Doorman

Doorman Labs

About this app

Doorman helps schools create distraction-free learning environments by securely restricting access to non-educational content during class time. Students benefit from enhanced focus and productivity, teachers gain uninterrupted teaching sessions, and administrators enjoy a transparent, easy-to-manage solution to enforce cell phone policies. With simple onboarding and a refreshing user experience, Doorman enables schools to continue fostering academic excellence.

Each school chooses one of two restriction modes for its students. In Focus mode, Doorman limits internet access using a VPN. In Lockdown mode, Doorman ensures students can only open approved apps during restricted hours using an accessibility service. The app uses only the capability that matches the mode the school has selected, as described below.

Use of VPN Service:
Doorman uses Android's VpnService API as a core part of its functionality to manage and restrict internet access on student devices during class time. When a student "taps in" via NFC tag or classroom code, Doorman establishes a secure, encrypted VPN tunnel to apply the school's approved internet access rules. This ensures that only educational resources and whitelisted websites/apps are accessible, while blocking all other content as defined by the school's policies.

Use of Accessibility Service:
Doorman uses Android's AccessibilityService API as a core part of its functionality to enforce the school's app policy on student devices during class time. While a student is tapped in, the service observes which app is brought to the foreground and, if that app is not on the school's approved list, returns the student to the home screen and shows a "Time to Focus" notice. This allows schools to restrict students to approved apps during class.

The service reads only the package name of the app in the foreground; it does not read, record, or transmit on-screen content, keystrokes, or any personal data. It is inactive whenever the student is not tapped in, and students are asked to enable it during onboarding with a clear explanation of what it does and why.

Doorman is an enterprise app, meaning only students and staff from schools or districts with an active service agreement can sign in. All network traffic between the device and the VPN endpoint is encrypted, protecting user data while enforcing a safe and focused learning environment.

Ratings and reviews

Surprisingly not super laggy and definitely beats the alternative of putting the phone in the locked pouch thing. Having the schedule and passing period time was pretty useful too. It's not really invasive or that annoying & NFC works decently (usually took 2-3 tries though). It used a decent chunk of battery running in the background (13%), however that was for 6.5 hours. As for the AI accusations, since the app works decently enough and is affordable for districts, it doesn't really matter.

It didn't even let me turn off my phone. Literal battery drainer. Disappointed. I expected to be able to shut it off.

doesn't work on androids and takes up a lot of space, overall doesn't work well.

What’s new

Bug fixes and performance improvements