To block an app on iPhone for free, open Settings, tap Screen Time, choose App Limits, add a limit for the app, and turn on a Screen Time passcode so the limit can’t be waved away with a tap. If you want scheduled blocks, a manual block and a 15-minute stop in your time-sink apps, all from one screen, the free AppBlocker app does that without touching Settings.
There are three ways to do it, and which one fits depends on whether you want an app gone for part of the day, all day, or only during certain hours.
Method 1: Screen Time App Limits (free, built in)
App Limits give an app a daily time allowance. Set the allowance to the minimum and it works as a near-total block.
- Open Settings and tap Screen Time. If it’s off, turn it on first.
- Tap App Limits, then Add Limit.
- Select the app you want to block. You can pick single apps or a whole category such as Social.
- Set the time to 1 minute for a near-total block, or a larger allowance if you only want to cap use.
- Tap Add to save the limit.
Method 2: Downtime for scheduled blocking
Downtime is the built-in way to block apps during certain hours. Everything outside your allowed list is unavailable until Downtime ends.
- In Settings, tap Screen Time, then Downtime.
- Turn on Scheduled and pick the start and end times.
- Go back and open Always Allowed to choose the apps that should keep working, such as Phone and Messages.
The catch: the one-tap bypass
When an App Limit runs out, iOS shows an Ignore Limit option on the same screen. Without a passcode, getting past the block takes a second, and it usually happens at the moment you most want to keep scrolling.
The fix is a Screen Time passcode. Set one under Settings, Screen Time, and the block now asks for a code before it lifts. It works far better when someone else chooses the code, because a code you know is still only a few taps away.
Method 3: Use AppBlocker
AppBlocker is a free app that uses Apple’s Screen Time controls under the hood, so you get the same kind of block without building it in Settings. Setup looks like this:
- Download AppBlocker from the App Store. There’s no sign-up.
- Choose the apps you want blocked. Apple’s app picker keeps that selection private to your device.
- Set the hours they should stay shut, or use the manual block for apps you’re truly done with and turn it off deliberately later.
- Reach for a blocked app and you get a block screen instead of the feed.
On top of that, its Doomscroll Protection stops you after 15 minutes in the apps you pick as time sinks, and its screen-time stats show where your time went. Everything stays on your iPhone, and it is free with no subscription because it shows ads.
Which method to use
| Method | Blocks | Getting past it | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Limits | After a daily allowance runs out | One tap unless a Screen Time passcode is set | Free |
| Downtime | Everything not on your allowed list, during set hours | One tap unless a Screen Time passcode is set | Free |
| AppBlocker | Chosen apps on a schedule, or with a manual block | You turn the manual block off deliberately | Free, supported by ads |
If you want to compare more options before choosing, the comparison of free app blockers for iPhone covers six of them side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Can you block apps on iPhone without downloading anything?
Yes. Screen Time is built into iOS, and its App Limits and Downtime settings can block apps after a daily allowance or during set hours at no cost.
How do I block an app completely on iPhone?
Add a Screen Time App Limit of 1 minute for the app and set a Screen Time passcode, ideally one someone else chooses. You can also pick the app in AppBlocker and use its manual block until you turn it off.
Why does my App Limit keep getting ignored?
Without a Screen Time passcode, iOS lets you dismiss an App Limit with one tap on the same screen that shows it. Setting a passcode makes the block ask for a code before it lifts.
Can I block apps only at certain times of day?
Yes. Screen Time’s Downtime blocks everything except your allowed apps during the hours you choose, and AppBlocker lets you pick specific apps and set the hours they stay shut.
Is AppBlocker free?
Yes. AppBlocker is free to use with no subscription and no paywall on blocking. It is supported by ads, and it needs no sign-up and has no server.
Block apps without digging through Settings
Pick the apps, set the hours or use the manual block, and get a block screen instead of the feed. Free, on-device, iPhone and Android.
Get AppBlocker, free Get it on Google Play