How to Use ScrollCheckpoint

Follow this quick setup guide to configure your mindful scroll alarms, customize checkpoints, and start building healthier digital habits today.

Step 01

Choose Where You Lose Time

Start by configuring your alarm parameters. Tap Start Scroll Alarm and select the apps that keep you scrolling. You can select single apps or configure multiple targets:

  • Target App Lists: Choose from popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, Reddit, or the browser.
  • Custom Configuration: Set limits on custom apps of your choice.
Choose where you lose time screen mockup
Step 02

Scroll on Your Terms

Configure your session duration to allocate mindful browsing segments (e.g. 10 minutes) before the alarm sounds:

  • Time Tracking: Watch your time remaining inside the app or trust the background monitor.
  • Flexibility: Pause your active session or trigger the checkpoint immediately if you need an early break.
Scroll on your terms timer screen mockup
Step 03

Break the Endless Scroll

When your set time runs out, ScrollCheckpoint securely interrupts your social media feed with a full-screen alarm ringing overlay:

  • Intelligent Interruption: Native Apple Screen Time permissions trigger a temporary block, keeping you from sliding back into scrolling.
  • Unified Escape: Tap Complete Checkpoint to launch the mindfulness task.
Break the endless scroll alarm ringing screen mockup
Step 04

Challenge Your Mind While You Pause

Dismiss the alarm by interacting with one of our focus challenges. Under the Learning category, test your knowledge to engage your analytical brain:

  • General Knowledge Quizzes: Answer quick multiple-choice questions (e.g., trivia, history, geography) to shift your cognitive attention.
  • Mindful Reset: Engaging with a challenge helps reset your focus before deciding to resume scrolling.
Challenge your mind trivia screen mockup
Step 05

See the Time You Took Back

Track your stats, active alarms, and progress in real-time on your dashboard:

  • Controlled Minutes: See the exact hours and minutes of screen time you successfully saved.
  • Daily Streaks: Stay motivated by maintaining a daily streak of mindful checkpoints.
See the time you took back dashboard screen mockup

Explore Checkpoint Types

Choose the checkpoint that fits your mood and focus goals.

Slate Journaling

Pause, Think, and Write it Down

Use the built-in Slate Journal to jot down thoughts, intentions, or daily goals. Writing your thoughts down translates browsing impulses into active self-reflection:

  • Private Logging: All journal entries are kept fully secure, private, and encrypted locally on your iPhone.
  • Prompts & Creativity: Write a single sentence or a longer log to document your digital usage habits.
Scroll journal entry screen mockup

Box Breathing

Follow a relaxing visual guide for a 4-second box-breathing cycle (inhale, hold, exhale, hold) to bring your awareness back to the physical room.

Thought Prompts

Read and reflect on gentle, intention-setting questions such as: "What was I hoping to find when I opened this app?" or "Is this scroll helping me relax?"

Educational Bites

Learn interesting facts and quick takeaways about dopamine loops, app design tricks, and the science behind cognitive attention and habits.

Slate Journaling

Briefly type down your emotional state, feelings, or thoughts to build mindfulness and stop automatic impulses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about setting up permissions and features.

Why does ScrollCheckpoint require Screen Time permissions?
Apple's native Screen Time API is the only secure, privacy-preserving way to limit or block access to other apps on iOS. Granting this permission is necessary for the scroll alarm to show the full-screen checkpoint overlay and temporarily disable target social apps.
Is my personal or app browsing history uploaded?
Absolutely not. Apple's Screen Time framework runs in a secure sandbox. ScrollCheckpoint has no access to the websites you visit, the photos you view, your private messages, or the specific text content inside other apps. Your privacy is 100% protected.
What should I do if the scroll alarm overlay doesn't appear?
Ensure that:
1. You have granted Screen Time permissions during the onboarding or Profile setup.
2. ScrollCheckpoint is running in the background.
3. You have active limits configured for the specific app category you are using.
How do I edit my profile or delete my account?
Go to the Profile tab in the bottom bar, tap the gear icon in the top right to open settings, and select Edit Profile. To permanently clear all data and delete your account, click the red Delete Account button under Danger Zone.

Ready to break the doomscroll cycle?

Download ScrollCheckpoint today and reclaim your time, attention, and wellness.