Questions, answered.
Everything we get asked most often, grouped by topic. If yours isn't here, email us and we'll answer directly.
Setup
What do I need to get started?
An iPhone running a recent iOS version and a couple of minutes. Screeny walks you through picking apps and choosing a key the first time you open it. You don't need an NFC tag or QR code ready on day one, a schedule or on-screen QR code works fine to start.
Do I need an Apple Watch or any other hardware?
No. Screeny runs entirely on your iPhone. NFC tags and printed QR codes are optional extras, not requirements.
Can I use Screeny on my iPad too?
Screeny is built for iPhone first. iPad support depends on Apple's Screen Time APIs being available there in the same way, check the App Store listing for current device support.
Will Screeny warn me before something locks?
Yes. You get a notification when you reach 80 percent of a daily limit and shortly before a timed unlock ends. You can also turn on a daily tally and a weekly report every Sunday. All of them can be turned off in Settings.
What are personalized breaks?
If an app still pulls you in for too long, Screeny can close it for a short 2-minute break after a while of use, then hand it straight back. You pick how strict it is. A break cannot be skipped.
Where can I suggest a feature?
On the public feature and bug board at screeny.userjot.com, or by email. Bug reports are welcome there too.
NFC and QR keys
What can I use as a physical key?
Any NFC tag (stickers cost very little and are reusable), any QR code you generate and print, or any barcode already on an object you own, a book, a kettle, whatever is inconveniently far from your couch.
What happens if I lose my key?
Pair a new key from inside Screeny at any time. Without a key, you can still break the seal by pressing and holding while a short countdown runs. The pause is the point. For real emergencies, a full-unlock pass once a week lifts every lock at once (in Settings, under Escape hatch). In Hardcore mode, deleting the app does not lift a lock.
Can I have more than one key?
Yes. Pair as many as you want and assign different keys to different apps or folders.
Does NFC work on every iPhone?
Background NFC tag reading requires an iPhone 7 or later. If your device does not support it, QR and barcode keys work the same way through the camera.
Screen Time permissions
Why does Screeny need Screen Time access?
Apple only allows apps to be blocked through the Screen Time framework (Family Controls). Screeny asks for this permission once during setup, it is what makes the lock actually enforceable at the system level instead of just a reminder.
Can Screeny see which apps I use or how much time I spend?
No. Apple's framework is designed so the app selection you make is handed to Screeny as an opaque token. Screeny can apply a lock to it, but never learns which apps are inside it. Usage numbers you see on your device are drawn by an Apple-controlled extension, not by Screeny's own code.
What if I already use Screen Time restrictions from Apple directly?
Screeny and Apple's own Screen Time restrictions can coexist, but for the clearest experience we recommend picking one system as your primary lock to avoid confusing overlaps.
Privacy
Does Screeny collect any data?
The app has no accounts and no ads. Your rules, your apps and your screen time stay on your device. Screeny asks once whether it may send usage statistics under a random ID and sends nothing unless you say yes; you can change your answer in Settings at any time. It never sends your name, which apps you block or how long you use them. The website stores an email address only if you join the waitlist. The privacy policy has the full details.
Is my camera or NFC data stored anywhere?
Camera frames used to scan a QR code or barcode are processed on-device and never saved. NFC tag identifiers are stored locally on your phone only, so Screeny can recognize the same key again.
Billing
How much does Screeny cost?
Nothing, if you are early. Everyone who downloads Screeny by 30 November 2026 gets every feature free, for life, with no subscription and no card. It follows your Apple ID, so it carries over to reinstalls and new phones. After that, there is a free plan for one folder of up to 3 apps, or up to 2 single apps.
Will there be a subscription?
Not for early supporters. Later downloads start on the free plan, and Screeny Pro unlocks more apps, Only allow and the strictest break mode; its price, and for a subscription its length, is shown in the app before you confirm. Nothing will ever stand between you and unlocking your own apps.
How do I restore, cancel or get a refund?
On a new phone, open Settings in Screeny and tap Restore purchases with the same Apple ID. A subscription is cancelled in your iPhone's Settings under your Apple ID, Subscriptions, at least 24 hours before it renews. Purchases go through Apple, so refunds are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Still stuck?
Email us and a real person (Aditya, the person building Screeny) will get back to you.