Exception Management

Browser Limit allows you to exempt specific apps from browser detection and removal. The exceptions list is managed through the Exceptions screen and is checked before any detection runs.

How Exceptions Work

When a new app is installed, the first check performed is the exceptions list. If the app's package name is found in the exceptions list, detection is skipped entirely and the app is logged as "Excepted".

Permanent Exceptions

Two package names are permanently excepted and cannot be removed:

Package	Reason
com.aistudio.browserlimit.abxyz	The app itself. Prevents self-uninstallation.
com.example	Debug/development namespace used during builds.

These are hardcoded in ExceptionsManager.kt:

init {
    addException("com.aistudio.browserlimit.abxyz")
    addException("com.example")
}

Permanent exceptions display "(Permanent)" next to their name in the Exceptions screen and cannot be deleted.

Adding Exceptions

1. Go to the Exceptions tab.
2. Enter the package name in the text field.
3. Tap Add.

The package name is added to the exceptions list and stored as a JSON array in SharedPreferences.

tip

To find an app's package name, check the "Detail" field in the Logs screen after the app has been scanned, or use adb shell pm list packages on your device.

Removing Exceptions

1. Go to the Exceptions tab.
2. Find the package name you want to remove.
3. Tap the X icon next to it.
4. Confirm the removal in the dialog.

Permanent exceptions do not show the X icon and cannot be removed.

Storage

Exceptions are stored in SharedPreferences as a JSON array:

["com.example.app1", "com.example.app2"]

SharedPreferences file: browserlimit_exceptions Key: exceptions_list

Parental Lock

If parental lock is enabled, adding or removing exceptions requires PIN verification. The ParentalUnlockDialog appears when you attempt to modify the exceptions list.

Common Use Cases

Use Case	Package to Except
Allow a specific browser	Enter its package name (e.g., org.mozilla.firefox)
Allow a WebView-based app	Enter its package name
Allow a development build	Enter the debug package name

Architecture

The ExceptionsManager class provides the following API:

class ExceptionsManager(context: Context) {
    val exceptionsFlow: StateFlow<List<String>>  // Observable list of exceptions

    fun isExcepted(packageName: String): Boolean  // Check if a package is excepted
    fun addException(packageName: String)          // Add a package to exceptions
    fun removeException(packageName: String)       // Remove a package (except permanent)
    fun setCustomExceptions(packages: List<String>) // Bulk add packages
}

The isExcepted() method also checks the two permanent exceptions before querying SharedPreferences, ensuring they cannot be bypassed.