Frequently asked questions

Tratak is a focused-gazing practice app for iOS and Android. It presents a responsive digital flame, waits for the phone to become still, times your practice, and optionally keeps local history, reminders, and ambient-sound preferences.

No. There is no sign-in, profile, subscription, social feed, or account required to use the app.

Tap Start, place the phone away from you, and let it settle. Once the phone is steady, the app shows a 3–2–1 countdown and then “Focus on the flame” before the guidance fades.

Pick up the phone or tap the flame. The live chronometer appears at the top and Stop appears at the bottom. If you do nothing, both fade after a few seconds and the uncluttered practice view returns.

No. Pickup only reveals the controls. A session ends and is saved only when you tap Stop. If the app moves to the background, timing freezes and waits for your decision.

Yes. Expand a date in History to delete an individual session after confirmation. The export button creates a CSV file and opens your device’s share sheet.

The app uses the device’s motion sensors to estimate posture and tilt. That information drives the flame and helps detect when the phone is resting. Raw motion readings are processed on the device and are not sent to Firebase.

No. The flame is generated by the app. Tratak does not need camera, microphone, contacts, photos, or precise location access.

If you enable a reminder, the app asks for notification permission and schedules it locally on your device. There is no cloud reminder service. You can change the time or turn reminders off at any time.

On supported Android devices, you may grant Do Not Disturb access so ordinary notifications stay quiet during an active session. Calls and alarms follow your own priority settings. This permission is optional; iOS does not allow apps to switch Focus automatically.

Yes. Sound defaults to your saved choice, and Off is always available. Audio is bundled with the app and does not use the microphone or a streaming service.

Session start/end timestamps, duration, and phone posture are stored locally on your device. They are not uploaded to Firebase. You control individual deletion and CSV export.

Tratak uses limited app-usage and reliability Analytics. Saved practice history, session duration, reminders, sound choices, motion readings, and CSV contents are not sent to Analytics. See the Privacy Policy.

No. This website has no analytics, advertising scripts, or tracking cookies.

No. It is an animated focal point inspired by candle-gazing practice. It avoids open-flame risk but still involves sustained screen viewing, so comfortable distance, natural blinking, and sensible session length matter.

Tratak makes no medical or therapeutic promise. Research on traditional Trataka is limited and does not establish that this app diagnoses, prevents, or treats any eye, neurological, sleep, attention, or mental-health condition.

Blink, look away, or stop immediately. Do not force yourself to continue through pain, marked dryness, headache, dizziness, nausea, or visual disturbance. Persistent or concerning symptoms should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.

You do. Use Tratak voluntarily and at your own risk, follow the safety guidance, and stop at any irritation or discomfort. See the Terms of Use (EULA).

Seek individual guidance if you have a diagnosed eye condition, recent eye procedure, migraine or seizure sensitivity, significant photosensitivity, balance symptoms, or another condition that could make focused screen viewing unsuitable. See Practice Safety.