Key Takeaways
- Don’t buy an expensive distraction-free writing device—repurpose an old iOS device.
- Use Apple Configurator to limit your iOS apps to a single one.
- Experience increased productivity and focus using your repurposed distraction-free writing tool.
Distraction-free writing devices are exceptionally useful. However, they’re pricey. The good news is you don’t need to go buy a new device if you have an old iPad or iPhone lying around. With a little ingenuity, you can turn that device into an awesome distraction-free writing tool.
Why Would Anyone Want to Do This?
As someone who writes on the internet for a living, I deal with distraction regularly. X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, you name it, and I’ve probably spent hours wasting time doomscrolling through it. Because social media is such a big part of my workday, I typically find myself unintentionally losing hours in the abyss of the algorithm.
To prevent these distractions, I needed a nuclear option that kept me from accessing the social media time sucks that appeal to my lizard brain. A distraction-free writing device was the solution. But I didn’t want to splurge on dedicated hardware.
Instead, I found a way to repurpose an unused iPad I already had. And after a week of test-driving the setup, I’ve discovered it makes me much more productive. If that sounds interesting to you, you’re in luck. Today, I’m going to show you how I did it, and how you can do the same.
What You’ll Need
To take the plunge with this project, here’s what you’ll need:
- An old or unused iOS device (I used a 2022 iPad Pro, but any old iOS device should work)
- Apple Configurator
- A USB cable
- A computer running macOS
Make sure you’ve backed up your iOS device before we begin. This process will require a complete factory reset, which means you’ll lose all data and apps on the sacrificial device.
It also goes without saying that you shouldn’t use your primary iPad or iPhone here. Even though the process is reversible, the reversal isn’t frictionless.
Why Apple Configurator?
Apple Configurator is designed to manage iOS devices in a school or workplace setting. Essentially, the program acts like the iOS police, and only allows access to certain functions on the managed device. It works like Guided Access on steroids.
We’ll be leveraging Configurator’s built-in features to lock ourselves out of every app on the iPad, save for our writing app of choice. I use Obsidian, but you’re free to use whatever distraction-free writing app you prefer. I’ve tested Ulysses, Drafts, Simplenote, and even Apple Notes. All work spectacularly.
The one thing you’ll want, however, is some sort of cloud-based syncing to keep everything accessible for editing purposes.
Download: Apple Configurator for macOS (Free)
Download: Obsidian for iOS | macOS (Free, Subscription available)
How to Go Distraction Free on iPad or iPhone
Once you’ve downloaded and launched Apple Configurator, you’ll attach your iPad to your macOS computer using a USB cable. Configurator should recognize your device and show it on screen. Highlight the device and right-click to bring up a context menu. Then, choose the Prepare option. Configurator will then ask you for some additional setup information.
Select Manual Configuration and make sure Supervise devices and Allow devices to pair with other computers are selected. These options will activate supervised mode and enable you to connect the device to any computer, just in case you need to unlock it. Click Next.
Select Do not enroll in MDM and click Next. Then select New organization… and type in whatever you’d like. I called my organization “Matt,” but the name doesn’t really matter. Click Next.
Using the drop-down menu, select Don’t show any of these steps, and click Prepare. After a quick verification, Configurator will erase and restore your device to its factory settings.
If you get an error message here, don’t worry. Configurator is a bit quirky. As long as the iOS device factory resets, everything should work just fine.
Adjust iOS Settings
Once the device is reset, you’ll need to adjust a few settings before putting it into Single-App mode. Otherwise, you won’t be able to access these. So, using the device itself, open the iOS Settings App, and change the following according to your preferences.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (turn on and pair any devices)
- Tap to click (turn on)
- Apple ID (enable)
- Text sizing and brightness
- Any other accessibility features in use
Make sure you also download your preferred writing app from the App Store as well. Be sure not to enable Face ID or a passcode, as these can cause your device to exhibit some weird behaviors.
Enabling Single App Mode
After you’ve adjusted your settings, and downloaded your writing app, it’s time to lock down your iOS device. From the Apple Configurator main screen, right-click the device, and highlight Advanced, then select Start Single App Mode.
You’ll be presented with a selection screen where you can choose any app that is currently installed on your iOS device. Here, I’ve selected Obsidian. Once you’ve highlighted your app, click Select App. A short progress bar will appear on-screen, and the device will be placed into Single App Mode.
Congratulations! You’ve now turned your iOS device into a 100% distraction-free writing tool. When unlocked, you’ll be presented with the single app you’ve selected and nothing else. No Home Screen, no Settings. Nada. Now you’re ready to write.
If, for some reason, you need to disable this mode, you’ll have to plug your device into your macOS computer and disable the same way you enabled it: Right-click on the device > Advanced > Stop Single App Mode.
As an aside, if you’re wondering if this process might work with apps besides writing apps—say, note-taking apps, or e-book readers, or streaming music or video apps—then you’d be correct. So, feel free to experiment if distraction-free writing isn’t your forte.
Troubleshooting and Limitations
Something I want to mention here is, even though this process is relatively easy to accomplish, it isn’t without risks. Sometimes Configurator glitches or acts strangely, and you’ll need to put your device into Recovery or DFU mode to restore it. This shouldn’t dissuade you from trying this process. But it does happen occasionally.
As I was experimenting with this setup, for example, I somehow managed to disable the touch screen on my iPad. It wouldn’t accept a passcode, or Face ID input, essentially bricking the device. Recovery mode didn’t help either, as the iPad disconnected any time I tried to recover it. Frustrated, I reached out to Apple for help, but technical support wasn’t able to assist. Only after several hours of trial and error was I able to find a solution.
If something like that happens to you, don’t panic. To fix it, you’ll just need to connect the iOS device to your macOS computer, place the iPad into DFU (not Recovery) mode, and do a full restore.
How I Use My New Distraction-Free iPad
The best part about this approach to distraction-free writing, for me, is that it retains the iPad’s portability and its giant 11″ display. If you compare it to a distraction-free tool like the Freewrite Traveler or the Pomera DM250, it’s a much more pleasant writing experience. When combined with a Bluetooth keyboard or the Apple Magic Keyboard, it’s like carrying around a cordless typewriter.
I’ve used the iPad to write articles on the train, on the couch, and at the coffee shop down the street. The iPad goes everywhere with me now, so I’m ready to write at a moment’s notice. And since the conversion isn’t permanent, I can take the device out of Single App Mode whenever I’m near my computer.
While it might not be the perfect solution for everyone, it has been a boon to my productivity and my focus. It even helped me write the article you’re currently reading. So, give it a shot and leave me a comment here if you try it. I’d love to hear about your experience.