone becomes a kind of “study only” device during those times.

4. iPhone Screen Time / Focus Mode – Built-In And Surprisingly Good

If you’re on iPhone, you already have a decent “apps to lock phone while studying” option built in.

Use:

• Screen Time → App Limits + Downtime
• Focus Mode → “Study” profile

• Limit social apps to X minutes per day
• Block them completely during certain hours
• Allow only specific apps (like Flashrecall, Notes, Calculator) while in Study Focus

1. Go to Settings → Focus → Add “Study”

2. Allow only:

• Flashrecall)
• Notes / Books / browser (if you really need it)

3. Turn on Study Focus whenever you sit down to work

Then open Flashrecall and run through your flashcards while everything else is muted and blocked.

5. Lock Me Out (Android) – Brutal But Effective

If you’re on Android and you want zero temptation, Lock Me Out is pretty intense.

• Hard lock your phone for a set time
• Lock specific apps or the whole device
• Schedule automatic locks (e.g., every weekday 7–10 pm)
• Make it annoying to turn off (passwords, delays, etc.)

This is for “exam in 3 days and I’ve done nothing” mode.

• Use a laptop or tablet for notes
• Or whitelist your study apps so you can still use things like Flashrecall on your phone while everything else is blocked

6. Focus To-Do – Pomodoro + Task List + Gentle Locking

Focus To-Do is a nice combo of:

• Pomodoro timer
• Task manager
• Basic blocking

• You like checking things off a to-do list
• You want timers + structure
• You don’t need hardcore blocking, just a nudge

• Create tasks like:
• “Review biology flashcards – 3 Pomodoros”
• “Do 2 rounds of language vocab”
• During each Pomodoro, open Flashrecall) and:
• Drill your cards with active recall
• Let spaced repetition tell you what to review next

You’re not just “timing” your study — you’re actually using that time in a smart way.

7. Flashrecall – Turn Your Locked-Down Phone Into A Study Weapon

Now let’s talk about the part most people miss:

Once your apps to lock phone while studying are active… what are you actually doing with that time?

This is where Flashrecall makes a huge difference.

Flashrecall) is a fast, modern flashcard app for iPhone and iPad that’s honestly built for real students, not just “productivity nerds”.

What Flashrecall Does For You

• Instant flashcards from anything
• Photos of textbook pages or handwritten notes
• PDFs and documents
• YouTube links
• Typed text or prompts
• Even audio
• Active recall built in

You see the question, you try to remember, then flip the card — the most efficient way to actually learn.

• Spaced repetition with auto reminders

Flashrecall reminds you when to review, so you don’t have to track anything manually.

• Works offline

Train, library, bad Wi-Fi campus building — you’re still good.

• Chat with your flashcards

If you’re confused by a concept, you can literally chat and get it explained in more detail.

• Great for literally anything
• Languages (vocab, phrases)
• Medicine / nursing / pharmacy
• Law, business, engineering
• High school exams, uni courses
• Certifications, interviews, etc.

And it’s free to start, so you can test it without committing to anything.

How To Combine Lock Apps + Flashrecall For Maximum Focus

Here’s a simple system you can copy:

Step 1: Pick Your Lock Style

• Want soft blocking? → Forest, Focus To-Do, iPhone Focus Mode
• Want hardcore blocking? → Flipd, Lock Me Out, AppBlock/Stay Focused

Step 2: Whitelist Only “Good” Apps

Make sure your setup allows:

• Flashrecall)
• Notes / Docs / Books
• Calculator (if you need it)

Everything else? Blocked or limited.

Step 3: Turn Your Notes Into Flashcards

Inside Flashrecall:

• Snap a pic of your notes or textbook → auto flashcards
• Import PDF slides from your teacher → flashcards
• Paste a YouTube lecture link → flashcards from the content
• Or just type key concepts manually if you like control

Step 4: Study In Short, Focused Rounds

Use 25–50 minute blocks:

1. Start your lock/focus app

2. Open Flashrecall

3. Let the app show you which cards are due (spaced repetition)

4. Do 2–4 rounds depending on your energy

5. Take a short break, then repeat

Step 5: Let Reminders Keep You On Track

Flashrecall’s study reminders + spaced repetition mean:

• You don’t forget to review
• You don’t cram everything the night before
• You slowly build long-term memory with less stress

Why This Beats Just “Not Using Your Phone”

You could throw your phone across the room and study with paper.

But:

• Your brain is used to your phone
• You probably need it for at least some study stuff
• It can actually be a powerful study tool if you control it instead of it controlling you

Apps to lock phone while studying remove the temptation.

Flashrecall gives your phone a new job: helping you remember everything faster.

Try This Today (Takes 10 Minutes)

1. Install one lock/focus app

2. Download Flashrecall here:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

3. Create your first 20–30 flashcards from your next exam topic

4. Do one 25-minute locked focus session with just Flashrecall open

You’ll feel the difference immediately: fewer distractions, more actual learning, and way less guilt about “wasting time on your phone” — because now your phone is finally on your side.

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.

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• 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.