SHORT ANSWER
Normal adds a short variable wait. High increases the wait and reduces the available session after successful unblocks. Lockdown protects a scheduled window until it ends, except for the limited local Emergency Pass. To set up a Rule, follow how to block apps on iPhone.
Normal: interrupt the automatic opening
Normal adds a short wait before temporary access. Its length varies, so you cannot learn it by heart. After completing it, choose a session of 5, 10 or 15 minutes.
The countdown advances only while the waiting screen is in the foreground. Leaving Bouncer or locking the phone pauses it. Walking away ends the attempt without granting access. That gives you a moment to change your mind before you go in.
High: make repeated requests harder
High makes each successful unblock cost more than the last: the wait grows and the session you can choose gets shorter. Bouncer does not show in advance how much the next wait will grow.
High starts from the same set of possible session durations: 5, 10 or 15 minutes. It offers fewer choices as successful unblocks increase. An abandoned attempt does not count as a successful unblock. The waiting countdown still requires you to remain in Bouncer.
Lockdown: protect a scheduled commitment
Lockdown needs a window with a set start and end, so it does not work with a daily limit. While a Lockdown is active, you cannot edit it, deactivate it or request an ordinary temporary unblock.
Normally it ends when the window ends. The one exception is the Emergency Pass. Bouncer runs on Apple’s system services, so Lockdown cannot rule out every bypass or system failure.
Understand the Emergency Pass
A fresh installation has one local Emergency Pass. After use, it becomes available again exactly seven days later. Passes do not accumulate. The pass disables active Lockdowns only; Normal and High Rules remain active.
Each affected Lockdown must be activated again manually. Pass state is local and is not guaranteed after a device transfer or reinstallation. Check the apps and the schedule before you activate a Lockdown, so you rarely need the pass.
Separate waiting time from access time
The wait only counts down while you stay in Bouncer. A session you have been granted runs on the wall clock: its minutes pass even if you leave the app or lock the phone.
Editing or deactivating a Normal or High Rule while it is on duty requires the same wait as requesting access. Rule changes are free during temporary access. Pick the Level that fits the moment you want to protect; the strictest one is not always the right one.
The three Levels side by side
| Normal | High | Lockdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| To get in | A short, variable wait | A wait that grows after each successful unblock | Not possible until the window ends |
| Session | 5, 10 or 15 min | Fewer choices over time | None |
| Editing the active Rule | Same wait | Same wait | Not possible |
| Trigger | Schedule or daily limit | Schedule or daily limit | Schedule only |
| Exceptional exit | — | — | One Emergency Pass, back 7 days after use |
Frequently asked questions
Which Level should I start with?
Start with Normal for a moment you want to protect, and move up when you keep getting in anyway. Use Lockdown for a window you are sure about.
Can I change a Rule’s Level?
Yes. When the Rule is not on duty, edit it freely. While a Normal or High Rule is on duty, editing asks for the same wait. An active Lockdown cannot be edited.
Can I use Lockdown with a daily limit?
No. Lockdown needs a scheduled window with an explicit end.
What happens to the Emergency Pass if I reinstall Bouncer?
The pass is stored locally. Its state is not guaranteed after a device transfer or reinstallation.
A boundary you choose.
Start with a context you want to protect on your iPhone.
