Everything you wanted to know about Forest
Clear, practical answers to the most common reader questions our editorial team has received about Forest: Focus for Productivity.
What happens when a tree dies inside Forest?
If you leave the app during an active session, your seedling will wither and remain in your daily forest as a small visual reminder. There is no penalty score, no notification shaming, and no impact on long-term coins. Dead trees simply become part of the honest visual record of your day.
Are the real-world tree planting partnerships verified?
Yes. Forest works with established environmental partners—most notably Trees for the Future—and publishes regular reports showing how user-funded planting initiatives are deployed across multiple regions. Users can choose to spend earned coins to fund a real tree plant.
Do I need to create an account to use Forest?
No. Forest works fully offline and locally without an account. An optional account is required only if you want to sync sessions between an iPad and a phone, or restore your data after switching devices.
Will notifications still break my focus session?
Forest does not have system-level control over your phone, but it will alert you the moment you leave the app. For uninterrupted focus, the in-app deep focus mode pairs naturally with Do Not Disturb or iOS / Android Focus Mode.
Is the whitelist feature available on iOS?
Yes. On iOS, whitelisted apps can be opened mid-session without harming the tree. The configuration is performed once inside Settings, and includes useful presets for calendars, dictionaries and calculators.
Does Forest work without an internet connection?
Almost every core feature—planting trees, running timers, viewing daily statistics—works fully offline. An internet connection is needed only for cross-device sync, coin redemption, and the social Friends mode.
Is Forest suitable for school-aged students?
Yes. The app is widely used by Australian secondary and university students. Custom tags help separate Study, Homework and Reading sessions, while parent-friendly visualisations help families understand how attention is being invested across the week.
Can I block specific addictive apps with Forest?
Forest itself is willpower-based rather than a hard system blocker. Users who need stricter enforcement typically pair Forest with the operating system's built-in screen-time controls.
How much does the premium version cost?
Forest offers an affordable one-time premium unlock rather than a subscription. The free version is fully functional for most users; premium adds tree species, themes and additional statistics.
Is my session data shared with third parties?
No. Forest stores focus session history locally on your device by default, and—if you create an account—on the developer's secure servers solely for sync purposes. The studio does not sell or monetise user attention data.
Does Forest integrate with Apple Health or Google Fit?
Direct integration is not currently offered. Users who want unified wellbeing dashboards typically export weekly summaries from Forest manually.
Where can I report a bug or request a feature?
Feedback can be sent directly to the studio through the in-app support menu. Our editorial team has found their response times consistently prompt and respectful.