20Away — regular breaks for your eyes

20Away is a quiet companion for macOS, iPhone and iPad that reminds you of the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It counts only the time you are really at your Mac — not the time it happens to be switched on.

It measures real presence, not a running computer

Most timers keep counting while you are out at lunch. 20Away watches the keyboard, the mouse and the state of the display, so the countdown pauses by itself when you leave and resumes when you come back. If you were away long enough, that counts as a natural break and the interval starts over.

A full-screen break, on every display

When the time comes, 20Away covers all connected monitors with a calm screen and a countdown. You can postpone the break or skip it — nothing is forced on you.

An eye that shows where you stand

A coloured eye sits in the Mac menu bar. Green means everything is fine. Amber appears when you approach your daily screen-time budget, or when you keep postponing the break. Red means it is high time to rest. Once you actually take a break, the eye goes back to green.

An optional camera that stores nothing

For more accurate measurement you can switch on the camera. It helps tell the difference between sitting and reading at your Mac and having left the desk. Evaluation happens locally through the system Vision framework, only the presence of a face is detected, and the frame is discarded immediately. The camera is off by default and never starts without your consent.

Private from the start

20Away needs no account and no internet connection. No telemetry, no analytics, no third parties. Your statistics stay on your device and you can export them to CSV or JSON whenever you like.

In your language

The app is translated into 20 languages and the language can be switched inside the app, without touching your system settings. It supports light and dark appearance and Dynamic Type, so the text follows the size you have chosen.

Exercises and tips

Besides looking into the distance, the app offers simple exercises for refocusing and for relaxing your shoulders, plus a short tip each day. No scoring and no health promises.

Good to know

20Away is a wellness aid for working with screens. It is not a medical device and not a substitute for an eye examination.

Questions and support: 20away@next176.sk