Help Center

💻

How do I use Opal’s Mac app?

Opal’s Mac app allows you to block, lock, and limit websites and apps you find distracting on your Apple computer. Everyone who uses Opal can set up one scheduled Session up to 24 hours in advance; you may alternatively set up one Lock on "Can be Reset" difficulty or one Limit on "Reminder" or "Normal" difficulty. Meanwhile, Gems who’ve upgraded to Opal Pro can set up unlimited Sessions, Locks, and Limits on the Mac App on any difficulty level. For more information about the features of our Mac App and how to troubleshoot any issues, continue reading.

How do I download and set up the Mac app?

To download and set up Opal’s Mac app, follow these steps:

  • Head to opal.so/mac and click on “Download”
  • Open your “Downloads” folder and click on Opal
  • Move the Opal icon to your “Applications” folder
  • Double-click on “Applications”
  • Scroll down and click on “Opal”
  • A prompt will appear that says “Opal” is an app download from the internet. Are you sure you want to open it?” → Click on “Open”
  • A login screen will appear
  • Open the Opal app on your phone and navigate to Settings (accessible from the top right corner of your Profile tab)
  • Note the phone number or email associated with your account
  • Return to the Mac app and input that information in the login prompt

Once you’ve completed those steps, you will have access to our Mac App on your Mac computer.

Please note that your Sessions will not sync or transfer between your devices regardless of you being logged into your account, as all Opal data remains on your individual device for privacy reasons. Similarly, screen time will not be synced across your devices and is instead device specific.

How does screen time tracking work on Opal's Mac App?

After you download and set up the Mac App, your daily screen time will be displayed in the top left corner of the app. Please note that our Mac App is not yet as robust as our iPhone app, and the Mac App must be open to track your screen time. Additionally, the Mac App will only depict your daily Screen Time and does not yet retain or display any data about your Screen Time on previous days. Finally, we'll remind you that Screen Time is not synced between your devices. Each device will independently report your Screen Time, regardless of if you're signed into the same Opal account on multiple devices.

How Do I Add A Session on Mac App?

To add a Session on the Mac app, click on the "Block Now" or “Schedule Session” button. Once you’ve selected your Session type, you will have three protection level options available, including:

  • Normal: You can snooze and cancel this session. This difficulty offers basic protection.
  • Timeout: This setting offers increasing delays before you can snooze again.
  • Deep Focus (available only on Opal Pro): You can’t snooze or end the session early.

Once you’ve selected your "Session Difficulty," you can edit the following information about your Session by clicking on the editing icons:

  • The name of your event
  • "Apps Blocked"
  • "Difficulty"
  • The specific time your Session runs
  • The "Days of week active"
  • Once that is complete, tap "Save Session"

How Can I Edit Or Cancel My Session?

Do you need to modify or cancel your ongoing Session on the Mac app? Here's how:

  • From the Opal Mac app, click on your ongoing Session
  • Edit the Session and click on “Remove Session” or “Save Session”

Please note that if you are in a Deep Focus Session, that you must wait until the Session ends to edit it. For that reason, we discourage Gems from setting up Sessions that run 24/7, as they will be permanently locked within those Sessions. Additionally, our Support team is unable to cancel an ongoing Deep Focus Session on your behalf.

How do I add a Lock on Mac App?

To add a Lock, click on the "Lock" button on the "Blocks" tab. Once you've selected it, you will have two protection levels available, including:

  • Can be Reset: You can reset the unlocks allowed limit after it is reached
  • Hard Lock (available only on Opal Pro): Once you hit the unlocks allowed limit, you must wait until the next day

You can also edit the following information about your Lock by clicking on the editing icons:

  • The name of "My Lock"
  • "Apps Blocked"
  • "Unlocks Allowed Per Day"
  • The "For Up to" Length they should be Unlocked

What do I do if I've set a Lock to "Hard Lock" and want to edit it?

If you've set up your Mac App Lock on "Hard Lock" difficulty, you must edit it before you've opened one of your Locks for the day. If you've already opened one of your Locks for the day, you must wait until tomorrow to edit that Lock.

How do I add a Time Limit on Mac App?

To add a Time Limit, click on the "Time Limit" button on the "Blocks" tab. Once you've selected it, you will have three protection levels available, including:

  • Normal: You can snooze and cancel this session. This difficulty offers basic protection.
  • Timeout: This setting offers increasing delays before you can snooze again.
  • Deep Focus (available only on Opal Pro): You can’t snooze or end the session early.

You can also edit the following information about your Time Limit by clicking on the editing icons:

  • The name of "My Time Limit"
  • What happens when I "Reach Time Limit"
  • "Days of Week Active"
  • "On These Apps"
  • Then "Block For"
  • The "Difficulty" Level applied to the Time Limit

What do I do if I've set a Limit to "Deep Focus" and want to edit it?

If you've set up your Mac App Time Limit on "Deep Focus" difficulty, you must wait until the Session ends to edit it. For that reason, we discourage Gems from setting up Limits that run 24/7, as they will be permanently locked within those Sessions. Additionally, our Support team is unable to cancel an ongoing Deep Focus Session on your behalf.

What browsers does the Mac app support?

Currently, our Mac app supports Chrome, Safari, Arc, Opera, Edge, and Brave. If you would like us to support other browsers (or have any other suggestions for improvement), please let us know via the Community forums here.

I accidentally did not grant the Mac app permission to control my browser! What do I do to fix it?

If you've disabled the Mac app's permission to control your browser, or neglected to grant it permission, please take the following steps to sort that out:

  • Exit the Mac app
  • Open your computer's System Settings > Privacy & Security > Automation
  • Head there, and ensure that permission is granted to each browser you use by toggling it on

Mac app isn’t working properly?

If you see any error codes or broken functionality within the Mac app, take the following troubleshooting steps:

  • Ensure that your browser is supported (we support Chrome, Safari, Arc, Opera, Edge, and Brave)
  • Check that you've granted the Mac app permission to control your browser
  • Click on the username icon in the bottom left corner
  • Click on “Sign out”
  • Click on the Opal name in the top left menu bar
  • Select “Check for updates” and update to the newest version
  • Log in again

How can I cancel and/or receive a refund for my Mac app subscription?

If you subscribed to Opal through the Mac app, you can access your subscription information by entering your information in the Mac app Stripe dashboard. If you need a refund for your purchase made via Stripe, please contact us via support@opal.so. If you need a refund for a purchase made via Apple, you must contact Apple for a refund using the instructions here.

If you’ve updated the Mac App and the problems persist, please contact Support within the Mac app by clicking on the "Settings" icon in the left menu. From there, click on the "Give Feedback" button. If you contact Support, please include any screenshots or videos of any error codes or incorrect functionality you are experiencing. Finally, If you have suggestions for improvements, please post them via our Community board here.
Thank you for your feedback!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Relevant Articles