Get BlockOut for Android

The full version with unbreakable blocking. Completely free.

Know before you install

BlockOut is designed so you can't uninstall it or loosen your blocks while protection is active — changes only unlock during your weekly settings period. That's not a limitation; it's the entire point. You set the rules once, on a clear-headed day, and BlockOut holds you to them. If that sounds like too much, this isn't the app for you — and we'd rather you know now.

Get it from an official store

No warnings. No extra steps. Installs like any other app.

Recommended

Samsung Galaxy Store

Full version with unbreakable enforcement. The Galaxy Store app is already on every Samsung phone, so BlockOut installs like any other app — no Play Protect warnings, no restricted settings wall, no extra steps.

Get on Samsung Galaxy Store ↗

Google Play (Lite)

Core blocking features — Google Play's policies don't allow the two permissions that make BlockOut unbreakable (uninstall prevention and anti-tamper), so the Play version is Lite by necessity, not by choice. Lite does keep the one-way weekly gate and resumes blocking after a restart. Note that Android's battery settings can switch Lite's protection off; the full version prevents that. Same app, same codebase. Good for trying it first.

Coming soon

Not on Samsung? Get the full version directly.

Same exact app as the Samsung Galaxy Store version — just delivered as an APK. Android requires a few extra steps for any app installed outside a pre-installed store.

BlockOut for Android

Version 1.12 · ~2.3 MB · Android 9.0+

You'll see Android's standard warnings for non-store installs. What they mean and what to do →

SHA-256: how to verify →

48ffd16ff6fd1585324c54e04243ed98f90792cd7f077afba26419f46fd7a794

Installation Guide

Android requires these steps for any app installed outside a pre-installed store — not specific to BlockOut. Follow them in order.

1

Tap “Download APK” above

A prompt will appear explaining what to expect. Tap "Got it — download now" to start the download.

2

Download it — tap past the browser caution if one shows

Your browser may show a quick "File might be harmful" (or "this type of file can harm your device") note — Chrome shows this for any APK it doesn't see downloaded often. It's not a judgment about BlockOut. Tap Download anyway (or Keep) and it downloads. Some people don't see any caution at all — and you will never see the old "Harmful app blocked" block. That's gone.

3

Open it and install

Tap the downloaded file in your notification shade — or open the Files app → Downloads and tap it there.

First time only: your browser will say it's "not allowed to install unknown apps." Tap Settings, turn on "Allow from this source," and tap back. It's a one-time switch for your browser — experienced sideloaders never see it.

Then tap Install. (Occasionally Play Protect offers a quick scan first — tap Scan app and it comes back "This app looks safe.")

4

Open BlockOut and try to turn on Accessibility

Open BlockOut and follow it to the Accessibility Service — go ahead and try to turn the toggle on. Android will block it with a "Restricted setting" message (the switch won't stick, or it's grayed out). This is Android 13+'s extra layer for directly-installed apps — it's expected.

Do this first. Actually attempting it here is what unlocks the fix in the next step — until you try and get blocked, the option below won't appear.

Accessibility Service grayed out with Restricted setting label
Try the toggle — it's blocked with "Restricted setting"
5

Unlock restricted settings (one-time step)

Only after you've tried step 4 and been blocked, this option becomes available. Do it once and you never need to again.

  1. Go to Settings → Apps → BlockOut
  2. Tap the ⋮ (three dots) in the top-right corner. If you don't see it, you haven't triggered the block yet — go back to step 4 and try the Accessibility toggle first.
  3. Tap "Allow restricted settings"
  4. Come back to BlockOut — the Accessibility Service toggle will now work

On Android 12 or earlier, skip this step — the toggle won't be restricted.

6

Grant the remaining permissions

BlockOut will walk you through the rest. Each is explained in-app, but here's what they do:

  • Accessibility Service — detects when you open a blocked app so it can enforce the block
  • Device Administrator — prevents uninstalling BlockOut during active blocking (this is the enforcer)
  • Display over other apps — shows the blocking overlay when you try to open something blocked

These are only used for blocking. BlockOut does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data.

7

Add your blocklist and start

Add the apps and websites you want to block, set your weekly settings window, and you're done. Your commitment starts now.

Verify Your Download

For the security-conscious: verify the APK hasn't been tampered with.

On a computer, run this command in the same directory as the downloaded APK:

sha256sum blockout-1-12.apk

On macOS:

shasum -a 256 blockout-1-12.apk

The output should match the SHA-256 hash shown in the download box above.

What's changed

The most recent releases, newest first.

Version 1.9

  • Fixed: some browsers could get stuck reopening a blocked page, which left the browser unusable until you cleared it by hand. BlockOut now moves the tab to a safe page for you.
  • Fixed: the block screen could disappear before you had a chance to read it. It now stays up until you dismiss it.
  • Blocked sites opened inside apps with their own built in browser, such as crypto wallets, are now caught in more of those apps.
  • Browsers that BlockOut cannot reliably monitor now explain why, and list the browsers that do block site by site. You can report a browser we have not seen yet so support can be added.
  • A browser that could no longer be verified is now blocked outright rather than partly monitored.

Version 1.8

  • Fixed: apps with a built-in browser, such as crypto wallets, could be closed automatically even though you never blocked them. They now stay open — and blocked sites opened inside them are still caught.
  • Smoother setup: permission screens now advance on their own the moment each permission is granted, instead of waiting for you to tap Continue.
  • Reduced background battery use while the shield is running.

Version 1.7

  • BlockOut 1.7 — a smoother first-time setup.

Version 1.6

  • BlockOut 1.6 improves installation and update reliability.

Version 1.5

  • BlockOut v1.5 adds a Support screen — contact us and, if you'd like, support the app.