Block It Out

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions about Block It Out.

General

What is Block It Out?

Block It Out is an iOS app that synchronizes calendar events between different calendars by creating “shadow events.” These shadows block your time without revealing sensitive details from the original event.

How is this different from other calendar sync tools?

Most calendar sync services (OneCal, FreeBusy, Reclaim AI, CalendarBridge, etc.) run on cloud servers and require storing your calendar credentials. Block It Out runs entirely on your iPhone—no cloud, no stored passwords, no external servers.

Is my calendar data sent to any servers?

No. All synchronization happens on your device. No calendar data is ever transmitted by the app.

Do you have access to my calendar passwords?

No. Block It Out uses Apple’s EventKit framework, which accesses calendars through iOS without needing your account credentials.

Compatibility

Can I sync between Google Calendar and iCloud?

Yes! As long as both calendars are accessible through your iPhone’s native Calendar app, Block It Out can sync between them.

What about Exchange and Outlook?

Yes. Any calendar that appears in the iOS Calendar app works with Block It Out.

Does it work with recurring events?

Absolutely. Recurring events maintain their recurrence patterns in shadow events.

Will it work with shared calendars?

Yes, if the shared calendar appears in your iOS Calendar app and you have write access to the destination calendar.

How It Works

What happens when I move an event?

Block It Out detects the change and updates the corresponding shadow event to match the new time.

What if I delete an event?

The corresponding shadow event is automatically removed during the next sync.

How often does background sync run?

The app requests sync every 5 minutes, but iOS controls the actual frequency based on your usage patterns, battery life, and system load. Opening the app triggers an immediate sync.

Will this modify my original events?

Never. Block It Out only creates shadow events in destination calendars. Source events are read-only and never touched.

How do I know which events are shadows?

Shadow events contain a hidden identifier in their notes field. You can also use the “Clean Up” features in Settings to find and manage all shadow events.

Subscription & Pricing

What’s included in the free tier?

1 sync rule
1 destination calendar
Background sync
Basic shadow events with “Block” title

What do I get with Essential ($0.99/month)?

2 sync rules
Custom shadow titles
Privacy filtering

What do I get with Advanced ($2.99/month)?

Unlimited sync rules
Multiple destinations per rule
Advanced filtering with AND/OR logic
Template variables
Time padding
Custom notifications
Dry run preview
Undo last sync
Transaction rollback

How do I manage my subscription?

Through your Apple ID account settings, or use “Restore Purchases” in the app if you’ve reinstalled.

Can I get a refund?

Subscription refunds are handled by Apple. Contact Apple Support for refund requests.

Privacy

What data do you collect?

None. Block It Out collects no analytics, no usage data, no personal information.

Is my data backed up?

Your sync rules are stored locally and included in your standard iOS backups (iCloud or iTunes). Calendar events themselves are managed by iOS.

What happens if I delete the app?

All stored sync rules and configuration are removed. Shadow events remain in your calendars until you delete them manually or use the cleanup feature before uninstalling.

Troubleshooting

Background sync isn’t working

Enable Background App Refresh in iOS Settings → Apps → Block It Out.

Events aren’t syncing

Check calendar permissions: iOS Settings → Apps → Block It Out → Calendars → Full Access
Verify both source and destination calendars are accessible
Check if your filter conditions are too restrictive
Try running sync manually from the app

I don’t see my Google/Exchange calendar

Make sure the account is connected in iOS Settings → Calendar → Accounts. Block It Out can only see calendars that appear in the native Calendar app.

Shadow events are missing details

This is intentional for privacy. Upgrade to Essential or Advanced to customize shadow event content.

Full Troubleshooting Guide →

Feature Requests

Will you add feature X?

I’m always interested in improving the app. Email your suggestions to support (at) block-it-out (dot) com.

Will you build this for Android?

I have no plans to build for Android, but the techniques aren’t magic—someone could build a similar app for Android. If you’re interested in doing so, I’m happy to discuss.

Can you add two-way sync?

Create two rules: one from A→B and another from B→A. Each rule operates independently.

About

Who built this?

Block It Out was built by Isaiah Weiner to solve a personal need for privacy-respecting calendar sync.

Why did you build it?

I watched cloud-based calendar sync services appear over the years, all requiring stored credentials. I wanted sync without the security risk, so I built it myself.

How long has this been around?

The app was originally built for personal use and later published to the App Store for others with the same need.

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