Defang is an Android launcher with an anti-dark-pattern friction layer. It is a speed bump, not a wall: you can still open Instagram, you can still override the timer. Nothing here is impossible to bypass — that is deliberate. A wall breeds circumvention; a speed bump breeds pause.
What it does:
• Intent gate — tapping a watched app shows a full-screen pause with a countdown before "Open anyway" activates. Declare what you came for, or go back.
• Session timer — a small overlay counts down your own preset limit. At zero, the end card appears. Extending costs friction: a 30-second wait, a written reason, and it works once per day. No "15 more minutes" button to tap into oblivion.
• Cool-down — after a session ends, reopening is locked for a period you chose in advance.
• Per-app grayscale — watched apps render colorless while your camera, maps, and photos keep their colors.
• Notification batching — pings from watched apps arrive as a muted summary at times you pick, not when an engagement model predicts you're vulnerable. Real contacts always come through.
• Awareness tidbits — short, specific, sourced facts about the machinery: variable reward schedules, notification timing optimization, what the algorithm selects for. They did this to you; the least you can do is know how.
• Offline prompts — when a session ends, a small physical suggestion. "Tidy the coffee table" is not a joke; it's a completable task with honest dopamine.
• Usage report — weekly time per app, per day, and how often "just checking a DM" became a 20-minute scroll. Evidence, not guilt.
Utility apps — camera, calculator, phone, maps — open instantly, always. The launcher never gets in the way of your life; it gets in the way of the loop.
No telemetry. All data stays on the device. English and Norwegian.
Requires the accessibility service (foreground app detection), notification access (batching), and display-over-apps permission (overlays). Per-app grayscale needs a one-time adb grant of WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS — the app works without it, minus that feature.
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Versions
Although APK downloads are available below to give you the choice, you should be aware that by installing that way you will not receive update notifications and it's a less secure way to download. We recommend that you install the F-Droid client and use that.
Download F-Droid
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arm64-v8a
armeabi-v7a
x86
x86_64
This version requires Android 8.0 or newer.
It is built and signed by the original developer, and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.
Permissions
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access Do Not Disturb
Allows the app to read and write Do Not Disturb configuration.
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take pictures and videos
This app can take pictures and record videos using the camera while the app is in use.
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run foreground service
Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
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run foreground service with the type "specialUse"
Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "specialUse"
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close other apps
Allows the app to end background processes of other apps. This may cause other apps to stop running.
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control Near Field Communication
Allows the app to communicate with Near Field Communication (NFC) tags, cards, and readers.
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android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS
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show notifications
Allows the app to show notifications
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query all packages
Allows an app to see all installed packages.
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read your contacts
Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your phone. Apps will also have access to the accounts on your phone that have created contacts. This may include accounts created by apps you have installed. This permission allows apps to save your contact data, and malicious apps may share contact data without your knowledge.
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run at startup
Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the phone and allow the app to slow down the overall phone by always running.
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request delete packages
Allows an application to request deletion of packages.
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ask to ignore battery optimizations
Allows an app to ask for permission to ignore battery optimizations for that app.
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This app can appear on top of other apps
This app can appear on top of other apps or other parts of the screen. This may interfere with normal app usage and change the way that other apps appear.
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android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
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com.defang.launcher.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Download APK
1.9 MiB
PGP Signature
|
Build Log
New in version 0.1.22
Personal lines (opt-in): the gate, end card and cooldown can quote your own usage numbers. Swipe left/right on home to open chosen apps. Math unlock levels 6 and 7. Fixed stale sessions after a force-stop or crash.
-
arm64-v8a
armeabi-v7a
x86
x86_64
This version requires Android 8.0 or newer.
It is built and signed by the original developer, and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.
Permissions
-
access Do Not Disturb
Allows the app to read and write Do Not Disturb configuration.
-
take pictures and videos
This app can take pictures and record videos using the camera while the app is in use.
-
run foreground service
Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
-
run foreground service with the type "specialUse"
Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "specialUse"
-
close other apps
Allows the app to end background processes of other apps. This may cause other apps to stop running.
-
control Near Field Communication
Allows the app to communicate with Near Field Communication (NFC) tags, cards, and readers.
-
android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS
-
show notifications
Allows the app to show notifications
-
query all packages
Allows an app to see all installed packages.
-
read your contacts
Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your phone. Apps will also have access to the accounts on your phone that have created contacts. This may include accounts created by apps you have installed. This permission allows apps to save your contact data, and malicious apps may share contact data without your knowledge.
-
run at startup
Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the phone and allow the app to slow down the overall phone by always running.
-
request delete packages
Allows an application to request deletion of packages.
-
ask to ignore battery optimizations
Allows an app to ask for permission to ignore battery optimizations for that app.
-
This app can appear on top of other apps
This app can appear on top of other apps or other parts of the screen. This may interfere with normal app usage and change the way that other apps appear.
-
android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
-
com.defang.launcher.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Download APK
1.8 MiB
PGP Signature
|
Build Log
New in version 0.1.21
Optional folders in the app drawer. Fixed an extra gap above the drawer's search bar. Onboarding and README now explain that settings open by tapping Defang in the app list.
-
arm64-v8a
armeabi-v7a
x86
x86_64
This version requires Android 8.0 or newer.
It is built and signed by the original developer, and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.
Permissions
-
access Do Not Disturb
Allows the app to read and write Do Not Disturb configuration.
-
take pictures and videos
This app can take pictures and record videos using the camera while the app is in use.
-
run foreground service
Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
-
run foreground service with the type "specialUse"
Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "specialUse"
-
close other apps
Allows the app to end background processes of other apps. This may cause other apps to stop running.
-
control Near Field Communication
Allows the app to communicate with Near Field Communication (NFC) tags, cards, and readers.
-
android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS
-
show notifications
Allows the app to show notifications
-
query all packages
Allows an app to see all installed packages.
-
read your contacts
Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your phone. Apps will also have access to the accounts on your phone that have created contacts. This may include accounts created by apps you have installed. This permission allows apps to save your contact data, and malicious apps may share contact data without your knowledge.
-
run at startup
Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the phone and allow the app to slow down the overall phone by always running.
-
request delete packages
Allows an application to request deletion of packages.
-
ask to ignore battery optimizations
Allows an app to ask for permission to ignore battery optimizations for that app.
-
This app can appear on top of other apps
This app can appear on top of other apps or other parts of the screen. This may interfere with normal app usage and change the way that other apps appear.
-
android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
-
com.defang.launcher.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Download APK
1.8 MiB
PGP Signature
|
Build Log
