Faahh

What is Faahh?

Faahh is an idle reminder app for Mac, Windows, and Linux that interrupts you when you go idle. When the app detects idle time, it plays a selected “roast” sound from its menu bar, designed to get you back to your work.

Faahh also supports hardware-triggered interactions: on Windows you can use a mic-powered desk-slap to trigger (or silence) the roast, and a USB “sentinel” mode to trigger an alarm if someone unplugs connected USB devices. The core purpose is to monitor and interrupt distraction through sound rather than blocking the computer.

Key Features

• Idle detection (1–30 min setting): Choose how long you can be idle before Faahh plays a roast sound.
• Menu bar operation: Runs quietly in the system menu bar until idle time or a configured trigger occurs.
• Roast sound library + previews: Uses built-in sounds (including a default “Faahh!” sound and other preset options) and lets you preview sounds before using them.
• Custom MP3 uploads (unlimited): Upload your own roast sounds as MP3 files to replace or expand the built-in library.
• Mic-powered desk-slap trigger (Windows): A Windows-exclusive feature that uses the laptop microphone to trigger the roast (“Slap Windows / Real Slap Detection”) and can silence the sound when you slap again.
• USB Sentinel / “Laptop Screams” mode (Windows): Monitors USB ports; if a connected USB device is unplugged, it triggers a loud alarm roast. Includes a one-click disarm.
• Repeat/interval roasting: Supports “Repeat Mode” for multi-stage nagging with progressively more aggressive roasts.
• Streak tracking & focus analytics: Tracks daily stats, including slaps/nags and total focus time in a dashboard.
• Run at login: Starts monitoring when you log in.
• Works offline; no tracking claim: The site states it works offline and that it does not track users.
• One-time purchase; lifetime-style access: Listed as a $5 one-time payment with “free updates forever” and no subscription.

How to Use Faahh

1. Download and install the correct build for your device (macOS, Windows installer, or Linux AppImage).
2. Open Faahh and set your idle trigger interval (1–30 minutes).
3. Select a roast sound from the built-in library or upload custom MP3s.
4. (Optional) Choose additional triggers if supported on your platform—on Windows, enable desk-slap detection and/or USB Sentinel.
5. (Optional) Configure Repeat Mode for interval roasting, then allow Faahh to run at login if you want it monitoring automatically.

Use Cases

• Desk distraction management (idle time): If you tend to lose focus and stop interacting for a period, Faahh detects idle time and plays a roast loud enough to prompt you back to your work.
• Hands-free “slap to intervene” workflow (Windows): While using a laptop, you can trigger the roast (or silence it) using desk slaps detected via the laptop microphone.
• Coffee shop / equipment safety mode (Windows USB Sentinel): When you’re working in a public place, you can enable USB Sentinel so unplugging connected devices triggers an alarm sound.
• Personalized deterrence (custom MP3 roasts): Replace preset sounds with your own uploaded MP3s for a deterrent that matches your preferences.
• Progressive nagging for long sessions (Repeat Mode): Use Repeat Mode when you need multiple reminders during a longer stretch of work; Faahh increases the intensity of roasts across stages.

FAQ

• Is Faahh a subscription-based app? No. The site describes Faahh as a one-time purchase ($5) with no subscription.

• Can I use my own custom sounds or MP3s in Faahh? Yes. The site states you can upload custom roast sounds as MP3s (listed as unlimited uploads).

• Does Faahh work offline and does it track users? The site states Faahh works offline and that it does not track users. (No further technical details are provided on the page.)

• Does Faahh include mic-based slap detection? The site describes slap detection as Windows-exclusive, using the Windows mic engine to detect desk slaps.

• What is USB Sentinel? USB Sentinel is described as a Windows mode that monitors USB ports and triggers an alarm roast if a plugged-in USB device is unplugged, with a one-click disarm.

Alternatives

• Timer-based focus apps: Apps that use simple countdown timers to remind you to return to work. Compared to Faahh, these typically do not trigger on idle intervals with custom roast sounds or hardware-based triggers (slap/USB sentinel).
• Idle/attention monitoring utilities: Tools that detect inactivity and provide notifications or alerts. These may offer less personalization and may not include the same roast-sound workflow or Windows-only hardware triggers.
• Audio/notification automation tools: Platforms that automate alerts based on system events (where available). They can be flexible but may not provide an out-of-the-box roast library, idle interval presets, or the specifically described USB sentinel and slap detection behavior.