Frequently Asked Questions for Newcomers

Not at all.

DigitalZen is built to be super simple to install and use – we even tested it on our parents and only launched it when they could do it without help.

In the rare cases when you run into trouble, we’re always here to help you out quickly and kindly.

DigitalZen is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux to help you stay focused across all your devices:

Windows:

• Officially supports: Windows 10 and 11 (with plans to support Windows 12 after release)
• Also works on: Windows 7 and 8 

Mac:

• Officially supports: macOS Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia
• Also works on: macOS El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur (unofficial support)

Linux:

• Debian-based: Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, Zorin OS, Kali Linux, and more
• Red Hat-based: Fedora, CentOS Stream, RHEL, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, and more
• Arch-based: Arch Linux, Manjaro, and more

At DigitalZen, we believe productivity has two layers:

1. Blocking distractions
2. Laser-sharp focus

That’s why we offer two powerful tools:
1. Block Distractions

Schedule blocking for apps or websites during specific times and days (or altogether). It’s perfect for creating structure and reducing daily interruptions.
You can also set a whitelist of allowed websites/apps — effectively creating a scheduled focus session.

2. Focus Session

Start a deep focus mode where everything is blocked, except for the apps and websites you specifically allow. It’s your digital do-not-disturb zone.

Use “Block” for routine control, and “Focus” when you want full concentration, on demand.

Short answer: No.
Long answer: We ask you to install the extension because browsers act like black boxes – we can’t see what site you’re on or display a blocking page. Only after installing the extension does the browser allow us to interact with it.

Yes, it is! And we’re the only commercial app blocker that supports Linux!

We love Linux, and several of our developers use it daily, so they made sure we added support.

Currently, we support any desktop distro using X11 or GNOME on Wayland.

We’re keeping an eye on KDE Wayland and plan to support it once it’s stable enough.

DigitalZen has been tested and works on:

• Ubuntu
• Debian
• Fedora
• Red Hat
• Arch
• Mint
• Zorin O
• Pop!_OS

…and more!

If you don’t see your distro listed, let us know, we’re committed to supporting as many as possible.

We currently support any Debian-based, Red Hat-based, or Arch-based distribution.

DigitalZen is a fresh product – we completed our Beta in early February 2025. 

As we continue growing and reaching more users, reviews and feedback will follow naturally.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or run into issues, we’re here to help.
If you enjoy the app, we would truly appreciate it if you share your experience online.

DigitalZen offers adaptive lock options to prevent you from stopping a block or changing settings too easily. You can enable locks for sessions or the entire system, and choose different lock types based on how much friction you need to stay disciplined.

Whether you need a gentle nudge or serious accountability, there’s a lock type that fits your focus style.

Yes! When creating a scheduled block, you can add blocking reminders. 

These will appear as a checklist on the blocking screen, helping you stay mindful and focused during your session.

Yes! DigitalZen lets you block websites using wildcards. 

For example:

*.facebook.com – blocks all of Facebook subdomains.

facebook.com/groups/* – blocks any group (and allows the rest)

facebook.com/profile.php?id=* – blocks any profile (and allows the rest)

An allowance lets you set a daily time limit for using apps or websites you usually block.
For example, if you block social media but allow yourself 30 minutes per day, DigitalZen will track your usage and stop access once your time is up. The timer resets automatically at midnight, giving you a fresh allowance every day

Use the “Rotate allowance and block” option under the Allowance settings. This lets you set cycles of focused work and short breaks. For example, you can configure it to allow 10 minutes of break time after every 50 minutes of focused work. It’s a great way to balance productivity and recovery.

Yes! You can schedule a focus session by creating a scheduled block and setting its type to Focus instead of Block.
During that time, only the apps and websites you’ve chosen to allow will be accessible, everything else will be blocked.

Your browser often hides subdomains, so google.com appears simple, but behind the scenes, services use specific subdomains:

www.google.com for search

mail.google.com for Gmail (docs.google.com, drive.google.com, calendar.google.com, etc.)

If you block just google.com, you might unintentionally block all of them.

To block only Google Search, use: www.google.com

To keep Gmail accessible, allow: mail.google.com

This method gives you fine control over which Google services stay open during focus time.

Yes, you can!

To whitelist a specific YouTube playlist and allow all its videos, replace the video ID with an asterisk (*). This tells DigitalZen to allow any video from that playlist.

YouTube playlist links typically look like this (when played):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[VIDEO_ID]&list=[PLAYLIST_ID]&…

Let’s take this playlist as an example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCOF9LN_Zxs&list=PLQ_PIlf6OzqIEvjMOCAZsD21T6xn9QUP6&index=1

To allow all videos in it, use:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=*&list=PLQ_PIlf6OzqIEvjMOCAZsD21T6xn9QUP6*

The first asterisk allows any video in the list, the second allows any extra parameters.

Or a shorter version that will achieve the same result:
https://www.youtube.com/watch*list=PLQ_PIlf6OzqIEvjMOCAZsD21T6xn9QUP6*

Perfect for focused listening!

Aside from your name and email during registration, we don’t collect any personal data.
We do collect anonymized analytics and performance data to help fix bugs and understand user behavior.
This data is automatically deleted after a month and cannot be linked back to you.

Our core mission is to build the best productivity tool, not to profit from your data. In fact, handling personal data adds regulatory burden.

We fully comply with GDPR, and the easiest way to protect your privacy (and ours) is simply not to collect sensitive data in the first place.

We don’t collect or sell your personal data to any third party! period.

We do use third-party tools like Google Analytics to understand user behavior and improve the product.
However, all analytics data is anonymized, never linked back to individuals, and never sold or shared beyond our internal use.

Your privacy matters to us. 

We totally get it—and support it.

DigitalZen doesn’t collect personal data, but if you want extra peace of mind, here are a few tips:

• Use an anonymous or random email address
• Enter a fake name at signup
• Use a VPN to hide your IP
• Pay with a virtual or anonymized credit card

These steps make you virtually untraceable to us (and we’re fine with that).

Bonus: these are great habits for staying private across the web.

We take your security seriously. Our code is verified, signed, and regularly scanned using industry-standard tools to detect vulnerabilities and prevent unauthorized changes.

We implement strict development practices, conduct regular penetration testing (PT), and actively monitor web traffic for suspicious activity or threats.

On top of that, we don’t collect sensitive personal data in the first place, so even in a worst-case scenario, there’s nothing important for anyone to steal.