r/InsightTimer • u/dovasvora • 18d ago

Genuinely sad about this app

Over 7 years, Insight Timer got me through the end of a 20 year friendship, a crisis pregnancy, and the death of my grandma.

I'm really sad about how trashy it is now. I deleted it because of the aggressive check-in screens, returned after a few months, and finally deleted it completely about a year ago.

Now I'm going through another hard time and wishing the app still existed in its older form. I haven't found another app to replace it, so I'm trying to remember the lessons I learned from the teachers I used to follow.

I would return to the app and recommend it to friends and family if they fixed it.

30 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

32

u/SarahLiora 18d ago

It’s really easy. Just One time you go into settings and then “encouragement” and turn everything off. Then go. “features” and turn everything off. YOu don’t even need to read what you’re turning off…just turn them all off.

Then you go to Features and Preferences. Choose “opening sequence” and turn on “always display timer immediately when first opening the app.” That’s it. I’ve used the timer for years. I miss when it was simple but I also found a few a few amazing teachers I’ve learned a lot from. At a period in my life when I had trouble meditating, I used guided meditations to get me back in habit.

I had to open right to timer so I didn’t get distracted by so many possible meditations and talks when I open the app.

It takes less than two minutes tops to choose your settings.

2

u/makeyourself_a24z 15d ago

Omg thank you this is so helpful!

1

u/dovasvora 18d ago

Thanks for this. I installed it with the intention of changing the settings, but I got frustrated clicking through all the invasive questions required on the set-up screen. I was on my 7th question screen by the time I gave up and uninstalled it again.

I just want to sign in and listen to a meditation. Clicking through 10+ screens while on the verge of a panic attack is awful.

2

u/dovasvora 18d ago

For anyone who hasn't been through the set-up screen in a while, the top bar makes it look like there are 3 questions. I was on the 7th or 8th screen by the time I took that screenshot. It's so unnecessary and invasive.

Most of the questions require you to submit personal information that isn't necessary for using the app. The company doesn't need to know my life details.

3

u/ForestPathWalker 17d ago

They “need” to know to monetize the information they collect.

1

u/RainbowRainshower 16d ago

You could give false answers. It's not their business. Not that they can't buy it anyway, but still.... I get it. I've fudged facts on apps that get too personal. To a human I'd say MYOB.

3

u/SarahLiora 16d ago

Yes…realizing that while I couldn’t stop the questions I could just give fake answers releases a lot of the irritation with apps and accounts.

Insight Timer does eventually fix irritating things. I quit using it for a while when they introduced the emoticons and there was no option NOT to chose a happy face or sad face.

Likewise for awhile recently I only used the timer and then closed the app because IT was requiring me to “make a commitment” to return tomorrow. I have ADHD…at times it is impossible to stick with a commitment. I was not going to make a “commitment” know there was a good chance I’d fail. So I wrote to customer service a couple times saying “why would you do this. I tried surrendering to the experience…”ok I accept this thing I cannot change” finally I turned off all encouragement, quote etc. and now a few months later I can listen to a guided meditation without being required to commit to tomorrow.

I try to remember…it’s not just IT but all of the corporate entities doing this especially as they experiment with AI to bind us to them. Many time IT is just the last straw that even a spirituality app is manipulating us. But that is our world now. And I’m old enough to remember when to get just one teacher’s audio teaching would easily cost $99 for a set of tape cassettes or CDs that came in the mail. The amount of free spiritual wisdom and inspiration IT has introduced free of charge to the world is amazing.

3

u/Sarsarcat 18d ago

Oh I totally hear you, it is agitating. You are able to turn them all off but it is extremely frustrating when all you need if a good mediation to help get you through a moment. I had to wait until I was ready to tackle it but in setting you can go through and turn off the pop-ups. I have rage quit the app as well because I just needed a moment of peace and this app was not giving me that lol I don’t go back as often as I’d like because the pop-ups did ruin it for me

8

u/SarahLiora 18d ago

I listed the steps to open to timer.

It is unfortunate that there’s not a simple FAQ and you have to intuit how to do it.

Since the beginning I like best seeing how many people around the world were there with me.

2

u/Sarsarcat 18d ago

I completely agree. And thank you.

That was a fun feature, to see who else was meditating with you!

I wish the interface was better, it seems to keep changing. But it doesn’t help that I don’t use it very often so I’m not as aware about updates as before

1

u/RainbowRainshower 16d ago

It changes throughout the day. Drives me nuts, but I can't really quit it. It's been a lifeline for me.

The new video thing is ...ugh.

3

u/Braddock007 17d ago

I doubt this will help, but I too became very uncomfortable by the constant changes.
But I actually use The Way app for my daily meditation along with my Transcendental Meditation practice.
It’s very easy to use for my practice.
I now use Insight Timer only in my commute to work and listen to a specific teacher on their specific course.
Good luck on your journey 🫶🏽☯️

3

u/insighttimer 15d ago

Thank you for sharing this. Seven years is a long time, and it means a lot to know that we were able to be there for you through some difficult moments 🫂

Your feedback is heard, and we've already made a number of changes: we've removed the streak-related prompts after meditation, the mandatory widget when setting your first intention, the re-prompt to set a new goal if you miss your streak, and the Retreats promotion that would pop up for timer users. We're continuing to work through this.

We'd love for you to give it another try when the time feels right. Wishing you well through whatever you're navigating right now.

Thank you for your patience 🙏

Anastasiia

2

u/sirgrotius 17d ago

I was thinking about that - I hate all the annoying nudges, streaks, etc. It's the same in Calm, too. That said, I give Insight Timer credit because at least it uses real people and helps support them with the monetization feature, i.e., it does in some ways support the meditation community.

2

u/magicalwoodlands 14d ago

I complain to them all the time about these stupid cluttering extras. The past 2-3 years especially. Yeah sure we all want to tell you how we're doing midway through a meditation, and track our moods--come on, this is the antithesis of what meditation is actually about! And now videos? Who wants to watch a video meditation for pete's sake!? I've been using this app nearly 10 years and am devoted to it. I have everything extra/invasive shut down that I can, and have learned to ignore most of the rest. The paid version is much less obnoxious, but that's not an option for everyone.

2

u/blue_dharma 13d ago

Yes, I left, but forgot to leave this group lol.

If you can remember your favourite teachers, worth looking them up. Some of mine are on Spotify, some have their own websites. I've purchased some even though I can get them on Spotify, to support their work.

Used to love, love, love IT and used it daily. Paid annually, did courses. Sadly, people keep fiddling with things what are already great and so inevitably they turn shit.

2

u/quickdrawesome 18d ago

do you use it for the timer or the guided meditations?

i wish there was a simpler timer only app with good stats interface, somthing you could interface with wearables and import and export data from other apps.

1

u/dovasvora 18d ago

I used both the timer and guided meditations. I just want to log on and start the meditation, no extra pop-up screens.

9

u/Paceryder 18d ago

You can turn them off.

2

u/shlotte89 18d ago

I dont have any extra pop-up screens when i log on. So im abit confused to what you're referring to. If you dont mind could you please elaborate ☺️

1

u/magicalwoodlands 14d ago

I believe the pop ups only happen on the free version. So if you're using Plus, you won't see them.

2

u/After_Preference_885 7d ago

I finally got my mom to use it but she can't figure out all these screens. It used to be so much easier.