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nfcGuard

Block distracting apps with NFC tags. Focus, screen time, digital wellbeing.
New in version 1.3.2
* Now in 13 more languages, including German, Spanish, French, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.
* Fully offline: the internet permission is gone, nfcGuard cannot reach the network.
* Schedules can run overnight, e.g. 22:00 - 07:00, and end at 00:00.
* A schedule whose end was missed on phones that cut background apps now ends on time.
* UNTIL times now show the schedule actually running.
Place an NFC tag somewhere inconvenient: another room, a drawer, the far end of the house. Then make yourself walk to it before you can scroll.

Most app blockers are one tap away from being switched off. This one isn't. Unlocking means getting up, or deleting the app.

Accessibility Service disclosure:
nfcGuard uses the Android AccessibilityService API for a single purpose: to detect which app is currently in the foreground, so that an app you have chosen to block can be closed when you open it. This is required because some devices do not reliably report the foreground app by any other means.

The service is declared so that it cannot retrieve window content, and it listens only for window-state-change events. It is technically incapable of reading what is on your screen, and it never does. Before it is turned on, nfcGuard shows a consent screen explaining this, with ALLOW and DON'T ALLOW buttons.

nfcGuard collects, stores and transmits no personal or sensitive user data of any kind, and works entirely offline.

The service is optional on most phones. With it off, nfcGuard instead shows a block screen on top of the blocked app.

Fully offline: no ads, no tracking, no accounts, no sign-up. Open source under the MIT license.

Features:
* Block mode - block the specific apps that distract you
* Allow mode - block everything except the essentials
* Per-day schedules that activate and deactivate on their own
* Multiple modes, each with its own NFC tag
* Timed unlocks, capped by a limit you set in advance
* Home screen widget for switching modes without opening the app
* Emergency reset with a configurable cooldown
* Config export and import in JSON or YAML

Requires a phone with NFC and any inexpensive NTAG sticker, or anything else with an NFC chip.

Source code: https://github.com/Andebugulin/nfcGuard
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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.

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  • Version 1.3.2 (25) suggested Added on Oct 22, 2026

    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
    • 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
    • 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.
    • ask to ignore battery optimizations
      Allows an app to ask for permission to ignore battery optimizations for that app.
    • Schedule precisely timed actions
      This app can schedule work to happen at a desired time in the future. This also means that the app can run when you're not actively using the device.
    • 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.
    • Schedule alarms or event reminders
      This app can schedule actions like alarms and reminders to notify you at a desired time in the future.
    • prevent phone from sleeping
      Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
    • com.andebugulin.nfcguard.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION

    Download APK 2.5 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log

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