WorkPause

Latest release: WorkPause 1.0.3 Preview · Download signed APK · Website

Work on your schedule.

WorkPause pauses and resumes an existing Android work profile on selected weekdays. It uses Android alarms rather than a continuous scheduler service.

Features

• Three choices for every weekday: Schedule, All day ON, or All day OFF.
• From → To times define the hours when your work profile is ON.
• Copy one day's behavior and remembered hours to any other days.
• One WorkPause ON/OFF switch, applied immediately.
• ON: follow the saved schedule. OFF: leave work apps as set on the phone.
• Overnight hours and a Save schedule button for daily edits only.
• Compact single-row header with the WorkPause switch and Settings gear.
• Silent control after a one-time ADB permission grant.
• Deferred resume when Android requires the device or work profile to be unlocked.
• Actionable unlock reminders that open Android's work-PIN flow or a work-app picker.
• Material 3 interface and adaptive, round, and themed launcher icons.

Notification setup is required for unlock reminders. Open WorkPause Settings → Unlock reminders, allow notifications, and review the Work profile unlock reminders channel in Android settings. Enable banners/pop-ups there if desired. Scheduling still works with notifications blocked, but reminders cannot appear. See notification setup.

Using the scheduler

Unlock reminders: new in 1.0.3

Version 1.0.3 (version code 5) adds Unlock reminders in Settings. It updates over 1.0.2 and the local 1.0.3-preview build without uninstalling.

• Allow WorkPause notifications, then allow banners for Work profile unlock reminders in Android notification settings if desired. Do Not Disturb or Samsung settings may suppress banners; the notification shade remains the normal place to look.
• Following a resume request, tap Open work apps, then choose the work app to open. Android handles any required PIN and then opens that app. WorkPause never reads the PIN.
• If Android reports locked work-profile storage, the reminder says Unlock your work profile. Otherwise it says Work profile is scheduled ON, with a conditional PIN explanation: unlocked storage is not proof that a separate work-app challenge is unlocked.
• A profile that was already running with unlocked storage does not generate a new reminder just because WorkPause reconciles its schedule.
• Reminders are hidden while the phone is locked. They are cleared when WorkPause is turned OFF, work hours end, the work profile is removed, or Android reports the managed profile unlocked while WorkPause is running. Android sends that unlock event only to runtime-registered receivers; if the process was stopped, a reminder may remain until dismissed or refreshed. Swiping hides the current notification, but a pending resume retry may show it again. Canceling PIN entry does not deliberately clear the reminder.
• If no accessible work apps are listed, or employer policy blocks access, use the phone's normal work-app launcher. Resume work profile retries from the visible picker if the profile is still paused and silent-control permission is available.

On Android 11+, scheduled resumes and retries do not request automatic PIN popups. Tapping the notification can request Android credentials if the profile is still paused; otherwise choose a work app in the picker. There are no lock-screen launches. Android 10 retains the older system resume API, which may show its own credential UI. The 1.0.3-preview build was installed and launched on the owner's Galaxy S24 Ultra with permissions retained. Its Samsung PIN and banner behavior still needs functional testing; prior 1.0.2 results do not verify the new reminder flow.

Daily rules and master switch

The compact top bar contains the app name, one ON/OFF switch, and Settings gear. There are no separate Auto, Resume, or Pause controls.

• WorkPause ON: immediately follows your saved weekly schedule, including applying the current scheduled state.
• WorkPause OFF: stops WorkPause's scheduled changes, pending resumes, and queued fallback actions. It does not turn work apps on or off, restore an earlier state, or change Android's own settings or employer policy. Use the phone's normal controls while WorkPause is off.

The switch applies immediately and stays set after closing or restarting the app. Your saved daily rules are retained when WorkPause is off.

Choose a day directly from the Monday-Sunday strip, then choose its behavior:

Mode	Work profile behavior
Schedule	ON between From and To, OFF outside active scheduled hours.
All day ON	ON from local midnight to midnight.
All day OFF	OFF from local midnight to midnight, including any previous overnight hours.

The two all-day modes use matching descriptions and hide the time fields. Switching modes keeps the day's remembered From/To times. Copy to other days copies both the mode and those times to the days you select. Tap Save schedule to apply daily edits. Switching WorkPause on or off does not save unfinished edits; ON always uses the last saved rules. Saving daily edits while WorkPause is OFF does not turn it on or change the work profile.

App identity

• Application ID: io.github.marinfrankovic.workpause
• Current version: 1.0.3 (version code 5), release title Preview
• Repository: marinfrankovic/WorkPause

WorkPause installs separately from the original application. Settings and permission grants do not migrate automatically. The fork retains upstream Git history. Commit messages shown beside unchanged files describe their last edit, not the installed app version. Use the WorkPause release linked above, not an inherited upstream tag.

Requirements and setup

Android 10 or newer and an existing Android work profile are required. Samsung Secure Folder is not a substitute for a work profile.

