How it works

Four steps, then hold.

An app blocker is only as strong as its exit. Second Key gives the exit to someone you trust.

  1. Step 1 of 4

    Pick the apps.

    Instagram, TikTok, BGMI, YouTube: whichever ones take your nights. You choose them from the apps on your phone.

  2. Step 2 of 4

    Set the hours.

    Tonight by default: 9:30 pm to 7:00 am. Decide who can end it early: you after a delay, your keyholder, or nobody.

  3. Step 3 of 4

    Hand someone the key.

    A partner, a sibling, a study partner. Six characters and sixty seconds, on whatever phone they own.

  4. Step 4 of 4

    Hold.

    The shield goes up. Leaving early takes a reason and their answer, and every attempt to slip out lands on their phone.

An early unlock, start to finish.

  1. 01

    You ask

    Tap “Ask” on a held app. Pick 5, 15 or 30 minutes and write a reason, like “need to reply to a DM”.

  2. 02

    They decide

    Your keyholder gets a notification showing the app, the time and your reason, and taps Approve or Decline.

  3. 03

    It re-locks

    If they approve, the apps open for exactly that long, then the shield comes back on its own.

  4. 04

    It’s counted

    Every request, answer and bypass attempt lands on the weekly tally you both see.

One intent, one Smart Block.

On Android, you can type or say one sentence and get one recommended block to approve. Second Key’s own code reads the sentence first; if it can’t, that sentence goes to Claude Haiku, up to 5 times a day. Nothing is saved until you approve. Built, in testing and not released yet. Smart Blocks can’t end a block, remove apps from a running one, or grant an unlock. Those stay with you and your keyholder. Blocking itself works without AI.

From Claude, if you use it.

Second Key has a Claude connector (MCP) that can list, create, change, pause and delete blocks. A running block can only get stronger through it, and it can’t approve unlocks. Android; not released yet. A running block can only get stronger, from Claude too: more apps, a later end, a stricter unlock. Claude can’t approve an unlock. In Second Key, tap Connect Claude to get your private address. In Claude, add it under Settings, Connectors, Add custom connector. Treat the address like a password; you can disconnect or replace it at any time.

Suggestions, if you want them.

Second Key can read how you use your phone, on the phone, and suggest one block you might want. You decide. Nothing is saved until you tap. These three use no model: they are rules and arithmetic on the phone. By design, raw usage stays on the phone. A suggestion can’t loosen a running block, can’t grant an unlock, and never lists the phone, emergency or Settings apps. Built for the Android app and not released yet. iPhone: not available.

Under the hood.

Blocking on Android
Uses Android usage access to see which app is open, and shows a block screen over held apps during scheduled hours.
Bypass reports
If someone switches off the permissions blocking depends on, their keyholder is told.
Privacy
Stores schedules, unlock requests and decisions. Never messages, browsing or what you look at.

Close the gap.

Join the waiting list. One email when your invite is ready.

Get early access