What's new in FlowStack v2.1


FlowStack is a calm focus app for iPhone, iPad and Android that helps you move through a routine one task at a time, with a timer on every step. Version 2.1 brings auto mode, pause and park, a new way to move between tasks mid-session, shareable routine cards, and 18 languages. Here is what each one does and who it is for.

Auto mode: run a routine without touching your phone

Until now, when a task’s timer ran out, you tapped to move to the next one. Auto mode removes that step. Turn it on, press start once, and when a timer ends the app starts the next task on its own. The whole session runs without you opening the app or pressing anything.

It is a mode you switch on, not a change to how FlowStack already works. The manual way, where you move to the next task yourself, is still there, and you decide where auto mode applies:

  • Per routine. Keep one routine hands-free and another under manual control.

  • Per session. Set any upcoming session to whichever mode you want before you start it.

  • As your default. If you already know your preference, set it once. The default applies to every upcoming session and every new routine you create.

This one came straight from people who asked for it. Some have their hands full cooking, cleaning or working out and just want to hear and see what is next. Others want to follow a routine strictly, with no gap to pause, skip or drift off. It fits a teacher timing lessons in 50 and 10 minute blocks, a Tabata workout, or a morning routine where finishing on time is the whole point. Many of the people who rely on FlowStack are managing ADHD or time-blindness, and auto mode takes away the “what next” decision that tends to derail a routine.

On iPhone, a new lock screen widget shows your current task and its countdown, similar to the existing Live Activity. This lock screenwidget pairs well with auto mode, which runs without you touching the phone: when a task’s time is up, you get a notification and the next task starts on its own.

During a session, FlowStack keeps the screen awake, so if you leave your phone unlocked you can see the current task and timer the whole way through. If you would rather save battery, lock the phone and you will still get the notification each time a task ends.

Auto mode is a premium feature. Everything else in this update is free for everyone. And there is a free 7 day trial for premium.

Pause and park: switch tasks without losing your place

Pause and park lets you stop a task partway, start a different one, and come back to resume the first later. When you pause a task and switch, the paused task keeps its state and is placed after the task you moved to, so nothing gets marked done by accident and nothing gets lost. Note that you need to pause a task for it to be able to resume later.

It is built for the moment a task hits a blocker. You might be waiting on an AI tool to finish, or a reply from someone else, or a kettle, and you want to use that time on something else without abandoning what you were doing. Park it, work on the next thing, and pick it back up with the time it had left.

Finish a task your way: mark it done, or jump straight to the next

The in-session pause panel now has a new layout, and moving between tasks is now a choice. During a session you can mark a task done, or go straight to starting the next one.

People work differently here. Some like to mark a task complete before moving on, so they get a brief moment to mentally close the task and see what is next. Others want to drop straight into the next task with as little friction as possible, so they do not stop mid-session. In manual mode you now have both options. If a task’s timer has run out, you can still choose: mark it complete, or start the next task, each with a single tap. In auto mode, the app simply proceeds to the next task for you, either when time is up or when you press "next".

More ways to handle a task mid-session

During an active task, the new bottom layout has a "more" button, and it holds a set of actions for the task you are on:

  • Take a break. New in this update. It pauses the current task and adds a break task, so you can step away in the middle of something without losing it. Previously you were only able to take a break in between two tasks. Now you can do it in the middle of a task.

  • Restart the task. Not new, just moved to a different place. It starts the current task over from its full time. For the times you didn't actually start focusing on the task even though the timer started.

  • Skip the task. Remove the current task from the active session.

  • Move to the end. If you have more than one task, you can send the current task to the end of the queue. The time it has left goes with it.

You can also adjust the clock while a task runs. You could already add 5 minutes, and now you can take 5 minutes off too.

Share your routine as an image

You can now save any routine/template as a transparent image, a bit like the summary people post after a run. It shows the routine name, the total time, number of tasks, and each task, and you can choose from different styles, with or without the task colours. Download your choice of visual, add the routine image as an overlay on top of another image, and post it online.

To create one, open your Library, go to the routine, tap the more icon (the three dots) and choose Share as image. Pick a style, then download it or share it straight to another app on your phone. If you want to use it as an overlay on a photo or story, download it first and add it in your photo editor or in Instagram, wherever you like to layer things. It is an easy way to show a friend your setup, or to post your morning routine, study block or workout as content online.

Now in 18 languages

FlowStack is now translated into 18 languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Finnish, Swedish, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Persian, Hindi, Japanese and Korean, Norwegian and Danish. The whole app interface is localised, so if your phone is set to one of these, FlowStack will speak your language. If something sounds off in your language, feel free to give feedback in-app or via email.

Smaller improvements

  • The session progress bar now has more contrast, for better accessibility.

  • In manual mode, when a task’s time runs out and you keep working past it (flow state), the total time you spend is now counted correctly, including the overtime.

  • A new lock screen widget for iOS shows the current task and time left.

  • A new sound for when a session ends. Auto mode also has a different sound when time is up and the next task is automatically started.

What is in premium

Most of v2.1 is free for everyone. Premium adds the features for people who live in the app:

  • Auto progression mode for hands-free routines

  • Unlimited templates and routines

  • Focus patterns

  • 30-day focus history

  • Per-task estimated completion time, so you can see when each task will finish

FAQ

How do I turn on auto mode?

Go to your Library and open the template you want it on. Tap where it says manual or automatic, then use the toggle to choose which mode applies to that template. After that, when a task’s timer ends, FlowStack starts the next task on its own, with no tap needed. Auto mode is a premium feature.

Can I set auto mode as the default for every routine?

Yes. You can set auto mode per routine, per upcoming session, or as your default. Set as the default, it applies to every upcoming session and every new routine you create.

Can I pause a task and come back to it later?

Yes. you can now pause a task, start a different one, and return to the paused task later, if it's in the same focus session. The paused task keeps its progress and is lined up after the task you switched to.

What is the difference between auto mode and manual mode?

In manual mode you move to the next task yourself when you are ready, and you can either mark the task done or jump straight to the next with one tap. In auto mode the app moves on for you when the timer ends. Both are available, and you pick which one a routine uses.

How do I share my routine as an image?

Open your Library, go to the routine, tap the more icon (the three dots) and choose Share as image. Pick a style, then download it or share it to another app. To use it as an overlay on a photo or story, download it and add it in your photo editor or Instagram.

Can I see the current task on my lock screen?

On iPhone, yes. The new lock screen widget shows your current task and its timer, similar to the Live Activity. With auto mode you also get a notification each time a task ends and the next one starts, even with the phone locked. Depending on your device, you may need to tap the lock screen to see which task is running.

Can I take a break in the middle of a task?

Yes. During an active task, open the more menu and choose Take a break. It pauses the current task and adds a break task, so you can step away without losing where you were.

Can I add or remove time during a task?

Yes. While a task is running you can add 5 minutes, or take 5 minutes off. Additionally, like before, you can always enter Flow State where time is ticking up instead of down. That way FlowStack supports a flexible schedule.

How to get it

These features are available in version 2.1.8 and above. Update FlowStack on the App Store or Google Play, open a routine, and try the new in-session controls. If you have been waiting for hands-free routines, auto mode is the one to turn on.

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