Install with ADB

1. Download the signed WorkPause-1.0.3.apk from this repository's Releases page. Preview versions may be marked Pre-release. Do not install APKs from untrusted mirrors.

2. Install Google's Android SDK Platform Tools on your computer. Open a terminal in the folder containing adb, or add it to PATH.

3. On the phone, enable Developer options and USB debugging, connect by USB, and approve the debugging prompt for your trusted computer.

4. Check the connection, then install on the personal side of the phone:

   adb devices
   adb install -r "C:\path\to\WorkPause-1.0.3.apk"

   Replace the example path with your downloaded APK. The device should appear as device, not unauthorized. If multiple devices are connected, use adb -s DEVICE_SERIAL install -r "C:\path\to\WorkPause-1.0.3.apk". In PowerShell, use .\adb.exe instead of adb if running from the Platform Tools folder without adding it to PATH.

5. Open WorkPause from the launcher.

To check the installed version:

adb shell dumpsys package io.github.marinfrankovic.workpause | Select-String "versionCode=|versionName="

Expect versionName=1.0.3 and versionCode=5. On the phone, you can also check Settings → Apps → WorkPause → App info (the exact layout varies by device).

The -r option updates an existing installation without clearing its data, provided the application ID and signing certificate match. A debug APK or the original upstream app is not a compatible signed update. Do not uninstall to resolve a signature mismatch unless you accept losing that installation's settings and permission grants.

Install without ADB or a computer

1. On the phone, open the Releases page and download the signed WorkPause APK using your browser.
2. Open the download. If Android blocks installation, follow the prompt to allow Install unknown apps / Allow from this source for the browser or file manager you are using. Settings names vary by phone.
3. Return to the APK, tap Install, and open WorkPause. Install it on the personal side, not inside the managed work profile.
4. After installing, turn off that browser/file manager's permission to install unknown apps.

No root, USB debugging, or ADB is required just to install the APK. Android device protection and employer policy may prevent sideloading; WorkPause cannot bypass them.

Installing without ADB does not grant silent control. To use the app without the ADB grant, open WorkPause Settings → Visible fallback → Accessibility settings and enable its accessibility service. This visibly operates Quick Settings rather than silently switching the profile. On Android versions that restrict accessibility for sideloaded apps, Settings → Apps → WorkPause → menu → Allow restricted settings may be needed, if the device permits it. Only enable this for an APK you trust. Some confirmation dialogs still require your input; device and employer restrictions still apply.

Configure profile control and scheduling

1. For recommended silent control, run this once from an authorized ADB host, even if you originally installed the APK directly on the phone:

   adb shell pm grant io.github.marinfrankovic.workpause android.permission.MODIFY_QUIET_MODE
   

   For a multi-device connection, add -s DEVICE_SERIAL after adb. This is a separate setup step from installation. It normally survives reboot; uninstalling or reinstalling from scratch requires granting it again.

2. Open Settings using the gear. Status cards explain what needs attention. Expand Set up with ADB for instructions and a Copy command button.

3. Set up Settings → Unlock reminders as described below. This is separate from the ADB grant, exact alarms, and battery settings.

4. Select a weekday and choose All day OFF, All day ON, or Schedule. For Schedule, set From and To to define the ON interval. Repeat for other days or use Copy to other days, then tap Save schedule.

5. In Settings, allow Exact alarms for precise timing. Unrestricted battery use is recommended to reduce delays; these permissions do not grant profile control. Turn WorkPause ON when you are ready to follow your saved schedule; no Save is required for the switch.

An earlier To time ends the work interval the next day. All day OFF takes priority at midnight, including over the previous day's overnight interval. All day ON spans local midnight to midnight, including clock-change days. Overlapping ON intervals remain on until the combined interval ends. Previously disabled weekdays map to All day OFF; review overnight schedules after updating. Turning off the WorkPause switch immediately cancels automation without changing the current profile state. Saving an enabled schedule also applies the current scheduled state.

The design is inspired by Samsung's simple settings layouts; it does not use proprietary Samsung components or imply Samsung endorsement.

Accessibility is an optional, visible fallback, not a requirement for the silent backend. If Android shows a confirmation during this fallback, confirm it and close Quick Settings yourself; WorkPause does not automatically accept dialogs. The app cannot bypass a device or work-profile PIN. Employer policy can restrict its use.

Set up unlock notifications (required for reminders)

1. In WorkPause, open Settings → Unlock reminders → Allow reminder notifications. Accept Android's notification permission prompt if shown. If permission was denied earlier, use the system settings opened by the app to allow WorkPause notifications.
2. Tap Review reminder notifications and enable Work profile unlock reminders in Android's notification settings. On Samsung, review this channel's alert and pop-up/banner options too; labels and category visibility vary by One UI version. Allowing the app's notifications alone does not guarantee a heads-up banner.
3. Check Do Not Disturb and other notification restrictions. The notification shade is the normal place to find the reminder; no lock-screen launch or wake is requested.

