What blocking an app actually does
Blocking an app stops it from running, sending notifications, or using your device's resources — but it does not uninstall it. The app stays on your device taking up storage space, but you will not see it in your app drawer, and it cannot open on its own or send you alerts. On most phones and computers, a blocked app simply becomes invisible and inactive until you unblock it.
The method you use depends on what you are trying to accomplish and what device you own. If you want to prevent a child from opening an app, you need parental controls. If you want to stop an app from draining your battery in the background, you can restrict its permissions or force it to stop. If you want to hide an app from your home screen but keep it installed, you can disable it or move it to a folder.
Key Takeaways
- On Android, you can disable most apps through Settings > Apps, which hides them and stops them from running in the background.
- On iPhone, you cannot truly disable an app, but you can remove it from your home screen, turn off notifications, and restrict its permissions.
- On Windows, you can uninstall apps through Settings > Apps, or use Task Scheduler to prevent them from launching at startup.
- Parental controls on all devices let you block apps by password, which is the only method that stops someone else from opening them.
- Blocking an app does not delete it — it remains on your device and can be unblocked at any time.
How to block an app on Android
Android gives you the most direct way to block an app. Open Settings, then tap Apps (sometimes called Application Manager depending on your phone brand). Find the app you want to block in the list and tap it. You will see a button that says Disable or Force Stop. Tap Disable if it is available — this removes the app from your app drawer and stops it from running in the background.
If the app does not have a Disable button, it means the manufacturer considers it essential to your phone's operation. In that case, tap Force Stop instead. This stops the app immediately, but it may restart on its own or when you restart your phone. You can also turn off its notifications by tapping Notifications and toggling the switch off, or restrict what it can access by tapping Permissions and turning off location, camera, microphone, or contacts access.
To unblock an app later, return to Settings > Apps, tap the three-dot menu at the top, and select Show system apps (if you disabled a system app). Find the app and tap Enable.
How to block an app on iPhone
iPhone does not have a built-in disable feature like Android. Instead, you can remove the app from your home screen by pressing and holding it, then tapping Remove App and choosing Remove from Home Screen. The app stays installed and you can still find it in the App Library, but it will not appear on your main screens.
To stop an app from sending notifications, open Settings, tap Notifications, find the app, and toggle off Allow Notifications. To prevent an app from using your location, camera, or microphone, go to Settings, tap Privacy, select the permission type (Location, Camera, Microphone), find the app, and change it to Never. If you want to completely prevent someone else from opening an app, you need to set up Screen Time, which is covered in the parental controls section below.
How to block an app on Windows
On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings, go to Apps, then Apps & features. Find the app you want to block, click it, and select Uninstall. This removes it completely from your computer. If you want to keep it installed but prevent it from launching automatically when you start your computer, use Task Scheduler instead.
Open Task Scheduler by typing it into the Windows search box. In the left panel, click Task Scheduler Library, then look through the folders for the app name. Right-click the task and select Disable. This stops the app from starting on its own, but you can still open it manually if you need to. To re-enable it later, right-click the task and select Enable.
Using parental controls to block apps by password
If you need to prevent someone else from opening an app, parental controls are the only method that works. On Android, open Settings, tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls, select Set up parental controls, and follow the prompts to create a PIN. Then tap App limits and select the apps you want to restrict. You can set daily time limits, and the app will become unavailable once the time runs out.
On iPhone, open Settings, tap Screen Time, select Set Up Screen Time, and choose whether you are setting it up for yourself or a child. If you are the parent, create a Screen Time passcode. Then tap App Limits, select Add Limit, choose the app category or specific apps, and set a daily time limit. Once the limit is reached, the app becomes blocked until the next day.
On Windows, open Settings, go to Accounts, select Family & other users, and click Add a family member. Set up a child account, then open Settings again, go to Family options, and click on the child's account. You can now set app restrictions, screen time limits, and content filters from the Microsoft Family Safety website.
Stopping an app from running in the background
Even when you are not using an app, it can run in the background and drain your battery or use your data. On Android, open Settings, tap Apps, find the app, and tap Battery. Select Battery usage and choose Restricted. This prevents the app from running when you are not actively using it. You can also go to Permissions and turn off location access, which stops many apps from tracking you in the background.
On iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh. Find the app and toggle it off. This stops it from updating or running when you are not using it. You can also restrict background activity by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, finding the app, and changing it to Never or Only While Using.
Removing an app from startup on Mac
On Mac, apps sometimes launch automatically when you turn on your computer. To stop this, open System Settings, click General, then Login Items. Under Allow in the Login Items, find the app you want to block and click the minus sign next to it. The app will no longer start when you log in.
If you want to completely remove an app from your Mac, open Finder, click Applications, find the app, and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash to permanently delete it. Some apps come with an uninstaller — if so, you will find it in the Applications folder alongside the main app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does blocking an app delete it?
No. Blocking or disabling an app hides it and stops it from running, but the app files remain on your device. You can unblock it at any time and it will work exactly as it did before. If you want to permanently remove an app, you need to uninstall it instead.
Can I block an app without the owner knowing?
On your own device, yes — you can disable apps or remove them from your home screen without anyone knowing. If you are trying to block an app on someone else's device without their permission, you would need parental controls or device administrator access, both of which are visible to the device owner.
Will blocking an app stop it from using my data?
Disabling an app will stop it completely. Restricting background activity or turning off location permissions will reduce data use significantly, but the app may still use data when you open it. If you want zero data use, you need to disable the app or uninstall it.
What happens if I block a system app on Android?
Most system apps cannot be disabled because your phone needs them to function. If you try to disable one, you will see a message saying it is a system app. You can force-stop it temporarily, but it will restart when you restart your phone. It is safe to disable non-essential system apps like bloatware that came pre-installed, but avoid disabling core apps like Settings or Phone.
Can I block an app on my router to stop it from using the internet?
Some advanced routers let you block specific devices or apps from connecting to the internet through parental controls or MAC filtering, but this requires access to your router settings and knowledge of your device's MAC address. It is easier to disable the app on the device itself or turn off its internet permissions through your phone or computer settings.