AddictionBuster

简体中文 · Privacy · Security · Compatibility · Contributing · License

AddictionBuster is an open-source Android digital wellbeing tool for interrupting compulsive app-opening loops.

Instead of only blocking apps, AddictionBuster adds intentional friction before access: waiting periods, interaction challenges, confirmation prompts, per-session limits, daily budgets, phone-wide usage limits, whitelists, media blocking, and diagnostic logs.

Don't block the impulse. Interrupt it.

Screenshots

Status

Current source version: 0.3.4

The project is early but usable. The latest formal GitHub Release is available as v0.3.3.

Why AddictionBuster?

Many app blockers focus on hard denial. AddictionBuster focuses on the moment before access:

Impulse to open an app
→ Full-screen intervention
→ Wait or complete a challenge
→ Confirm the intention
→ Temporary access
→ Automatic return home when time expires

This makes it useful for people who want a pause, not just a wall.

Features

• Choose which launcher apps should be controlled.
• Configure per-app daily budgets and per-session limits.
• Add waiting periods before a controlled app opens.
• Require interaction challenges, hidden buttons, or text confirmation.
• Temporarily allow access after a challenge succeeds.
• Return to the home screen when the allowed session expires.
• Set phone-wide daily and per-unlock usage limits.
• Set scheduled blocking windows for bedtime, work, or study periods.
• Exclude selected apps with a phone usage whitelist.
• Pause background media from controlled apps when notification access is enabled.
• Keep a local diagnostic log for troubleshooting accessibility and timing issues.
• Configure mascot icon and voice slots with user-imported local media.

Permissions

AddictionBuster uses sensitive Android capabilities because app-level intervention cannot work as a normal foreground-only screen.

• Accessibility Service: detects foreground window changes and performs the home action when a limit expires.
• Display over other apps: shows the full-screen intervention overlay.
• Notification access: allows optional background media blocking through active media sessions.
• Notifications / foreground service: keeps enforcement visible while the app is monitoring usage.

See PRIVACY.md for the exact data handling policy.

For Android version support, tested environments, and OEM-specific troubleshooting, see Device Compatibility and OEM Troubleshooting.

Real-device testers can follow the Testing Guide and report results with the device compatibility template.

Install

Download the latest APK from GitHub Releases:

Download AddictionBuster v0.3.3

The release includes:

• AddictionBuster-v0.3.3.apk
• AddictionBuster-v0.3.3.apk.sha256

After installing:

1. Open AddictionBuster.
2. Go to Settings and enable the accessibility service.
3. Optional: enable notification access for background media blocking.
4. Add controlled apps.
5. Configure limits and challenges.
6. Optional: configure scheduled limits for bedtime, work, or study windows.
7. Open a controlled app to test the intervention flow.

Build

Requirements:

• Android Studio or Android SDK
• JDK 17
• Android SDK 35

Windows PowerShell example:

$env:ANDROID_HOME='E:\Dev\Android\Sdk'
.\gradlew.bat assembleDebug

Unix-like shell example:

./gradlew assembleDebug

Debug APK path:

app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk

Test

./gradlew test

Android instrumentation tests require an emulator or device:

./gradlew connectedDebugAndroidTest

Known Limitations

• Accessibility services must be enabled manually by the user.
• OEM background restrictions can stop or delay accessibility events.
• The app cannot freeze or force-stop other apps.
• Background media blocking is best-effort and depends on Android media sessions.
• Phone usage accounting depends on accessibility events and service uptime.
• Rules and logs are local only; there is no account system or cloud sync.
• Core accessibility flows still need more device testing.

Roadmap

• Collect real-device feedback for v0.3.3 and later.
• Add tested-device notes from real users.
• Collect more Xiaomi / HyperOS accessibility reliability reports.
• Continue polishing English localization as new screens are added.
• Expand scheduled rules beyond one editable daily window.
• Expand automated tests around accessibility and usage accounting.

Maintainer

AddictionBuster is primarily developed and maintained by @corlite.

Contributing

Issues and pull requests are welcome. Please read CONTRIBUTING.md before opening a PR.

License

AddictionBuster is released under the MIT License.