Nothing Hour FAQ
Frequently asked questions
A few things to know before you make room for quiet.
Making room for quiet
What is Nothing Hour?
Nothing Hour is an iPhone app for practising time without constant entertainment. Quiet sessions and everyday missions help you build a habit of being comfortable with your own thoughts.
What counts as quiet time?
Time without content or conversation. Walking, eating, waiting, cleaning, quiet exercise and journaling can count. Quiet means no deliberate input, so ordinary sounds around you are fine.
Do I have to do a whole hour at once?
No. The daily goal is 60 minutes in total. You can build it up through smaller moments throughout your day.
Can I listen to music or a podcast?
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, videos and feeds are deliberate input, so they do not count as quiet time. Leave the entertainment off for that moment.
What if I feel bored or do not think of anything useful?
That is fine. You do not need an insight, a productive thought or a better mood for the time to count. The practice is being without constant entertainment.
How does the daily streak work?
A day counts toward your streak when you reach 60 minutes of quiet time. Extra minutes do not carry over to the next day. Quiet time you add manually counts too.
Sessions and app blocking
How do quiet sessions work?
Choose an intention, then count down for a set time or count up as you go. Countdown sessions run from 15 minutes to two hours. Count-up sessions also have a two-hour limit.
Can I keep essential apps available?
Yes. Nothing Hour uses Apple’s Screen Time controls to block apps during quiet sessions. You choose the essential apps and websites to keep available in your allow list.
Why does Nothing Hour need Screen Time permission?
Screen Time permission lets Nothing Hour apply app restrictions during a session. It is required to start quiet sessions. Notification permission is optional.
Can I end a session early?
In easy mode, you can end a session by confirming with a five-second hold. Your elapsed quiet time still counts. Hard Mode countdowns have no in-app early exit, so choose a duration you can keep.
Can I add quiet time without using the timer?
Yes. You can add quiet time manually and correct entries in your history. Nothing Hour relies on you to record time honestly, including time away from your phone.
What are missions?
Missions are small ways to practise quiet in everyday life, with lessons and activities across five levels. They give you somewhere to start when an open hour feels like too much.
Access and privacy
Where can I download Nothing Hour?
Nothing Hour is preparing for its iPhone launch. Join the waitlist for updates. There is no Android version announced.
Will Nothing Hour be free?
The planned options are a monthly subscription with a seven-day free trial for eligible users, or a separate lifetime purchase. The trial renews monthly unless cancelled. Prices and eligibility will be shown in the app at launch.
How does Nothing Hour handle my data?
Your Screen Time selections, detailed device-usage reports and practice history stay on your device. Purchase services and website analytics process other information. Our privacy policy explains the services we use and your choices.
Do I need an account? Does my progress sync?
You do not need a Nothing Hour account. Practice history and preferences are stored locally, and Nothing Hour does not provide cloud sync across devices.
How can I ask a question or suggest a feature?
Email us with your question or suggestion. If you are reporting a problem, include your iPhone model, iOS version and what happened.
Looking for setup or troubleshooting help? Visit the Help Centre.