Born from 4 hours a day
FlipLock wasn't built in a boardroom. It was built by one person who lost too many evenings to the scroll — and found the one trick that actually worked.
How it all started
The 4-hour wake-up call
One Sunday evening, my weekly Screen Time report said 4 hours and 12 minutes a day — most of it short videos I couldn't remember watching. That's 64 full days a year, gone.
Everything failed
App limits? One tap on “Ignore Limit”. Grayscale mode? Got used to it in a week. Deleting the apps? Reinstalled by Thursday. Every tool negotiated with my willpower — and lost.
The one thing that worked
The only reliable trick was physical: phone face-down, out of reach. The habit loop needs a screen to start. So I asked — what if the phone itself demanded that gesture back?
The Focus Flip was born
I built FlipLock so the unlock is the ritual: 30 seconds face-down, verified by the phone's own sensors. I've used it every day since — and my Screen Time report finally stopped scaring me.
Built by one person who cares
I'm Maximillian — a solo developer building tools for a calmer relationship with technology. FlipLock is independent, has no investors, and no incentive to keep you hooked. The business model is beautifully boring: you pay a small subscription, and in return the app works for you — not for an ad network.
What FlipLock believes
Friction over shame
No guilt graphs, no failure streaks. FlipLock changes behavior at the moment of impulse — not by making you feel bad afterwards.
Privacy first
Motion data is processed on-device and never leaves your iPhone. No account, no cloud, no analytics on your habits.
Calm over gamification
No points, badges, or leaderboards for not using your phone. The reward is your afternoon back.
Built with care
I use FlipLock every single day. Every detail exists because it survived contact with my own worst scrolling habits.
Ready to take back your time?
Every unlock takes a mindful 30-second flip. Small friction, big change.