The intent gate is the pause screen that comes up before a site opens on purpose. You breathe for a few seconds, say what you came to do, and pick a short window, and then the site opens for exactly that long. Most of the time the pause is enough to notice you did not really want to go in.
When does the pause come up?
| Situation | Breath | Windows offered |
|---|---|---|
| A feed on an Ask first site | 15 seconds | 2 or 5 min |
| A page you typed or bookmarked on an Ask first site | 6 seconds | 2, 5 or 15 min |
| A YouTube lesson on an Ask first site, with Learn mode on | 3 seconds | 15, 30 or 60 min |
| A page you typed on a site that is shut (No feeds, budget spent, or daily limit used) | 8 seconds | 2 min |
| A quick pass that just ran out | as above for that page | as above for that page |
Feeds on a No feeds site do not get the pause at all: they are shut, and unlocking one is a separate, slower step. The YouTube row is explained in YouTube Learn mode.
What happens on the pause screen?
- Breathe. A countdown runs with "Breathe in" and "Breathe out". While it runs, the only button is Not now. Any video on the page is paused.
- Say what you came for. The question is "What did you come here to do?" Pick one of Learn something, Message someone, Work or Just browsing, and write a few words, like "reply to Ana". At least three characters, except for Just browsing.
- Pick a window. The shortest one is selected. Choose a longer one if you need it.
- Enter. The site opens, and a pill at the bottom of the page shows the time left and what you said you were there for. Press the × on the pill to end early.
Not now takes you back to the page you came from, or closes the tab if there is nothing to go back to.
Why does Just browsing only allow the shortest window?
Browsing is allowed, but it gets the least time. Choosing Just browsing selects the first window and greys out the longer ones. If you want 15 minutes, say what the 15 minutes are for.
What happens when the window runs out?
The pause comes back. Staying longer is a new decision, made the same way. If your daily budget ran out in the meantime, the window you are in still runs to the end, but the next pause offers two minutes only.
Does the pause count toward my daily budget?
No. Time is only counted while a page is actually open to you: during a window, a quick pass or a daily limit, while the tab is in front and the browser window has focus. The pause screen itself does not count.
Your dashboard keeps a list of what you said you came for, so you can look back at how the reasons line up with the time. See dashboard and stats.
Does reloading the pause count as another visit?
No. Reloading the pause screen within two minutes does not count as a new stop in your stats. Leaving and coming back later does.
Questions
Why does Instagram or YouTube make me wait before it opens?
The site is set to Ask first, so I've had it shows a short breathing pause and asks what you came to do before it opens for a set window. Switch the site to Daily limit or Untouched if you would rather not have the pause. See site modes.
How long is the pause?
Fifteen seconds before a feed, six before a page you typed, eight on a site that is shut for the day, and three before a YouTube lesson.
Can I skip the breathing countdown?
No. The countdown is the point. It is short, and you can leave at any time with Not now.
Can I end a window early?
Yes. Press the × on the pill at the bottom of the page, or End now in the extension's popup.