The app shows Allowed or Blocked for reminders. This status does not certify Samsung's banner settings. Notification denial does not disable profile scheduling. The separate low-importance status channel is not the unlock-reminder channel.

After a scheduled resume, tap the reminder or Open work apps. If the profile is still paused, Android may ask for its PIN immediately; otherwise choose a work app so Android can enforce its challenge. If you cancel, the picker remains available and Resume work profile is an explicit retry. If Android/policy blocks access, use the phone's normal work-app icons. WorkPause never collects or bypasses the PIN.

Build and test

Use JDK 17 or 21 and the Android SDK. Set JAVA_HOME and ANDROID_HOME. On Windows:

.\gradlew.bat :app:assembleDebug :app:testDebugUnitTest :app:lintDebug
adb -s emulator-5556 install -r .\app\build\outputs\apk\debug\app-debug.apk

Replace emulator-5556 with your device serial. This debug-install command is only for a device without the differently signed release app installed.

The debug APK is for development only. Debug and release builds share the application ID but use different signing keys; Android will not install one over the other. Uninstalling clears that installation's settings and permission grants.

Release signing

Release builds require WorkPause's private key and never fall back to debug signing. Windows helpers store the PKCS12 keystore outside the repository, under %LOCALAPPDATA%\WorkPause\signing, with access restricted to the current Windows account. The randomly generated password is encrypted with Windows DPAPI.

Initialize once, then build:

.\tools\Initialize-ReleaseSigning.ps1
.\tools\Build-Release.ps1

The signed APK is written to app\build\outputs\apk\release\app-release.apk. For other environments, provide WORKPAUSE_KEYSTORE_PATH, WORKPAUSE_STORE_PASSWORD, WORKPAUSE_KEY_ALIAS, and WORKPAUSE_KEY_PASSWORD securely before running :app:assembleRelease. Never put passwords in command-line arguments, tracked files, or logs. CI builds debug artifacts only and does not receive the release key.

Backup is essential: losing the private key or its password can prevent future updates. DPAPI credentials are tied to this Windows user and machine; copying the encrypted password file alone is not a portable recovery backup. Arrange a protected off-device backup of the keystore and a separately secured password before distribution.

Increase versionCode for every published update. Version names and release tags are managed independently from upstream.

For each release, update the Gradle version, current-version references in this README, the website, and the verification record. Run tests and lint, build with the existing release key, verify the package/version/signature, and publish the APK plus SHA256SUMS.txt on the matching GitHub tag. Keep older verification entries historical; do not present installation checks as proof of the Samsung PIN flow.

Status and limitations

• Emulator installation and appearance do not establish Samsung or enterprise compatibility.
• The current preview passed 43 unit tests, Android debug lint, and release-signature checks. The unlock-reminder implementation was smoke-tested with a disposable managed profile and work PIN on an Android 15 emulator: pause/resume reconciliation, notification tap, PIN cancel/retry, unlock cleanup, and OFF cleanup were exercised.
• The inherited external testing hook has been removed. Internal retry broadcasts are non-exported, accessibility is restricted to System UI, and generic confirmation buttons are no longer clicked automatically.
• This remains a preview, not a general Samsung or enterprise compatibility certification.
• User-confirmed on Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with One UI 9: the owner personally tested WorkPause 1.0.2 and reports that it works as expected. Installation and setup readiness were also checked independently. The owner also reports needing the work-profile PIN when the profile turns back on. This is expected: silent control requests pause/resume but cannot unlock the profile or bypass its PIN. Other locked-device / credential scenarios and Intune / Knox compatibility remain unverified; individual functional scenarios were not recorded. See the verification record.
• 1.0.3-preview phone update: installed and opened on the same Galaxy S24 Ultra on 2026-10-20; silent-control and notification permissions were retained. This verifies installation, not Samsung reminder delivery, heads-up display, or the new PIN flow.

Website

The WorkPause website is a static, responsive GitHub Pages site. Its source is in site; artwork and the app screenshot are shared with this documentation. The website uses Google Analytics (G-TMNRPH563S) to measure website traffic; this tag is not added to the Android app. There are no external fonts or build package dependencies.

To preview locally with Node.js 18+ and Python 3:

node .\tools\build-site.mjs
python -m http.server 8080 --bind 127.0.0.1 --directory .site-build

Open http://127.0.0.1:8080. The Pages workflow builds and deploys changes to the website, shared artwork, screenshot, or site builder after they reach main.

Artwork

The original WorkPause icon combines a mint briefcase and negative-space pause symbol on midnight blue. The editable source is docs/workpause-icon.svg.

License and attribution

Licensed under Apache License 2.0. Based on Work Profile Scheduler, Copyright 2026 Ravindra. Required attribution is retained in NOTICE. WorkPause is an independently maintained fork and does not imply upstream endorsement.