FAQs

FWRD is a wellness tool that pairs a physical NFC card with a mobile app to help you create space from your phone. Tap the card to lock distracting apps and step away — no willpower required. Whether you're feeling overstimulated, anxious, or just need a mental reset, FWRD gives you a simple, physical way to quiet the noise and feel calmer throughout your day.

Modes are customizable blocking profiles you create in the app — each one lets you save a specific set of apps to block for a particular moment in your day. You can create as many modes as you want and name them however it makes sense to you.

To help you get started, FWRD suggests three common starting points:

• 🌿 Calm Mode — A lighter block for low-distraction focus. Good for working, reading, or easing into your morning.

• 🔒 Reset Mode — A deeper block for when you need a real mental break. Ideal for meals, time with people, or when stress is high.

• 🌙 Recharge Mode — Your wind-down block for evenings and sleep. Locks the apps that tend to keep you up.

These are just recommendations — you decide what goes in each mode, and you can set up entirely different modes to fit your own routine.

It's three steps:

1. Choose your apps — Select which apps you want to block during your session.

2. Tap to lock — Tap your FWRD card to your phone to activate your chosen mode and lock those apps.

3. Step away — Your apps stay locked until you tap the card again. No second-guessing, no loopholes.

You choose exactly which apps get blocked — FWRD only sees what you select. We never view, access, or pre-configure anything on your device. Once a mode is active, those apps become inaccessible until your session ends.

Apple Screen Time and Android Digital Wellbeing are built-in tools that set soft limits and send reminders — but they're easy to dismiss, rely entirely on you making the right choice in the moment, and don't address how you actually feel. Apps like Opal take a stronger approach to blocking, but they're still software-only: another toggle inside the same device you're trying to step away from.

FWRD is different in two ways:

Physical commitment. The NFC card makes locking your phone intentional and tactile. Tapping a physical object to start a session — and having to open the app and tap it again to end one — creates a real moment of friction that a software button can't replicate. That pause is the point. Most people take it a step further by storing their card somewhere physically separate — in their car, in another room, or giving it to a family member to hold onto. The more effort it takes to retrieve the card and unlock your phone, the stronger the commitment. Physical distance turns a small habit into a real one.

Wellness-first design. FWRD isn't just about limiting screen time — it's about how you feel. The Daily Check-In, Wellness Score, and session data help you understand the connection between your phone habits and your mental state, so you're building self-awareness, not just following rules.

Yes — FWRD supports both iOS and Android. The app is available on both platforms.

Setup takes about five minutes. Download the FWRD app, create your first blocking mode by selecting which apps you want to lock, and you're ready to tap. No technical knowledge required — if you can use an app, you can use FWRD.

We offer live chat and email support ([email protected]) during EST business hours. We answer every question within one day — and right now our typical response time is within a few hours.

Your FWRD order includes the physical NFC card and access to the FWRD app. Everything you need to get started is in the box.

We offer a 30-day risk-free trial. If FWRD isn't right for you, return it within 30 days for a full refund — no questions asked.

We currently ship to the USA and Canada. Orders typically arrive within 2 business days.

We accept all major credit and debit cards, as well as PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Once your order has been placed and processed, you will receive a confirmation email with your order details. This email will include a tracking number and a link to our tracking page.

Click on the tracking number link or enter the tracking number into our tracking page.

Tracking information may not be immediately available after your order is placed. It can take up to 4 hours for the number to become active in our system. If you don't see any updates right away, please be patient and check back later.

We offer fast and free shipping for all orders within the contiguous United States (does not include Hawaii, Alaska, or US territories) and Canada.

We’re sorry your item(s) have damage!

Some items break during shipment. We’ll do our best to help.

Please email our team at [email protected] with an image of your damaged item for further assistance.

Once your request a return, we will deactivate your card within 48 hours and you will be notified via email when the refund has been issued.

Please allow 3 - 5 business days for the refund to reflect in your account.

Delivery times vary depending on the destination and the shipping method selected. The average delivery time 2 business days.

You will have the option to cancel your order within your confirmation email. You may also contact our customer service team at [email protected]. Please include your order number and the reason for cancellation in your message.

Orders can only be canceled before they have been dispatched. If your order has already been shipped, please email us so we can cancel the card and issue you a refund in a timely manner.

Lost packages

At FWRD, we strive to ensure every order reaches you in perfect condition. In the event that your order is lost during transit, please reach out to our customer support team at [email protected] with your order number and any relevant details.

Damaged packages

We understand the disappointment of receiving a damaged package. In such instances, please report to our customer support team at [email protected] after receiving the order and include photos of the damaged items or package.

We will review the provided documentation and, if necessary, arrange for a replacement or issue a refund.

Returns must be initiated within 30 days of receiving your order. We have a no-questions-asked return policy where you will be issued a refund without even needing to send back the card. The card will simply be deactivated on our end, and a refund will be issued within 24 - 48 hours.

Please email [email protected]. We will start the return process within 24 hours. 

The FWRD card uses NFC (Near Field Communication) — the same technology behind tap-to-pay. When you tap the card to the back of your phone, it activates your selected blocking mode through the FWRD app. No Bluetooth, no internet connection, no battery required. The card itself is just the trigger — the app handles the rest.

The NFC card is the core of the FWRD experience — it's what makes locking your phone feel intentional and physical rather than just another toggle in an app. That said, you can also manage your blocking modes directly in the app if needed.

Open the FWRD app and tap Unlock. The app will prompt you to tap your FWRD card — once you do, your apps are free. The extra step is intentional: it keeps the action deliberate and creates that moment of pause between you and your phone.

Yes. FWRD only blocks the apps you've selected. Your phone calls, SMS, and any apps outside your block list remain fully accessible during a session.

Each day, FWRD invites you to do a short check-in across six wellness dimensions: Energy, Sleep Quality, Stress Level, Anxiety, Focus & Clarity, and Presence. Your responses, combined with your screen time reduction and session completion data, generate your personal Wellness Score — a blended metric that helps you see how your phone habits connect to how you actually feel. It's not about optimizing numbers; it's about noticing patterns.

FWRD was built with people like you in mind. Constant notifications, endless scrolling, and app-switching can spike stress and fragment attention throughout the day. By giving you a simple, physical way to step back — without requiring willpower in the moment — FWRD helps reduce overstimulation and create breathing room in your nervous system. Many of our users describe the relief of knowing their apps are locked and they don't have to keep fighting the urge to check them. As always, FWRD is a wellness support tool and not a substitute for professional care.

It's not just a bad habit — there's real science behind it. Research from the University of California, Irvine found that adults check their phones an average of 144 times per day — once every 10 minutes. Each check triggers a micro-dopamine release that gradually dulls the brain's baseline reward threshold, making it harder to feel satisfied and easier to keep scrolling. Over time, the brain learns to crave the stimulation, not the content.

A digital detox isn't about willpower — it's about interrupting that loop and giving your nervous system room to reset. For a deeper look at the science, this article from Psychology Today is a good starting point: Why Your Constant Phone Checking Is Digital Self-Harm.