AppBlock on iOS

Location schedules let you block apps automatically when you arrive at a specific place like your office, school, or library.

How to set up a location schedule

1. Open AppBlock and tap + or +Add in Schedules.
2. Choose Location as the condition.
3. Search for the address or pick it on the map.
4. Set the radius (how close you need to be for the block to trigger).
5. Add the apps or websites you want blocked.
6. Save the schedule.

How it works in the background

AppBlock uses iOS Location Services to detect when you enter or leave the selected area. The block activates automatically when you arrive and deactivates when you leave.

Important: keep location permissions on

For Location schedules to work reliably:

1. Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services.
2. Set AppBlock’s permission to Always.
3. Make sure Precise Location is on.

Known iOS behavior

Starting with iOS 18, Apple changed how background location works, which sometimes caused Location schedules to activate only after opening AppBlock. This has improved in iOS 26.3, but it can still misbehave on some devices. We monitor this closely and will release updates as Apple improves the system.

Strict Mode is AppBlock’s commitment layer. Once activated, it prevents you from turning off your blocks, editing your schedules, or uninstalling AppBlock — even when temptation hits.

What Strict Mode does

When Strict Mode is active, you can’t:

• Turn off active schedules or Quick Blocks.
• Edit or delete your blocking rules.
• Remove apps or websites from your blocklist.
• Uninstall AppBlock.

To unlock, you’ll need to fulfill the unlock condition you chose when activating Strict Mode.

How to activate Strict Mode

1. Open AppBlock.
2. Go to Strict Mode.
3. Choose an unlock method (see options below).
4. Tap Advanced options to fine-tune what Strict Mode restricts.
5. Tap Activate lock.

Unlock methods

• Cooldown – when you try to unlock Strict Mode, you have to wait a set amount of time before the unlock takes effect.
• Timer – Strict Mode stays on for a set period of time and unlocks automatically when it ends.
• Follow schedules – Strict Mode is only active while your blocking schedules are running.
• Approval – ask a trusted person to approve your unlock request. The strongest option for serious commitments.
• PIN – set a code you’ll need to enter to unlock.
• Charger – Strict Mode stays active until you plug your phone into a charger.

How strict should Strict Mode be?

In Advanced options, you can pick exactly what Strict Mode locks down:

• Lock blockings in app – you won’t be able to edit, pause, or delete your blockings in AppBlock.
• Disable app uninstalling – you won’t be able to uninstall any apps, including AppBlock itself.
• Disable installation of new apps – hides the App Store so you can’t install new apps.
• Prevent time change – you won’t be able to change your device’s time.
• Lock Face ID & Passcode – you won’t be able to change your device’s Face ID and Passcode settings.

Recommendations

• For your first time, choose PIN or Charger so you can disable Strict Mode if something feels off.
• For serious focus goals, use Approval Contact or a long Timer.
• Avoid setting up a complicated Strict Mode setup right before an important event.

Final tip

Strict Mode works best when you commit to it ahead of time. Set it up when you’re feeling motivated — not when you’re already trying to resist temptation.

If betting, adult content, or other distracting websites are pulling you off track, AppBlock can help.

For Adult content blocking, you can use our Adult content blocking feature in Extra options.

We don’t have a dedicated betting or gambling blocker, but there are a few effective ways to block this kind of content on iPhone.

Option 1: Use the Adult content blocker

AppBlock has a built-in Adult content filter that blocks adult websites across the web. You can enable it in any schedule or Quick Block:

1. Open a new or existing schedule, or start a Quick Block.
2. Go to Extra options.
3. Toggle on Block adult content.
4. Save and activate.

Once enabled, AppBlock will automatically block adult websites in your supported browsers without you having to add them one by one.

Option 2: Block specific websites

For betting sites, gambling platforms, or any other specific websites you want to avoid, you can add them manually:

1. Open/create a Schedule or Quick Block.
2. Tap Add websites.
3. Enter the URLs you want to block (for example, bet365.com, pokerstars.com).
4. Save and activate.

Option 3: Block by keyword

Keyword blocking is a powerful way to catch a whole category of sites at once.

1. In Add websites, enter a keyword like betting, casino, poker, or gamble.
2. AppBlock will block any web address containing that keyword.

This works well for betting and gambling, since most of these sites have telling keywords in their URLs.

Make it stick

For sensitive blocks like adult content or betting, we strongly recommend turning on Strict Mode so you can’t easily disable the block in a moment of temptation. Methods like Approval Contact or a long Cooldown are particularly effective for serious commitments.

On iPhone, the ability to combine blocking conditions is limited compared to Android. Here’s what you can and can’t do.

What you can combine on iPhone

• Location + specific hours – you can set a Location schedule and restrict it to certain hours of the day (for example, block social media only when you’re at the office between 9 AM and 5 PM).

That’s the only combination of conditions supported on iOS.

What you can’t combine on iPhone

• Open limit + usage limit – you can use one or the other, but not both in the same schedule.
• Time schedule + usage limit – can’t be combined.
• Time schedule + open limit – can’t be combined.
• Usage limit + location – can’t be combined.
• Open limit + location – can’t be combined.

Why is iOS more limited?

