The fastest way to block an app on your iPhone
You can block an app on your iPhone using Screen Time, a built-in feature that prevents the app from opening without a passcode. Open Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap App Limits. Choose the app you want to block, set the time limit to 1 minute, and when that minute expires, the app will be locked. Anyone trying to open it will see a message saying time is up and will need your Screen Time passcode to proceed.
This method works for any app on your phone — games, social media, email, messaging, or anything else. The app stays on your home screen, but it simply will not run. This is different from deleting an app, which removes it entirely. Blocking keeps the app there but makes it inaccessible without your passcode.
If you want to block multiple apps at once, you can add them all to the same App Limit. If you want different apps blocked at different times of day, you can create separate limits for each one. Screen Time also lets you set downtime — a window when almost all apps are blocked except phone, messages, and apps you choose to allow.
Key Takeaways
- Screen Time is the built-in iPhone feature that blocks apps; it requires a passcode to override and works on any app.
- Setting an app limit to 1 minute is the fastest way to block an app permanently — when the minute expires, the app locks.
- You can block multiple apps in one limit or create separate limits for different apps if you need different rules for each.
- Downtime blocks almost all apps during a set window of hours, which is useful if you want to block apps only at certain times.
- You must set a Screen Time passcode before blocking takes effect, or anyone can turn off the restriction by tapping "Ask for More Time."
Setting up Screen Time and creating your passcode
Before you can block any app, you need to set up Screen Time and create a passcode that only you know. Open Settings on your iPhone and tap Screen Time. If this is your first time using it, tap "Turn On Screen Time." The phone will ask whether this is your device or a child's device — choose "This is My iPhone" if you are blocking apps for yourself.
Next, you will see a prompt to create a Screen Time passcode. This is a four-digit code separate from your regular iPhone passcode. Write it down or store it somewhere safe — if you forget it, you will have trouble changing your app limits later. Tap "Use Screen Time Passcode" and enter a code twice to confirm it.
Once your passcode is set, Screen Time is active. You can now create app limits and downtime. Without this passcode, anyone who picks up your phone can tap "Ask for More Time" when they hit a blocked app and potentially get around your restrictions, so choose a code you will remember but others will not guess.
Blocking a single app with a one-minute time limit
The simplest way to block one app is to give it a one-minute time limit. Go to Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap App Limits. Tap "Add Limit" and select the category or individual app you want to block. If you want to block a specific app like Instagram or TikTok, scroll down to find it by name and tap it.
After you select the app, you will see a screen asking how much time to allow. Tap the hour field and change it to 0, then tap the minute field and change it to 1. This gives the app exactly one minute before it locks. Tap "Add" to save the limit.
Now when anyone opens that app, a timer will count down from one minute. When it reaches zero, the app will close and a message will appear saying "Time Limit Reached." The next time someone tries to open it, they will see the same message and will need your Screen Time passcode to unlock it. This effectively blocks the app permanently until you remove the limit.
Blocking multiple apps at once
If you want to block several apps with the same rule, you can add them all to one App Limit instead of creating separate limits for each. Go to Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap App Limits and tap "Add Limit." Instead of selecting just one app, tap multiple apps one by one — you can select as many as you want.
Set the time limit to 1 minute for all of them together, then tap "Add." Now all those apps will share the same one-minute limit. When the time runs out, all of them will lock at the same time. If you want different apps to have different rules — for example, blocking one app permanently but allowing another for 30 minutes a day — you will need to create separate limits for each.
You can see all your active App Limits by going to Settings, Screen Time, and looking at the App Limits section. Each limit shows which apps it covers and how much time is left before it kicks in. You can edit or delete any limit by tapping it and choosing "Edit Limit" or "Delete Limit."
Using Downtime to block apps during specific hours
If you want to block apps only during certain times — like bedtime or work hours — use Downtime instead of App Limits. Downtime blocks almost all apps during a window you set, but you can choose which apps stay available. Go to Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap Downtime.
Tap "Turn On Downtime" and set the start and end times. For example, if you want apps blocked from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., set those times. During downtime, only phone calls, messages, and apps you specifically allow will work. Everything else will show a message saying downtime is active and will need your passcode to open.
To allow certain apps during downtime, go back to Settings, Screen Time, and tap "Always Allowed." Tap the plus sign and add any apps that should stay available during downtime — for example, phone, messages, maps, or a meditation app. Apps you do not add here will be blocked during the downtime window every day.
What happens when someone tries to open a blocked app
When a blocked app is opened, the person sees a message that says either "Time Limit Reached" or "Downtime" depending on which type of block is active. Below the message is a button that says "Ask for More Time." If they tap this, they can send a request to whoever set up Screen Time — but this only works if you set up Screen Time on a child's device and linked it to your own.
If Screen Time is set up on your own device, tapping "Ask for More Time" does nothing — there is no parent to ask. Instead, the only way to open the app is to enter your Screen Time passcode. This is why your passcode must be something only you know. If someone guesses it or you write it down where others can find it, they can bypass the block.
The app itself does not delete or change — it just will not run. Once you remove the time limit or end downtime, the app opens normally again. You can remove a limit anytime by going to Settings, Screen Time, App Limits, tapping the limit, and choosing "Delete Limit."
Removing or changing a blocked app
If you want to unblock an app, go to Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap App Limits. Find the limit that includes the app you want to unblock. Tap it, then tap "Edit Limit." You will see a list of all apps in that limit with checkmarks next to them. Tap the checkmark next to the app you want to unblock — the checkmark will disappear and the app will be removed from the limit.
If you want to delete the entire limit and unblock all apps in it at once, tap "Delete Limit" instead. If you want to change the time limit — for example, from 1 minute to 30 minutes — tap "Edit Limit" and change the hour and minute fields, then tap "Save."
You can also turn off Screen Time entirely by going to Settings, Screen Time, and tapping "Turn Off Screen Time." You will need to enter your Screen Time passcode to do this. Once Screen Time is off, all app limits and downtime stop working immediately, and all apps become available again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block an app without setting a Screen Time passcode?
No. You must create a Screen Time passcode before any blocks take effect. Without a passcode, anyone can tap "Ask for More Time" and potentially override the restriction. The passcode is what makes the block actually work.
What if I forget my Screen Time passcode?
If you forget your passcode, you will need to reset it through your Apple ID. Go to Settings, Screen Time, tap "Change Screen Time Passcode," then tap "Forgot Passcode?" You will be asked to enter your Apple ID and password. After you verify, you can create a new Screen Time passcode.
Can I block an app only on weekends or only on weekdays?
App Limits and Downtime repeat every day at the same times — you cannot set them for specific days of the week. However, you can turn Downtime on and off manually, or you can create a separate limit for each app and adjust the times as needed. For complex scheduling, you may need to manually enable and disable limits depending on the day.
Will blocking an app stop notifications from that app?
No. Blocking an app with Screen Time prevents it from opening, but notifications will still come through. If you want to stop notifications entirely, go to Settings, tap Notifications, find the app, and turn off "Allow Notifications."
Can I block an app on someone else's iPhone?
Only if you set up Screen Time on their device and linked it to your own Apple ID as the parent. If Screen Time is set up on your own device only, you can only block apps on that device. To manage apps on someone else's phone, you need to set up Family Sharing and Screen Time through that process.