News

How to update

STEP 1
Remove any "time of day" or "schedule" autostart settings for disabled blocks. If you don't, this update will enable those blocks because of a new feature that autostarts blocks even when your device is off.
STEP 2
Download and run the latest version of the Blocker installer. Your settings and pro status will stay the same.

Release Notes

Blocker 4.9 (1 Dec 2025)
  • Added support for Atlas, Dia, and Orion (on macOS)
  • Added support for Comet, Floorp, Mullvad Browsers
  • Added support for Brave Nightly, removed support for Brave Dev
  • Added new CLI features (-list-blocks, -add-block, -status)
  • Added command line output on macOS
  • Fixed support for Arc on macOS
  • Fixed support for new Edge extension permissions
  • Fixed autostarts to work even if device is off
  • Fixed bugs related to reward breaks
  • Fixed bugs related to scheduled blocks ending at midnight
  • Fixed bugs related to time range locks
  • Fixed bugs related to not dismissing break notifications
  • Added other UI improvements like new break durations
  • Added unsupported browsers
  • Fixed other minor bugs
Blocker 4.8 (1 Sep 2025)
  • Fixed minor bugs, only for macOS
Blocker 4.7 (1 May 2025)
  • Added more anti-tampering mechanisms
  • Added unsupported browsers
  • Fixed more issues detecting latest browser versions
  • Fixed time settings not being blocked on Windows 10
  • Fixed rolling allowance break calculations
  • Fixed reward break calculations
  • Fixed session break calculations
  • Fixed issues with time range lock
  • Fixed UI glitch with restart lock on device block
  • Fixed line break issues with random text
  • Fixed Finder windows being blocked (macOS)
  • Fixed advanced warning notifications for scheduled blocks (macOS)
  • Fixed -start CLI for device block named Frozen Turkey
  • Fixed other minor bugs
Blocker 4.6 (1 Apr 2025)
  • Added support for latest versions of supported browsers
  • Added support for Zen, Arc and Ecosia
  • Added autostart features (one time, time of day, sign in, schedule)
  • Added ability to add more than one device block (Frozen Turkey)
  • Added new break types (rewards, random text, delay, sessions)
  • Added rate limits and custom reset times for usage based breaks
  • Added more random text features (random gibberish, custom text, hide errors)
  • Added new lock type (delay)
  • Added ability to block all adult sites by adding *.xxx
  • Added ability to block related Google seaches ("did you mean?")
  • Added a status window when hoving over the system/menu tray icon
  • Added UI improvements, UI fixes
  • Added -start "Block Name" -as-is CLI option
  • Added -start-delay-break, -stop-delay-break, -stop-random-text-break CLI options
  • Added features to block web and video previews in macOS
  • Added feature that blocks you from browsing folders that are blocked in Windows
  • Fixed Edge, Opera GX browsers not being blocked properly
  • Fixed ability to block certain apps that use special permissions
  • Fixed some Settings blocking features in Windows 11
  • Fixed high CPU usage issues (finally)
  • Fixed multi-user support issues
  • Fixed strict and YouTube statistic issues
  • Fixed YouTube channel detection in Safari
  • Fixed errors being displayed in CLI on macOS
  • Fixed issues importing block lists with certain unicode characters on macOS
  • Updated window title blocks so it affects apps in the background for Windows
  • Updated Opera support for Chrome extension (Opera extension being deprecated)
View older version release notes
Blocker 4.5
  • Added support for latest Opera version
  • Added support for latest Safari features (incognito, profiles)
  • Added yellow extension icon when visiting sites on allowance list
  • Added minor UI improvements, UI fixes
  • Added ability to unlock password blocks using CLI
  • Added ability to block picture-in-picture and videos by muting tabs
  • Added ability to block new Chrome Web Store
  • Added blocking to YouTube suggested videos on embedded videos
  • Fixed ability to add URLs with # character
  • Fixed macOS block imports when data contains " or '
  • Fixed zoom keyboard shortcuts not working sometimes
  • Fixed needing to restart browser after install
