FocusCost Support

Help, FAQ, and troubleshooting

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Need help? Have feedback?

Email: amin.silenzio@gmail.com

I typically respond within 48 hours.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does interruption tracking work?

When you leave the app during a focus session (switching to another app, going to the home screen, etc.), FocusCost logs it as an interruption. When you return, you'll see a recovery overlay showing how long you were away. Tap "Resume Focus" to continue your session. The interruption is saved and visible in your analytics.

Why does leaving the app count as an interruption?

FocusCost is built around the principle that context switching has a real cost. Research shows it takes an average of 23 minutes to regain full focus after a distraction. By tracking when you break focus, FocusCost makes this invisible cost visible so you can reduce it over time.

Does the timer keep running when I leave the app?

Yes. The timer continues to count down even when the app is in the background. When you return, the timer will reflect the correct remaining time. If a focus-break transition occurred while you were away, the app handles it automatically.

What happens if I leave during a break?

Nothing — breaks are for resting. Only leaving during a focus session counts as an interruption.

How is the streak calculated?

Your streak counts the number of consecutive days where you completed at least one focus session. If you haven't completed a session today yet, your streak shows yesterday's count until you complete one or the day ends.

What does "Recovery Cost" mean in analytics?

Recovery cost is the total time between returning to the app after an interruption and tapping "Resume Focus." It represents the time you spend getting back into the zone. In analytics, this is also expressed as equivalent lost Pomodoros to help visualize the impact.

Can I delete my data?

Yes. Go to Settings → Delete All Sessions to erase your session history, or Reset All Data to restore everything to defaults. Uninstalling the app also permanently deletes all data.

Does FocusCost collect my data?

No. FocusCost stores everything locally on your device. There are no accounts, no analytics tracking, no network requests, and no third-party SDKs. See our Privacy Policy for details.

What are the two timer display modes?

Circular Progress Ring — A ring that depletes clockwise as time passes, with the remaining time in the center.

Flip Clock — Animated digits that flip like a classic mechanical clock, showing minutes and seconds.

You can switch between them on the session setup screen or mid-session.

What is Brown Noise?

Brown noise is a deep, low-frequency sound (like a waterfall or strong wind) that can help mask distractions and improve concentration. FocusCost generates it procedurally — no audio files needed. Toggle it on or off from the timer screen during a focus session.

What iOS version do I need?

FocusCost requires iOS 16.0 or later.

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Troubleshooting

The timer seems inaccurate after backgrounding

FocusCost recalculates the timer based on elapsed time when you return to the app. If you notice a discrepancy, it should correct itself within one second of returning.

Sound isn't playing

Check that:

1. Sound is enabled in Settings → Sound

2. If your device is in silent mode, enable Override Silent Mode in Settings

3. Brown noise only plays during focus periods, not breaks

I lost my session data

If you uninstalled and reinstalled the app, all local data is permanently deleted. Currently, there is no cloud backup feature. A future update will add iCloud sync.

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FocusCost v1.0 — Developed by Amin Ur Rehman — February 2026