Pauseur

Pauseur Terms of Use

Version: 1.1 Effective Date: February 27, 2026 Last Updated: February 28, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Pauseur ("the App"). Pauseur is developed and operated by Qichao Li, an independent developer ("Developer," "we," "us," or "our").

By downloading, installing, or using the App, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the App.

These Terms apply to all use of Pauseur downloaded through the Apple App Store. These Terms supplement the Apple Standard End User License Agreement (EULA). In the event of any conflict between these Terms and the Apple Standard EULA, these Terms shall prevail to the extent permitted by Apple's policies.

2. Service Description

Pauseur is a mindfulness-based tool designed to help you reduce compulsive usage of specific apps. Core features include:

  • Breathing interception: Through iOS Shortcuts automation, Pauseur guides you through a breathing exercise before opening a target app
  • Usage tracking: Records interception history and breathing data to help you understand your usage patterns
  • Health sync: Optionally syncs breathing duration to the Apple Health app

Important:

  • Pauseur relies on iOS Shortcuts to implement its interception feature. You must manually configure automation rules. Pauseur does not have system-level app control capabilities and will not restrict your normal use of any app
  • Pauseur does not require account registration and does not operate its own backend servers. Core data is stored locally on your device
  • Pauseur does not support iCloud backup or cross-device data migration. If you uninstall the App or switch devices, all local data (interception records, breathing records, and settings) will be permanently lost
  • Pauseur does not constitute medical advice, psychological counseling, or any form of treatment

3. Freemium Model

Pauseur operates on a freemium model:

  • Free: Intercept 1 target app with full breathing interception and usage tracking functionality
  • Pauseur Pro: Unlock unlimited target apps through an Apple In-App Purchase (IAP) subscription

4. User Conduct

When using the App, you agree to:

  1. Lawful use: Use the App in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
  2. Prohibited activities: You shall not:
    • Reverse-engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code of the App
    • Modify, alter, or create derivative works based on the App
    • Remove, obscure, or alter any copyright notices, trademarks, or other intellectual property markings in the App
    • Exploit any bugs, vulnerabilities, or defects in the App
    • Use the App for any commercial purpose (other than normal personal use)
    • Access or use the App through any automated means (including but not limited to scripts or bots)

5. Intellectual Property

  1. The App and its content (including but not limited to interface design, animations, icons, and text) are the intellectual property of the Developer
  2. The interception concept in Pauseur is inspired by academic research, citing the paper TypeOut by Xuhai Xu et al., published at ACM CHI 2022 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems) (DOI: 10.1145/3491102.3517476). This citation complies with the original authors' license (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International)
  3. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or otherwise reuse the App without the Developer's prior written consent

6. Subscription Terms

6.1 Subscription Details

Pauseur Pro is a paid subscription service offered through Apple In-App Purchase. Subscribing unlocks unlimited target app interceptions.

6.2 Free Trial

Pauseur Pro may offer a free trial period. If a free trial is available, you will not be charged during the trial period. At the end of the trial, your subscription will automatically convert to a paid subscription and your Apple ID account will be charged unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends. Trial eligibility is determined by Apple and may be limited to one trial per Apple ID.

6.3 Auto-Renewal

Pauseur Pro is an auto-renewing subscription. Your subscription will automatically renew and your Apple ID account will be charged unless you turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period.

6.4 Managing and Canceling

You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time through:

  • iPhone: Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions
  • Or via App Store → Profile icon → Subscriptions

No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period. You may only turn off auto-renewal, after which you will continue to have access to Pro features until the end of the current period. Once the period expires, the App will revert to the free tier.

6.5 Refund Policy

All payments are processed by Apple. For refunds, please contact Apple Support. The Developer cannot process refunds directly.

6.6 Price Changes

Subscription prices may change. Apple will notify you of price changes in accordance with its policies. If you do not agree to a new price, you may cancel your subscription before the change takes effect.

7. Disclaimers

  1. Pauseur is an assistive mindfulness tool. It does not constitute medical advice, psychological counseling, or a treatment plan. If you have mental health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare professional
  2. Pauseur does not guarantee that it will effectively reduce your usage time of any app. Results vary by individual and depend on your personal motivation and usage patterns
  3. The interception feature relies on iOS Shortcuts automation and is subject to Apple's system policies. Pauseur provides guidance on setting up Automations, but the triggering reliability and execution speed are entirely determined by the iOS operating system. Failure of the automation to trigger does not constitute a defect in the App. The Developer is not responsible for functionality issues caused by system updates or platform restrictions
  4. The Developer is not responsible for service interruptions caused by force majeure events (including but not limited to natural disasters, policy changes, or network outages)
  5. The App is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. The Developer makes no warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement
  6. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEVELOPER'S TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE APP SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU HAVE ACTUALLY PAID TO THE DEVELOPER (EXCLUDING THE PORTION COLLECTED BY APPLE AS COMMISSION) FOR USING THE APP IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM. If you have not made any payments, the Developer's maximum liability shall be fifty US dollars (USD $50.00). The foregoing limitation does not apply to liability for personal injury or death caused by the Developer's gross negligence or willful misconduct
  7. The Developer reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue all or part of the App's services. If services are to be terminated, the Developer will provide advance notice through in-app notification or other reasonable means. Service termination does not affect local data on your device, but the Developer has no technical means to recover your data once the App is deleted

8. Children

The App is not directed at children under 13 years of age. The Developer does not knowingly collect any information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information through the App, please contact us using the information below. We will promptly delete the relevant information.

9. Privacy

The Developer takes your privacy seriously. For details on how the App collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information, please review the Pauseur Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy is an integral part of these Terms.

10. Modifications to These Terms

The Developer may revise these Terms from time to time. Updated Terms will be published within the App. The revised Terms take effect upon publication. Your continued use of the App after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

If material changes are made (including but not limited to: expanding data collection scope, adding new third-party data sharing, or substantive changes to payment terms), the Developer will notify you prominently within the App.

11. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in San Francisco County, California, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts. Nothing in this Section shall prevent consumers from bringing claims in their country of residence under mandatory consumer protection laws.

12. General Provisions

  1. Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. In particular, even if any other provision is held invalid, the limitations of liability set forth in Section 7 shall remain enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law
  2. Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Developer regarding your use of the App, superseding all prior oral or written agreements on the same subject
  3. Waiver: The failure of the Developer to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision
  4. Governing Language: These Terms are drafted in English. In the event of any discrepancy between the English version and any translated version, the English version shall prevail
  5. Electronic Communications: By using the App, you consent to receive communications from the Developer electronically, including in-app notifications and updates to these Terms. You agree that all notices and communications provided electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about these Terms, please contact us: