AppBlock on iOS

If you’re experiencing issues when trying to save your usage limit schedule after selecting apps or categories and tapping “Continue,” this issue is related to a recent change in iOS 18.4. This happens due to a change in Apple’s internal system picker, which is causing the app to unexpectedly close at this stage of the process.

Our team is aware of the issue and fixed this bug in version 3.13.2. In case you are experiencing these issues, please make sure to update AppBlock app.

In case you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out.

Blocking device settings directly is technically impossible because Apple does not allow any third-party app to block access to device settings. However, you can still block access to settings using the Shortcuts feature on your device.

For detailed instructions on how to do this, please refer to the following guides:

• How to Block Settings on iOS 16 and older with AppBlock
• How to Block Settings on iOS 17 with AppBlock
• How to Block Settings on iOS 18 with AppBlock

These guides will walk you through the steps to block settings effectively using Shortcuts on your device.

On iOS 16 and 17 you can also block only Screen Time permissions with Shortcuts:

• How to Block Screen Time on iOS 16 and older with AppBlock
• How to Block Screen Time on iOS 17 with AppBlock

If your apps should be blocked but you can still access them, please refresh the blocking settings within the AppBlock app to resolve the issue.
Here’s how:

For AppBlock version 3.7.0 and older:

1. Open AppBlock: Launch the AppBlock app on your device.
2. Navigate to the Blocking Tab: Tap on the “Blocking” tab.
3. Pull to Refresh: Swipe down on the screen to refresh. A “Blocking refreshed” notification will appear at the bottom once completed.

For AppBlock version 3.8.0 and newer:

1. Open AppBlock: Launch the AppBlock app on your device.
2. Navigate to the Blocking Tab: Tap on the “Blocking” tab.
3. Tap the Refresh Icon: Tap the refresh icon in the top right corner to update your blockings.

This refresh process should help enforce the blocking settings, ensuring that apps are properly blocked according to your schedules. If the refresh does not resolve the issue, please contact our support and send us a short video (max 20MB) showing your blocking settings, so we can assist you further.

If apps that you did not block are being blocked, refreshing your blocking settings in the AppBlock app may resolve the issue.
Here’s how:

For AppBlock version 3.7.0 and older:

1. Open AppBlock: Launch the AppBlock app on your device.
2. Navigate to the Blocking Tab: Tap on the “Blocking” tab.
3. Pull to Refresh: Swipe down on the screen to refresh. A “Blocking refreshed” notification will appear at the bottom once completed.

For AppBlock version 3.8.0 and newer:

1. Open AppBlock: Launch the AppBlock app on your device.
2. Navigate to the Blocking Tab: Tap on the “Blocking” tab.
3. Tap the Refresh Icon: Tap the refresh icon in the top right corner to update your blockings.

Refreshing the settings helps ensure that only the apps you’ve selected are being blocked, correcting any unintended blockages.

If refreshing the settings doesn’t resolve the issue, please feel free to contact our support team for further assistance.

We understand how frustrating it is when the search bar in AppBlock doesn’t work. This issue is often linked to the system’s Screen Time functionality, which our app relies on, and it affects other blocking apps as well.

As a workaround, try typing an emoji before entering the app name in the search bar to avoid the crash. Once the app name is entered, you can delete the emoji and proceed.

We understand how frustrating it is when the system screen crashes, preventing you from blocking apps. Unfortunately, these crashes are tied to the system’s Screen Time functionality and aren’t caused by our app.

To avoid this issue, we recommend using the search bar instead of the “Other” category to block apps and websites. If the screen crashes in the search bar as well, try typing an emoji before entering the app name to help prevent it. Once the app name is entered, you can delete the emoji and proceed.

Good news! You can now use your Premium subscription on both iOS and Android devices. To access your Premium features across platforms, simply ensure that you are logged into the same AppBlock account on both devices.

How to Activate Your Subscription on Another Device:

1. Sign in – Open AppBlock on your iOS device and log in using the same account you used to purchase the subscription. Then, use the same AppBlock account on your Android device.
2. Sync Your Subscription – Once logged in, your Premium access will automatically apply to the new device. No additional purchases are required. All the features of your subscription will now be available on both platforms.

If you experience any issues accessing your Premium subscription on a different device, please reach out to our support team for assistance.

We appreciate your support and are committed to making AppBlock even more convenient for you!

First, let’s determine what is blocking your access.

• If a Schedule/Quick Block is blocking You: The easiest solution is to simply change the blocking parameters within the schedule.
• If you are in Strict Mode: The deactivation condition must be fulfilled before you can unblock your apps or websites. We currently offer 5 deactivation conditions: Charger, PIN code, Approval, Cooldown, and None (Timer + Follow Schedules).
• Emergency situation: If you’re in an emergency and have the Follow Schedules/Timer condition applied with no way to deactivate Strict Mode, please contact support and select the reason “Emergency unblocking” or “I need to unlock my device” on older versions of AppBlock. We will send you a one-time code that will deactivate Strict Mode and delete the PIN code to access AppBlock, if you have set one up.

If you encounter any other issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help!

If your scheduled blocks aren’t working as expected, you can refresh the blocking settings within the AppBlock app. Here’s how:

On appBlock version 3.7.0 and older:

• Open AppBlock: Launch the AppBlock application on your device.
• Navigate to the Blocking Tab: Tap on the “Blocking” tab within the app interface.
• Pull to Refresh: Simply swipe down on the screen to initiate the refresh process.

Once completed, a notification stating “Blocking refreshed” will appear at the bottom of your screen.

On AppBlock version > 3.8.0:

• Open AppBlock: Launch the AppBlock application on your device.
• Navigate to the Blocking Tab: Tap on the “Blocking” tab within the app interface.
• Tap at the refresh icon: Simply tap at the icon in the top right corner to refresh the blockings.

This refresh feature ensures that your blocking settings are up to date and functioning correctly, resolving any issues with app access according to your schedules.

Blocking Settings on devices with iOS17:

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. This native iOS app allows you to create a sequence of actions from different apps that can be triggered with a single tap.
2. Tap on ‘Automation’ at the bottom, then ‘New Automation’. 
3. Now, select ‘App’. This is where you’ll specify the application you wish to block (like Settings). Once selected, make sure ‘Is Opened‘ is marked, choose “Run Inmidiately” and confirm your choice tapping on Next.
4. Tap on ‘New Blank Automation’ and ‘Add Action’
5. Proceed to tap on ‘Scripting’, and then ‘Open App’.
6. In the ‘Open App’ window, tap on ‘App’, and select ‘Shortcuts’ from the list.
7. Your automation is ready! Hit ‘Done’ to save it.
8. The next step is to incorporate AppBlock. Navigate to the AppBlock app, add the Shortcuts app to your Quick Block blocklist, and activate the blocking.
9. Go to Settings. Once you try to open it, the blocking screen will appear.
   
   Voluntary step: Activate Strict Mode in AppBlock. This ensures that the blocking remains active, eliminating any chance of bypassing it.  
   
   

Blocking Screentime on devices with iOS17:

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. This native iOS app allows you to create a sequence of actions from different apps that can be triggered with a single tap.
2. Tap on ‘Automation’ at the bottom, then ‘New Automation’. 
3. Now, select ‘App’. This is where you’ll specify the application you wish to block (like Settings). Once selected, make sure ‘Is Closed‘ is marked, choose “Run Inmidiately” and confirm your choice tapping on Next.
4. Tap on ‘New Blank Automation’ and ‘Add Action’
5. Proceed to tap on ‘Scripting’, and then ‘Open App’.
6. In the ‘Open App’ window, tap on ‘App’, and select ‘Shortcuts’ from the list.
7. Your automation is ready! Hit ‘Done’ to save it.
8. The next step is to incorporate AppBlock. Navigate to the AppBlock app, add the Shortcuts app to your Quick Block blocklist, and activate the blocking.
9. Go to settings > Screen Time > When you try to turn off the Screen Time permissions for AppBlock, the Shortcut will navigate you to the blocking screen.
   
   Voluntary step: Activate Strict Mode in AppBlock. This ensures that the blocking remains active, eliminating any chance of bypassing it.  
   

If you’re using the same Apple ID, you should be able to restore your subscription. Simply go to AppBlock > Profile > Restore Purchase. After tapping that, AppBlock should recognize your premium status. If you don’t see “Profile,” you might be using an older version—go to AppBlock > More > Restore Purchase instead. We recommend updating to the latest version of AppBlock to enjoy all the new features.

If you encounter any issues, you can also try going to the premium buying page and tapping “Restore Purchases” under the “Other options” button.

If these steps don’t work, please follow the Apple Support Guide.