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Focus Mode: study or work without distractions

By Rolet, founder · Updated for version 5.11 · September 2026

To focus on Android without distracting apps, use Focus Mode in Yin Yang Launcher. Choose the few apps you need, pick how long, and start. Your home screen turns into a calm focus screen with only those apps on it, until the time is up.

On this page
  1. Why it happens
  2. How it works
  3. Two ways to start
  4. Set up Focus Mode
  5. Tips
  6. Related
Pick a length and your allowed apps, then start.

Why your phone pulls you out of work

You pick up your phone to check a formula or reply to one message. The home screen shows you everything else: the feed, the red badges, the app you opened yesterday at this time. Ten minutes later you're somewhere else.

It's easier to stay on task when the rest of the phone simply isn't there. Focus Mode sets aside everything except the apps you need, for a stretch of time you choose.

How it works (Focus Mode)

  • Choose your allowed apps. A few apps you need while focusing, like Calculator, Spotify or a notes app. These stay on the focus screen.
  • Pick how long, from 10 minutes up to 4 hours.
  • Your home screen becomes a focus screen. A timer, your allowed apps, and nothing else. No search, no swiping to other screens, no shortcuts.
  • Choose Soft or Strict. Soft lets you end the session whenever you want. Strict holds you to it: the screen shows "Locked until" the end time.
  • When it ends, you see "Session complete" with how long you focused, plus your all-time total. The total only ever grows.

Two ways to start

  • Start now. Long press the home screen and tap Focus Mode, or open it from Mind Space and tap Focus now.
  • On a schedule. Set a time and days, like "Study, weekdays at 4:30 pm". At that time you get a reminder: *"Time for your Study focus session."* Tap Start and the session runs for its full length from that moment, so starting a few minutes late still gets you the whole session. Not today? Dismiss the reminder and it's skipped for the day.

A schedule never starts on its own. It reminds you, and you decide.

Set up Focus Mode

  1. Install Yin Yang Launcher from Google Play and set it as your home screen. Yin Yang is a home-screen app (a launcher), so this works because it replaces your home screen. You can switch back anytime.
  2. Swipe left from the home screen to open Mind Space.
  3. Open the Action tab and tap Focus Mode.
  4. Under Allowed apps, choose the apps you want during focus.
  5. To start now: tap Focus now, pick a length, choose Soft or Strict, and tap Start.
  6. To schedule it: tap Add schedule. Give it a name (Work, Study, Reading…), a start time, a length and the days, choose Soft or Strict, and save. Allow notifications and alarms when asked, so the reminder can reach you on time.

After this, the fastest way in is a long press on the home screen.

Tips

  • Keep the allowed list short. The fewer apps on the focus screen, the less there is to drift into.
  • Start with Soft. Once you know how long you can work in one go, try Strict for the sessions that matter.
  • Schedule the sessions you keep putting off. A reminder at 4:30 pm every weekday makes starting a single tap.
  • Name your schedules. "Time for your Study focus session" is easier to say yes to than a generic alert.
  • Want a lighter touch the rest of the day? Add a pause before opening apps or an app timer.