Does it work after restart?

Yes. Blocks persist in your hosts file, and the background service keeps MCP running and temp-unblock timers active.

Which platforms are supported?

macOS is fully supported. Linux and Windows have hosts blocking with platform-specific DNS flush and background services.

Is this a subscription?

No. Pay once for a lifetime Pro license. The 50% launch discount is permanent.

How do I use it with Poke?

After install, connect your MCP URL in Poke, then add our recipe at https://poke.com/r/KQ7myvC_Xpo.

Which AI tools work with LockIn?

Any MCP client — Poke, Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and others. Connect your relay MCP URL after install.

How does LockIn compare to Freedom or Cold Turkey?

Freedom syncs blocking across phone and desktop but has no AI integration (~$40/year). Cold Turkey offers maximum desktop lockdown ($39 once) but is manual only. LockIn MCP is the only blocker with native MCP — your AI starts focus sessions — at $9.99 lifetime. See our comparisons at /compare.

Is LockIn MCP a good AI productivity tool?

Yes, if you already use Poke, Claude, or ChatGPT. Your assistant can block_domains, enter_focus_mode, and manage timed unblocks via MCP — no separate focus app to open. Pair with iOS Screen Time for mobile.

AI Productivity: How to Block Distractions with Your AI Assistant

GuideJune 19, 202610 min read

Use MCP to let Claude, ChatGPT, or Poke block distracting websites for you. Guide to AI-native focus and distraction blocking.

AI productivity isn't just about faster answers — it's about your assistant helping you execute. Distraction blocking is a perfect fit: instead of opening a separate focus app, you tell your AI "block social media for the next two hours" and it happens at the system level. Model Context Protocol (MCP) makes this real today.

Why AI + blocking beats manual apps

Zero context switch — blocking is a message, not another app.
Natural scheduling — "after this meeting, lock me in for 90 minutes."
Status checks — "what's blocked right now?" via get_block_status.
Timed breaks — temporarily_unblock_domains with auto re-block.
Works wherever you already use AI — Poke, Claude Desktop, ChatGPT connectors.

How LockIn MCP works

Install with one command: npx -y lockin-mcp install
The installer sets up hosts-file blocking and an MCP server.
Connect your MCP URL in Poke, Claude, ChatGPT, or any MCP client.
Your AI calls tools: block_domains, enter_focus_mode, unblock_domains, get_block_status.

MCP tools for focus

Tool	What it does
enter_focus_mode	Block common distraction sites in one action
block_domains	Block a custom list (youtube.com, x.com, etc.)
temporarily_unblock_domains	Allow access for N minutes, then re-block
unblock_domains	Permanently remove blocks
get_block_status	Show what's blocked and system readiness

Example prompts

"I'm doing deep work for 2 hours — block YouTube, Reddit, and X."
"Enter focus mode. I'll check back at 3pm."
"Unblock Twitter for 15 minutes, then block it again."
"What's currently blocked on my machine?"

Poke recipe

On Poke, add the LockIn MCP connector after install, then use our recommended recipe at poke.com/r/KQ7myvC_Xpo for pre-built focus workflows. Poke is especially good here because it's already your daily AI — focus blocking becomes part of the same conversation.

LockIn MCP vs other MCP productivity servers

Other MCP servers handle timers (focus-timer-ai-mcp), task planning (productivity-mcp), or activity analytics (Chronoid). LockIn MCP is the only one that enforces distraction blocking at the OS level via hosts file. Pair a timer MCP with LockIn for a complete AI productivity stack: plan your session, then let AI lock the doors.

Getting started

LockIn MCP Pro is $9.99 lifetime (50% launch discount). Install takes under a minute. If you're investing in AI productivity tools, adding system-level distraction blocking your assistant controls is one of the highest-leverage upgrades you can make.