Ripple
Less phone scrolling in the library or study room
You claim a seat, open a book, and your hand still reaches for the phone. Short video, chat and trending feeds eat half an hour before you notice. The first part below is for adults studying in a library or study room, the second is for parents whose kids sneak phone time while supposedly studying. Android is at v0.1.13 and iPhone at v0.1.5, and the features differ, so both are covered.
Adults: exam prep in a library or study room
Start one-tap focus before you sit down
At your seat, start one-tap focus for 90 minutes, 2 hours or a custom length in 1 minute steps. Choose lock only the apps I pick, and put short video, livestream, games and shopping in it. Leave dictionaries, cloud drives, ebooks and note apps out. Calls still work.
Add a schedule if you go on fixed days
If you go Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons, make matching weekday schedules so the block starts on its own. That beats deciding whether to turn it on every time you leave home.
Use an open limit for the quick glance
The usual habit in a study room is checking WeChat or news every few minutes. Set how many times a day those apps can open, and turn on the short wait before each open so your hand pauses.
Turn on strict mode if you undo the rules mid-session
Give an unlock code of at least 8 digits to family or the person next to you, and turn on strict mode. Loosening rules then needs their code. If you truly need chat on breaks, leave WeChat off the lock list, or wait until focus ends.
Parents: a child at the library or study room
Start a study focus before they leave
Before they go, start one-tap focus on Android with only focus-allowed apps, and put textbook scanners, dictionaries and study apps on the allowed list so short video and games stay out. Set the length to this session, for example 2 hours.
Use a schedule on fixed study days, and a small daily budget otherwise
For weekly library days, add a matching weekday schedule. On other days leave short video 30 to 40 minutes and a small open limit. In the week before exams, set games and short video to 0 minutes.
Turn on Anti-Uninstall and clock protection
Parents keep the unlock code. Turn on Anti-Uninstall, and strict mode if needed. On Android, Ripple counts time since the phone started, so moving the clock back does not reset the limits.
If the child uses an iPhone
iPhone v0.1.5 can block apps by schedule, block deleting apps, protect against clock changes and use an unlock code, so a study schedule works. Open limits, daily limits, 0 minutes, one-tap focus, strict mode and website blocking are Android only for now.
Setup steps (Android v0.1.13)
Install or update to the latest version
Download the latest Android APK and turn on accessibility when asked. If you have an older build, update in Settings › About › Check for updates. On iPhone install v0.1.5, which needs iOS 16 or later.
Start one-tap focus or add a schedule before studying
Adults usually lock only chosen apps. On a child's phone, only focus-allowed apps is a better fit. Add weekday schedules for fixed library days.
Set open limits and daily limits on apps you open most
Give WeChat, news and short video an open limit first, then a daily time cap. In a crunch week, set the worst apps to 0 minutes.
Set unlock codes and turn on Anti-Uninstall for a child
Adults give the code to family or a classmate, and parents keep the code on a child's phone. On Android turn on Anti-Uninstall, and Advanced Protection if you want a stronger lock. On iPhone turn on the block on deleting apps.
FAQ
I keep opening short video in the library. What helps?
Before you sit down, start one-tap focus on Ripple for Android v0.1.13 and lock only short video and games, leaving dictionary and note apps open. Add a schedule if you go on fixed days. For a firmer rule, turn on strict mode and give the unlock code to someone else.
Can I keep WeChat while studying for an exam?
Yes. When one-tap focus is set to lock only chosen apps, leave WeChat unchecked, or put it on the focus-allowed list. If WeChat still distracts you, give it its own open limit.
My kid says they are at the library but keeps watching video. What can I do?
Start one-tap focus or a study schedule before they leave, and keep short video off the allowed list. Parents keep the unlock code and turn on Anti-Uninstall. In the week before exams, set short video to 0 minutes.
How is this different from the exam season and reading pages?
The exam season page covers daily limits and sleep schedules across a long prep stretch. The reading page is about staying off the phone while reading. This page is about starting focus once you are already in a library or study room.
Does the iPhone version have these features?
iPhone v0.1.5 has schedules, the block on deleting apps, clock change protection and an unlock code. Daily limits, open limits, 0 minutes, one-tap focus, strict mode and website blocking are Android only.
Does it cost money or need an account?
It is free with no ads and no account.