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# Why are my apps still blocked after the schedule ended?

**To unblock right now:** open Detox, on the home page find the **My current block** widget, then tap the **Unlock** button (lock-open icon). Apps unblock immediately.

**Why this happened:** your block's **Ending Action** is set to **Manual Unlock**, which keeps apps blocked past the end time until you tap **Unlock** yourself. This is by design (not a bug), but you can switch it to **Auto Unlock** so it won't happen next time. Steps below.

> If you meant something else: **a block that should be active isn't firing at all** → see [Detox isn't blocking my apps. How do I fix it?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/detox-isnt-blocking-my-apps-how-do-i-fix-it-1wtcxxr/). **You need to release every block right now in an emergency** → see [What is Urgent Unblock?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-is-urgent-unblock-rp1j5l/). **Some Home Screen icons turned blank or white** → see [Why are some of my app icons blank or white?](#).

## Why this happened (in more detail)

When you create a Scheduled Block or a Block Now session, you choose an **Ending Action**. There are two options:

- **Auto Unlock** (the default in recent app versions): apps unblock automatically the moment the end time hits.
- **Manual Unlock**: apps stay blocked past the end time until you tap **Unlock** yourself.

If your block is on Manual Unlock and you didn't realize it, you'll get the surprise you just hit: 8am rolls around, your overnight schedule technically ended at 7am, but your apps are still blocked.

This commonly affects older schedules created when Manual Unlock was the default. The setting saves with the block, so even after Detox switched its default to Auto Unlock, your existing schedule kept whatever it had.

## Switch the block to Auto Unlock (permanent fix)

If you want apps to unblock automatically at the end time from now on:

1. Open Detox and go to the **Blocks** tab.
2. Tap **Scheduled Blocks** (or **Block Now**, if it's a Block Now session that did this).
3. Tap the block whose Ending Action you want to change.
4. Tap **Edit**.
5. Find the **Ending Action** row and switch it from **Manual Unlock** to **Auto Unlock**.
6. Tap **Save**.

The change applies to the next occurrence of that block. If the block is currently in its pending-unlock state (the situation you're in right now), tap **Unlock** on the home screen to release this occurrence, then make the change for next time.

## Why Manual Unlock exists in the first place

Manual Unlock isn't a bug; it's a deliberate option. Some users prefer it because it adds friction: even when the schedule technically ends, you have to actively choose to unblock, which keeps you from rolling straight into your apps the moment the window opens. If that's what you want, keep Manual Unlock on; just know that "still blocked" past the end time is the intended behavior in that case.

If you set up the block with Manual Unlock on purpose, the question isn't "why are my apps blocked?" but "I want to unblock now," and the answer is the same: tap **Unlock** on the home screen.

## Note for Block Now sessions

The exact same Ending Action exists on Block Now. If you started a 90-minute Block Now session with Manual Unlock, your apps stay blocked at the 90-minute mark until you tap Unlock. The unblock path and the permanent fix are the same as above; just tap **Block Now** in the Blocks tab instead of **Scheduled Blocks**.

## If tapping Unlock doesn't release your apps

If you've tapped Unlock and the apps are still blocked, the issue isn't Manual Unlock; something else is going on. Try:

- Wait 5-10 seconds (the unblock takes a moment to propagate to iOS Screen Time).
- Force-quit Detox and reopen it.
- If still blocked, see the troubleshooting article on blocks not triggering, or use **Urgent Unblock** in Settings as an emergency release.

## Related

- [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 Urgent Unblock?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-is-urgent-unblock-rp1j5l/)