# A Mac blocker you can’t turn off until the timer ends

> How Blocker’s Hardcore mode works, how it differs from Off and Strict, and what the weekly emergency pass allows.

Canonical: https://getblocker.app/blog/hardcore-mode
Last updated: 2026-10-14

![A blue hourglass shield inside a circular timer](https://getblocker.app/_next/image?url=%2Fblog%2Fhardcore-mode.webp&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_Anbbb9zNntypp1gbYqNqvcxkN6W5)

[Léo Mathurin](https://leomathurin.com/) October 7, 2026Updated October 14, 2026 3 min read

Blocker’s Hardcore mode locks distracting websites and Mac apps until the timer ends. You cannot pause or end the block through the normal controls. There is one exception: a weekly emergency pass.

This is for the moment when you want to switch the blocker off, even though you chose an hour of focus ten minutes ago. You decide what to block and for how long before that moment arrives.

## Off, Strict, and Hardcore

Every block or schedule has its own lock mode. You can keep an everyday work schedule flexible and make a deadline session harder to stop. The sites and apps stay the same; the way out changes.

How Blocker’s three lock modes let you end a block

| Lock mode | When you want to stop early |
| --- | --- |
| Off | Pause or stop after a short wait. |
| Strict | A longer wait, then type “I want to break my focus” to quit early. |
| Hardcore | Wait until the timer ends, unless you use the weekly emergency pass. |

Off still gives you a moment to reconsider. Strict adds friction while leaving a way to change your mind. Hardcore removes that ordinary early exit. Switching browsers does not help: the same block covers Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Arc, and native Mac apps.

Restarting your Mac does not cancel the timer. Blocker keeps the active block and enables launch at login for Hardcore, so it resumes when you log back in while the session is still active.

## What the emergency pass changes

Hardcore includes one emergency pass a week for when you really need access. That means it is a strong commitment, not a promise that no early exit exists. If having that exception would defeat your purpose, take it into account before choosing Blocker.

A focus tool cannot decide whether a blocked site is necessary for your work. Keep your work tools, communication, and anything you may need urgently out of the blocklist before starting.

## Try a short block first

1.  Add the distracting domains and apps to a blocklist. Adding a domain also includes its subdomains.
2.  Try that list with Off mode and check your normal work in each browser you use.
3.  Choose a short, finite session and select Hardcore before starting it.
4.  For recurring work hours, put the same list on a weekly schedule and choose its lock mode.

Blocker runs locally and does not need an app account. The optional local certificate lets it display a blocked page on HTTPS sites; macOS asks for approval during setup. Blocking still works if you skip the certificate. See the [setup FAQ](https://getblocker.app/#faq-certificate) .

## Which mode should you use?

Choose Off when your day changes often. Choose Strict when a pause usually helps you resist an impulse. Choose Hardcore when you have a clear task, a tested blocklist, and a finish time you can commit to. Starting with a manageable session is more useful than locking yourself out of half your workday on the first try.

If you are comparing apps, read [Blocker vs Freedom](https://getblocker.app/vs/freedom) for the Mac versus cross-device tradeoff, or [Blocker vs Cold Turkey](https://getblocker.app/vs/cold-turkey) for more detailed desktop controls.

## Keep going

-   [Mac website and app blockers with no subscription](https://getblocker.app/blog/mac-website-blocker-no-subscription)
-   [Freedom alternatives for Mac without a subscription](https://getblocker.app/blog/freedom-alternatives-mac)
-   [Cold Turkey vs SelfControl vs Focus on Mac](https://getblocker.app/blog/cold-turkey-vs-selfcontrol-vs-focus)
-   [Choose a focus setup to make your own](https://getblocker.app/focus-setups)