Mirror: screen time control for iPhone

A pause before the apps you waste time on, rules a friend can hold, and screen time data that stays on your phone.

Download on the App Store

For iPhone. iOS 17.4 or later.

7-day trial on yearly. See pricing.
Illustration of Mirror’s pause screen, with Close as the main action and Continue beneath it.
Pause screen illustration. Alex is a sample name.

A rule needs to hold when you want to loosen it.

It’s easy to set a limit when you feel ready to stop. The harder moment comes when you want another few minutes.

Mirror adds a pause before an app opens and lets you put deliberate steps between a rule and changing it.

A pause before the scroll.

Open a chosen app and Mirror gives you a moment to decide. Close is the main action. Continue lets you in for the number of minutes you chose.

Premium adds a daily allowance for continues and a firmer pause.

Close the app.

Or continue for the time you chose.

A limit for each app.

Give an app a daily allowance, or block it outright. Mirror gives you a heads-up halfway through a timed limit.

You can also block chosen websites and turn on the adult-content filter.

Mirror’s Limits screen with schedule and rule controls.
Limits, before apps are added.

Leave space for sleep and work.

Set bedtime, work hours, or your own schedules on the days you choose. Add Strict mode when you want a schedule to hold until it ends.

Mirror can also hold chosen apps while an Apple Focus is on.

Work Hours schedule editor with start and end times, day selection, and the Strict option.
Schedule editor with Strict. Example setup.

A goal for your whole day.

Choose a daily screen time goal. Mirror checks in at 25, 50, and 75%, then holds your chosen apps once you reach it.

Put your apps away for a while.

Quick Block holds chosen apps for 15 minutes to 12 hours. A countdown on the Lock Screen shows how long is left.

Quick Block setup sheet with duration choices, before apps have been selected.
Quick Block setup, before choosing apps.

Make the decision before the weak moment.

A friend holds the key.

Someone you trust types a code on your phone. Loosening a rule needs their key; tightening it never does. If you cannot reach them, there’s a 24-hour wait to remove the key.

No Take-Backs.

Keep an app blocked until its block ends.

Lock In.

Commit to your rules for 3, 7, or 14 days. Choose the commitment while you’re deciding what you want your week to look like.

Friend’s Key setup explaining which rule changes need a friend and which remain available.
Friend’s Key setup.

See where your time goes.

See today’s screen time, pickups, busiest hour, and longest session. Compare today with a usual day, hour by hour, or look across the week.

History brings together streaks, pickups, time of day, four-week trends, and each app’s history. The Sunday recap looks back over your week.

Today by Hour chart comparing sample app use with a usual day, with pickups and app breakdowns.
Today by Hour. Sample data.

Start with the week you actually had.

Onboarding reads your last seven days of screen time and names your pattern. Your sleep and work hours help shape a plan you can review.

Adjust the suggested rules before you commit to them.

Mirror’s onboarding plan with pause, bedtime, work hours, and daily goal controls.
A sample plan for Alex.

A reminder where you’ll see it.

Home and Lock Screen widgets keep Mirror close. Break and streak reminders help you check in during the day.

Your screen time stays yours.

Mirror uses Apple’s Screen Time frameworks. You use the app without an account. It stores screen time on your phone and runs without servers or analytics.

Its App Store privacy label is “Data Not Collected”.

Choose how you pay.

US prices are shown below. The App Store shows the price in your region.

Monthly

$9.99a month

$9.99 a month. Renews monthly.

Lifetime

$99.99once

One payment for lifetime access.

Download on the App Store

Cancel a subscription in Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions. After a subscription ends, open Mirror to switch off its rules. Strict holds, Lock In, and No Take-Backs finish first. You never pay to have an app unblocked.

Made by Ian.

Mirror is an independent iPhone app by Ian Kiprotich.

A photo and a note from Ian are coming soon.

Questions about Mirror

Does Mirror work with Apple’s Screen Time?

Mirror uses Apple’s Screen Time frameworks to read activity and hold the apps and websites you choose. You grant Screen Time access during setup.

Can I turn it off at midnight?

That depends on the rules you set. Strict schedules, No Take-Backs, Lock In, and a friend’s key add different limits on loosening rules. Mirror is designed to add friction, rather than promise that every restriction is impossible to bypass.

What if I lose my friend’s code?

If you cannot reach your friend, you can start a 24-hour wait to remove their key. Tightening a rule does not need the code.

Is there an iPad or Mac version?

Mirror is designed for iPhone. A dedicated iPad or Mac version is not part of this release.

Does my screen time data leave my phone?

Mirror keeps your screen time data on your iPhone. You use the app without an account. It runs without servers or analytics. Its App Store privacy label is “Data Not Collected”.

How do I cancel a subscription?

On your iPhone, open Settings, tap your Apple Account, then Subscriptions and choose Mirror. You can cancel there. After a subscription ends, open Mirror to switch off its rules. Strict holds, Lock In, and No Take-Backs finish first.

Which version of iOS do I need?

Mirror requires iOS 17.4 or later.

Why does Mirror need Screen Time access?

Apple requires this permission so Mirror can show your activity and manage the apps and websites you select. Mirror uses Apple’s Screen Time frameworks for these controls.

What happens if I delete Mirror during a block?

End active blocks before deleting Mirror. iOS can retain a block after an app is deleted, so uninstalling is not a reliable way to clear it. Strict holds can also prevent app deletion while they run. Contact support if an app stays blocked.

Is there a free version?

Mirror offers a 7-day free trial on the yearly subscription. After the trial, the yearly plan is $29.99 in the US. Monthly and lifetime options are also available; the App Store shows your local price.

Need a hand? Find the feedback email.