  • Fixed browser extension/app communication reliability
  • Fixed high CPU for Firefox messaging host
  • Fixed allowance calculation when strict statistics is enabled
  • Fixed macOS folder app blocking not being counted in allowance
  • Fixed issues with YouTube exceptions and channel blocks
  • Updated random text to random words including showing location of errors
  • Updated random text max length and fixed text alignment
  • Updated how browsers will be blocked when incognito disabled
Blocker 4.4
  • New block page design (Opera still pending approval, next 3 features not available yet)
  • Added ability to unblock browser tabs temporarily (unlocked, random text or password)
  • Added ability to block chrome:// URLs, extension store, by closing tabs
  • Added ability to block specific YouTube channels and their videos
  • Fixed Safari blocking, but needed to remove most block page features
  • Added support for Sidekick and Librewolf browsers
  • Added support for Arc browser on macOS (beta, untested)
  • Fixed many UI glitches on macOS
  • Fixed Opera and Opera GX blocking
  • Added feature to block user account settings
  • Added feature to block login item settings on macOS
  • Added button to reset pomodoro timer for continuous blocks
  • Fixed rare high CPU usage issue when blocking apps on Windows
  • Added ability to change app text size (Ctrl/command + scroll)
  • Added feature to import sites from other blocks
  • Fixed issue blocking websites with non-latin characters in URL
  • Fixed extension not determining correct incognito availability
  • Added system theme to follow theme set by operating system
  • Updated default block lists
Blocker 4.3
  • New Firefox versions (90.0+) now supported
  • Added -password lock to command line interface
  • Warning added before starting Frozen Turkey block
  • Strict allowances count time even if away from computer
  • Explorer windows are now closed instead of only minimized
  • UI bugs related to starting block from system tray fixed
  • Small changes to macOS icon and to make wording clearer
  • Other minor UI bugs and improvements made
  • Fixed bug with multiple allowance warnings being sent
  • Overview tab bug with multiple blocks fixed on macOS
  • Settings not saved with concurrent users on macOS fixed
  • New versions of Chrome Beta, Dev now supported on macOS
Blocker 4.2
  • Exceptions are now block list specific for more flexibility
  • Apple M1/Big Sur natively supported
  • Blocking of iOS apps on macOS added
  • Block affects all newly created users on macOS
  • Added -stop, -toggle command line parameters
  • Scheduling UI more compact for less scrolling
  • Scheduling UI can now show other active blocks
  • Break status can now be displayed on extension icon
  • Random text length can be increased during lock
  • Fixed bug where app blocking can stop working
  • Updated interface colors and branding
Blocker 4.1
  • Opera Beta, Dev now supported
  • Windows notifications fixed
  • Windows display scaling improved
  • Edge family account compatibility
  • Allowance calculation improved
  • Updated Brave Tor window detection
  • macOS CLI "-lock", "-help" arguments fixed
  • macOS 10.12-10.13 support improvement
  • macOS scheduled block notification fixed
  • Numerous minor bug fixes/improvements
Blocker 4.0
  • Upgraded user interface
  • Scheduling interface improved
  • Custom breaks for each block
  • Edge (Chromium) now supported
  • Opera GX now supported
  • Firefox Nightly now supported
  • Password locking feature added
  • App blocking via window title/folder
  • Random text locking feature added
  • Lock until computer restart feature added
  • Custom user selections for blocks
  • Improved default block lists
  • Wildcards/exceptions available to free users
  • Easily export all your settings
  • Statistics interface improved
  • Statistics search function
  • Statistics can be exported in JSON
  • Block page redesign
  • 'Pause for a Cause' feature added
  • Strict statistics feature available
  • Can block embedded content
  • Can block task managers, time changes, installer
  • Lowered RAM usage
  • Add sites to block via extension, displays status
  • Dark mode (because why not?)
