How to install Blockerflow on Mac
Blockerflow for Mac blocks adult content, piracy sites, Reels, Shorts and Snapchat Spotlight in your browser, with the same accountability partners and blocklists as the Android app. Installing takes a minute, plus one extra step because macOS does not know the developer.
Version 1.0.1, 23 MB, macOS 12 or later, Apple silicon and Intel.
Install
- Download the .dmg with the button above and open it.
- Drag Blockerflow onto the Applications shortcut in the window that opens.
- Eject the disk image in Finder. You can delete the .dmg.
Open it the first time
Blockerflow is distributed without an Apple Developer licence, so it is not notarized and macOS may refuse a plain double click. You only do this once.
- In Applications, right click Blockerflow and choose Open.
- In the warning that appears, choose Open again.
macOS says "Blockerflow is damaged and can't be opened"?
The app is not damaged, macOS just cannot verify it. With Blockerflow in your Applications folder, open Terminal and run:
xattr -cr /Applications/Blockerflow.appThen open Blockerflow again.
The first start
Blockerflow installs a certificate called Blockerflow CA in your keychain and sets itself as the system proxy. macOS may ask for your password. Allow it: without the certificate HTTPS sites cannot be filtered. The certificate is created on your Mac and only used to read the address of a few sites, such as YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, so a single Short or Reel can be blocked.
Blockerflow runs from the menu bar and has no Dock icon. The card at the top of the Blocking tab shows whether the filter is really running: if it says Protection is off, press Turn on. Switch on what you want blocked, then choose who approves changes: Myself, Time Delay, a Friend or the AI Coach. Signing in with Google is optional. It is only needed for Friend and AI Coach, and it syncs your settings with the Android app.
Supported browsers
Tested and working: Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Vivaldi, DuckDuckGo, Brave, Microsoft Edge, Orion and Yandex. Tor Browser, Maxthon and Arc are not supported, and Block unsupported browsers closes them.
Anything that skips the system proxy skips the blocker too: a built in VPN, DNS over HTTPS settings that bypass the proxy, a Tor window, and apps such as the WhatsApp desktop app. Turn those off if you want the blocker to hold.
Update or uninstall
Uninstall Protection locks the app so it cannot be replaced or deleted. Turn it off in Settings first. Your accountability partner may ask you to confirm.
- To update, quit Blockerflow from the menu bar icon, open the new .dmg and drag the app over the old one.
- To uninstall, use Uninstall App in Settings. It removes the app, its settings and its background helpers. You can also delete the Blockerflow CA certificate in Keychain Access.
Frequently asked questions
Why does macOS warn me when I open Blockerflow?
The app is distributed without an Apple Developer licence, so it is not notarized. Right click it and choose Open once. If macOS says the app is damaged, use the Terminal command in the box in the guide above.
Do I need an account?
No. You only need to sign in with Google for the Friend and AI Coach partners and to sync with the Android app.
Can I just delete the app to remove it?
Not while Uninstall Protection is on. Turn it off in Settings, then use Uninstall App.
Blockerflow is free. Help me keep it that way.
No ads, no subscriptions, no selling your data. If it helps you, a donation pays for the things that keep it free and safe to install. Any amount helps.
“Blockerflow” Not Opened
Apple could not verify “Blockerflow” is free of malware that may harm your Mac or compromise your privacy.
“Blockerflow” is an app downloaded from the Internet. Are you sure you want to open it?
Apple checked it for malicious software and none was detected.
Next goals
Apple Developer ID
€99 a yearSigns Blockerflow for macOS and iOS, so it opens without warnings.
Windows code signing certificate
around €200 a yearRemoves the SmartScreen warning when you install on Windows.
Running costs
ongoingDomain, email delivery, the AI Coach and the cloud servers behind sign in and sync.
Try Blockerflow
Block adult content and distracting feeds on Android and Mac, with an accountability system behind it.