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# What is Urgent Unblock?

Urgent Unblock is Detox's last-resort emergency release. It instantly ends every currently active block (Auto Block, Scheduled, or Block Now) in one tap. Limit: **one use every 24 hours per device**. You'll find it in **Detox → Settings → Urgent Unblock**.

Urgent Unblock is **not the same as Snooze** (which pauses Auto Block *before* it fires) or **Pause/Breaks** (which pause one actively-running block for a few minutes). Use Urgent Unblock only when you need every block off right now and can't wait out the duration.

> If you meant something else: **Pause Auto Block monitoring before a block fires** → see [What is Snooze?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-is-snooze-pvjp5t/). **Pause one running Scheduled Block or Block Now for a few minutes** → see [What are Breaks?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-are-breaks-jeekqu/).

## How it works

When you trigger Urgent Unblock, Detox releases every currently active block in one shot. Your block configurations stay untouched, only the current occurrence is ended:

- Scheduled Blocks come back on their next scheduled day.
- Block Now sessions are terminated.
- Auto Block monitoring continues normally; if it fired the current block, the counter resets and monitoring picks up from there.

Urgent Unblock works even when a Strict Mode block is active. Strict Mode is meant to keep you committed during normal life, but it's not designed to lock you out in a real emergency.

## Using Urgent Unblock

1. Open Detox and go to the **Settings** tab.
2. Tap the **Urgent Unblock** card.
3. The Urgent Unblock sheet opens. If you've used yours in the past 24 hours, the button is disabled and a countdown shows when the next one is available.
4. If it's available, tap **Unblock your apps**.
5. Confirm in the alert: **Are you sure you want to unblock your apps? You can do it only once every 24 hours.** Tap **Unblock**.
6. Your apps unblock immediately and the sheet dismisses.

After use, the sheet shows: **You've already used your emergency unblock. The next one will be available soon.**

## When you've already used today's

If you've used your 24-hour Urgent Unblock and you're still locked out, you can ask us through the in-app chat:

1. Open Detox and go to the **Settings** tab.
2. Tap **Problems with Blocks?**
3. Tap **Something else** to open the chat.
4. Tell us: "I've used my Urgent Unblock today and I'm still locked out."

We can release your apps remotely from our side. The remote unblock takes effect the next time you open Detox.

## What Urgent Unblock doesn't do

- It doesn't modify your block configurations. Your Auto Block threshold, Scheduled Blocks, and Monitored Apps are all unchanged.
- It doesn't sync across your devices. If you have Detox on iPhone and iPad, each device has its own independent 24-hour cooldown.
- It doesn't bypass Strict Mode permanently. Strict Mode still applies to future blocks; you've just released the current one.
- It doesn't extend itself. There's no way to "save up" extra uses or use two in a row. The 24 hours start from your last use.
- It isn't the right option for avoiding a block ahead of time. If you know you'll need a few minutes on a monitored app before Auto Block fires, use **Snooze** from the home screen instead. If you want to interrupt a running Scheduled Block or Block Now, use a **Break** (when breaks are allowed on that block).

## Related

- [What is Auto Block?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-is-auto-block-1t86axm/)
- [What are Scheduled Blocks?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-are-scheduled-blocks-1h4fbrr/)
- [What is Block Now?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-is-block-now-1ik0nma/)
- [What is Strict Mode?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-is-strict-mode-1xqv27s/)