RescueTime iOS Mobile App
What you'll learn
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You can download and install RescueTime for iOS from the App Store. After installing the app, you'll be asked to sign up or sign in.
- Let's do it: if you don't have a RescueTime account, tap this button to get started. You'll go through a series of onboarding questions and create an account.
- Log In: if you already have a RescueTime account, sign in here to access your account.
If you haven't installed it already, download RescueTime for the desktop here.
Setting Up
During the setup process, you'll be asked to allow a few permissions. RescueTime will ask you to grant access to the following:
- Your location - RescueTime will associate Focus Sessions with your workplace
- Notifications - RescueTime will alert you when a Focus Session begins on another device, or if you go to a distracting app during a Focus Session then the alert below will pop up on your screen.
- Screen Time - This will help RescueTime provide more details about your browsing
During the setup, you'll also be able to Configure App Blocking. Here you'll choose the app categories you want to be blocked during a Focus Session.
Here is what the setup process will look like.
Please note: If you grant RescueTime access to your location during the setup then you will be asked for your location each time you start a Focus Session.
RescueTime does not store location data on our servers. You can choose to not share your location by clicking on the Skip link.
Focus
You can start a Focus Session from the RescueTime iOS app by tapping on the Focus icon at the bottom left of the screen, in the tab bar. You are required to Prep your Focus Session, but Prep your environment and Prep your body are optional. We recommend you try all three at least once to experience the entire Focus Session process. There's audio narration to guide you through the warmups.
Focus Session Prep
Focus Session prep sets up your session by having you choose the length of the session and log what you're working on.
Focus Session with Warmups
Focus Session with WarmupsTry some warmups in your Focus Sessions.
- Prep your environment: gets your physical and digital workspaces ready to focus
- Prep your body: promotes calmness and prepares your body to focus
App Blocking
You can also configure the app categories you want to be blocked during a Focus Session on your Settings > Configure Block screen.
During a Focus Session, if you have notifications enabled, you'll see the pop-up below when you leave the RescueTime app.
When you visit an app in the blocked category, you'll see a Focus Session block page instead.
Here is how it works.
Post Focus Session
After completing a Focus Session you'll be asked a few questions about the progress of your task.
And you'll see a Focus Session summary report—
- Mobile distractions: number of times you left the RescueTime iOS app
- Day Streak: the number of consecutive days you completed a Focus Session
Global State
Starting a Focus Session on your mobile device will automatically start a Focus Session across all devices that share the same RescueTime account. During a Focus Session, you'll see the timer count down on your Assistant and menu bar (Mac only). When the Focus Session ends, you'll see the Focus Session summary report on the device where you began the session. If you begin your Focus Session on mobile, you won't see the report on your computer.
Please note—RescueTime needs to be running in the background on your devices in order for the global state (Focus Sessions running across all devices) to work.
Activity
Combined with the power of Screen Time, RescueTime provides a list of apps you've visited and the time you spent on each app in the Activity section at the bottom of the screen, in the tab bar. Currently, you can only view today's data. We plan to expand this date view in the next iterations.
Please note: this data does not sync to your reports on rescuetime.com. This is currently prohibited by Apple.
The Assistant
You can access the Assistant from the RescueTime iOS mobile app by tapping the Assistant at the bottom of the screen, in the tab bar. Here you'll see alerts regarding your work schedule, Focus Zone opportunities, and your daily and weekly reports. You can read more about Assistant alerts here and learn more about the Assistant here.
Offline Work
The Add offline work button is located at the bottom of the Assistant screen. Offline work is any work done away from your computer. You can read more about offline work here. You can add offline work right from your mobile device.
Settings
Settings are located at the bottom-right of your screen, in the tab bar. You can access your settings from the RescueTime iOS app without having to visit the RescueTime website.
You can update your app blocking under App Settings > Configure Blocking.
You can find details about your Work Settings and how to adjust it here.
Please note: the original RescueTime iOS mobile version is no longer accessible in the Apple Store. If you had previously installed the original RescueTime iOS version then you can access it from your download history.