Blocker 3.10
  • macOS 10.15 officially supported
  • Added support for new Firefox profile folder structure
  • Added support for new Firefox private window settings
  • Added support for Opera 60 on macOS
  • Added start of week setting (Sunday/Monday)
  • Added 6, 12, 24 hour timers to system menu
  • Timers can be started via system menu without a password
  • SeaMonkey and Firefox Nightly now unsupported browsers
  • Localhost can be added as a website exception
  • Daily allowance calculations fixed when blocks overlap
  • Fixed bug that let whitespaces be added/imported to list
  • Fixed block not starting if "heads up" pop-up not closed (macOS)
  • Fixed bug with pro activation after starting trial (macOS)
  • Fixed bug where double-clicking system tray icon cleared settings
  • Permitting IOException's while detecting extension state
  • Maximum list import is now 1000 entries to prevent crashing
  • (10 Oct 2019) macOS 10.12 is now required to install Blocker
Blocker 3.9
  • Added Chrome Canary as an unsupported browser
  • Opera extension installer updated for Opera 58
  • Finally fixed rare issue where settings were reset (win)
  • Improved extension state detection for 'Roaming' profiles
  • Browsers now may need to restart after running installer
Blocker 3.8
  • Added name of the application being blocked in notification
  • Added support to select multiple applications at once (mac)
  • Fixed notifications at the end of trial (win)
  • Fixed database error after first install (win)
  • Changes to allow compatibility with macOS 10.10 (mac)
  • Changes to prevent Safari from quitting after sleeping (mac)
Blocker 3.7
  • Added support for Brave, Brave Dev and Brave Beta
  • Firefox Safe-Mode is now blocked during locked blocks
  • Reinstalling Safari extension more thorough (mac)
  • Reduced app blocking time-out from 5 seconds to 1 second (win)
  • Fixed rare conflicts with Microsoft Office applications (win)
  • Fixed rare bugs where Firefox extension not being detected
  • Fixed bug when trying to edit 10th or more block list
  • Fixed bug where upgrade tab was hidden during trial
  • Fixed bug which allowed block list edits during locked block (mac)
  • Fixed bug where allowance B wasn't working (mac)
  • Frozen Turkey presents you with macOS login screen (mac)
Blocker 3.6
  • Non-conflicting exceptions can now be added during active blocks
  • Pro status now displayed in title bar
  • Fixed bug to detect incognito availability in Chrome-like browsers
  • Fixed bug to detect Opera browser (if installed in user-mode)
  • Changes to allow apostrophes in user name (win)
  • Changes to allow apostrophes in settings
Blocker 3.5
  • Added support for Chrome (Dev, Beta), Firefox Dev and Vivaldi
  • Option to have block affect all users or current user during install
  • Added support for all UTF8 characters in block lists
  • Added support to block Chrome guest mode browsing
  • Added support to block Chrome and Opera independently
  • Added support to block .bin and .com files
  • Added support to block localhost and getcoldturkey.com
  • Added support to block chrome:// addresses (when a flag is set)
  • Added support for multiple browser profiles
  • Added more browsers to unsupported/block list, including TOR
  • Browser will now close momentarily after disabling extension
  • Reduced time to re-enable the extensions to 30 seconds
  • Method to install and/or determine extension state improved
  • Bug where events are misplaced on schedule after a week fixed
  • Block list exceptions not longer count toward daily allowances
  • Exceptions can't be added while a locked block is active
  • Installer will no longer let you cancel to get around block
  • Various performance/block reliability/UI fixes
  • Removed max limit on number of block lists
Blocker 3.4
  • Added free trial of pro features
  • Added customisable block pages for pro users
  • Improved extension installer
  • More scheduler bugs fixed
  • Firefox not closing when extension disabled fixed
  • 2 minute warning timer fixed
Blocker 3.3
  • Fixed compatibility with EO.Webbrowser
  • Increased time to re-enable extensions to 1 minute
  • Scheduler bugs fixed
  • Steam can now be blocked
  • Various reliability fixes
Blocker 3.2
  • Migrated from .NET Webbrowser to EO.Webbrowser
Blocker 3.1
  • Added statistics feature
  • Added daily time limit feature
  • Added password feature
  • Added a refreshed dashboard
  • Added ability to block specific URL/IP
  • Blocks now work when using a VPN
  • Block page shows more reliably
  • Browser Extensions are now required
  • Edge/IE are not supported and will be blocked