Support
Stuck, curious, or have an idea? Email support@tryintermezzo.app — a real person reads every message.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Intermezzo really block my screen?
- Only on the Mac. When a break begins, Intermezzo for Mac takes over the entire screen with a calm breathing overlay until the break ends (or you postpone or skip it). The iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Watch apps are companions: they never lock those devices, but they stay in sync — if the app is in the foreground, you'll see the same break screen at the same moment — and they can trigger, postpone, or reschedule breaks for every screen, including by asking Siri.
- Why can't the iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV app block the screen too?
- Apple doesn't allow it. On iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS, no third-party app can draw over other apps or lock the device — those platforms are deliberately designed so an app can never take over your screen (which is good for your security). macOS is different: apps are allowed to present a window above everything else, and that's what lets Intermezzo for Mac give you a true full-screen break. So the companion apps do everything the platform permits: they stay in sync, show the break screen when they're in the foreground, and give you widgets, complications, and Siri to manage breaks from anywhere.
- How does cross-device sync work?
- Two ways at once. Anywhere you have internet, breaks and settings sync through your own private iCloud. When devices share a Wi-Fi network, they also talk directly to each other for split-second alignment. There's no Intermezzo server and no account to create — turn on "Synchronize breaks across devices" and it just works.
- Why does Intermezzo ask for Local Network permission?
- The instant same-network sync uses Bonjour to discover your other devices. The messages carry only break timing — never personal data — and are authenticated so only your own devices accept them. If you decline, sync still works through iCloud; it's just not as instant.
- Can I change the break schedule?
- Yes. The 20-20-20 rule is the default, but the work interval, break length, and postpone amount are all adjustable in Settings, and your choices sync to every device.
- What if a break arrives at a bad moment?
- Postpone or skip right from the break screen on any device — or from the iPhone widget, your Apple Watch, or Siri ("Postpone my Intermezzo break"). You can also enable a quiet heads-up notification 30 or 60 seconds before each break so you can wrap up.
- Will it drain my battery?
- No. Intermezzo never polls in the background — it schedules the next break ahead of time and sleeps. The Apple Watch app is additionally trimmed to be battery-conscious.
- Which devices are supported?
- iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch, with a single Universal Purchase — buy once and it's yours on all of them. The Mac app is the one that takes over the screen for breaks; the others are synced companions for triggering and rescheduling them.
- When can I buy it?
- Intermezzo is in final testing and coming soon to the App Store. If you'd like to be told the moment it ships, drop a note to support@tryintermezzo.app.