These restrictions come from Apple’s Screen Time framework. Apple decides what’s technically possible for third-party apps, and unfortunately, combining most blocking conditions isn’t currently allowed.

The workaround: run multiple schedules at the same time

You can have several schedules active in parallel. If two schedules apply to the same app, the strictest one wins — meaning the app stays blocked as long as at least one schedule blocks it.

Example combinations

• Work focus: A Location schedule for the office, restricted to 9 AM–5 PM, blocking social media.
• Healthy evenings: One schedule blocks games after 9 PM, a second schedule sets a 1-hour daily usage limit on the same apps.
• Study mode: A Time schedule for weekday afternoons combined with a separate Usage limit schedule.

Tip

Start simple. Adding too many overlapping schedules can make it hard to understand why something is or isn’t being blocked.

Step-by-step

1. Open your Device Settings.
2. Go to Apps > AppBlock.
3. Tap Language.
4. Choose your preferred language from the list.
5. AppBlock will restart in the new language.

Available languages:

AppBlock is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Arabic, Czech, Dutch, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, and Turkish.

If you don’t see your language

• Make sure you’re on the latest version of AppBlock.
• If your language isn’t listed yet, let us know — we love hearing what languages our users want.

Sometimes it’s easier to block everything except a few apps you actually need. That’s what the Allowlist is for.

What Allowlist does

Instead of choosing what to block, you choose what to keep accessible. AppBlock blocks everything else.

This is useful for:

• Deep focus sessions (only work apps allowed).
• Exam mode (only study tools and emergency apps).
• Phone detox (only calls, messages, and maps).

How to set it up

1. Open AppBlock.
2. Create a new Schedule or Quick Block.
3. Switch Blocklist to Allowlist mode.
4. Select the apps you want to remain accessible.
5. Save and activate.

Good to know

• Allowlist blocks everything else on your device, so be sure to allow essentials like Phone, Messages, and Maps.
• On iOS, some system apps (like Settings) stay accessible regardless of Allowlist settings due to Apple restrictions.

Tip

Start with a short Quick Block in Allowlist mode to make sure your selection works the way you expect.

Many users want to protect their Settings or Screen Time menu to prevent themselves from disabling AppBlock.

Apple does not allow third-party apps to block Settings directly. As a workaround, we use Apple’s Shortcuts app to redirect you to AppBlock when you try to open Settings.

Step-by-step guides

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

Important note for iOS 26

Starting with iOS 26, Apple changed how Shortcuts works, and this method no longer reliably blocks Settings or Screen Time.

However, since iOS 26.4, you can now set up a Screen Time Passcode in Settings. This passcode can be different from your iPhone passcode.

Therefore, you can ask a friend to set up a Screen Time Passcode for you. Once done, you can no longer easily disable Screen Time permissions for AppBlock from Settings.

Quick overview by iOS version:

iOS 16 & older

• ✅ Block Settings via Shortcuts
• ✅ Block Screen Time via Shortcuts

iOS 17

• ✅ Block Settings via Shortcuts
• ✅ Block Screen Time via Shortcuts

iOS 18

• ✅ Block Settings via Shortcuts (iOS < 18.5)
• ⚠️ Block Screen Time is no longer reliable

iOS 26+

• ❌ Block Settings is no longer reliable
• ❌ Block Screen Time is no longer reliable

Usage limits are one of the most popular features in AppBlock. They let you set a daily cap on how long you can spend in selected apps or websites.

How it works

1. You select the apps or websites you want to limit.
2. You set a daily time budget (for example, 30 minutes for Instagram).
3. Once you reach that limit, AppBlock blocks the app for the rest of the day.
4. The limit resets at midnight.

What counts toward the limit

• Time spent actively using the app.
• Time spent in the foreground, even if not interacting.
• Background activity, notifications, and time when your screen is off do not count.

A note about iOS accuracy

AppBlock relies on Apple’s Screen Time data to measure usage. With iOS 18 and iOS 26, the system sometimes reports inaccurate usage, which can cause limits to trigger earlier than expected. We’ve improved this in newer AppBlock versions, and Apple is also working on it on their side.

If you’re affected, see “Usage limits do not work” for the latest workarounds.

Tips

• Use one usage limit per app to avoid overlap.
• If you’re experiencing issues with usage limits on your device, consider trying the Open Limit feature.

Schedules are the backbone of AppBlock. They let you decide when and how apps and websites get blocked — so you don’t have to think about it every day.

What a schedule is

A schedule is a rule that combines:

• The apps and websites you want to block.
• The condition that triggers the block (time, usage, opens, or location).
• The days of the week it should be active.

Types of conditions

• Time schedule – blocks apps during selected hours (e.g. 9 AM–5 PM on weekdays).
• Open limit – blocks apps after a number of opens per day.
• Usage limit – blocks apps after a set amount of daily use.
• Location – blocks apps when you arrive at a specific place.

Overlapping schedules

You can run multiple schedules at the same time. If two schedules block the same app, the strictest one applies — meaning the app stays blocked as long as at least one schedule wants it blocked.

Pause behavior

You can pause a schedule temporarily. When paused:

• The schedule stops blocking.
• Once the pause ends, blocking resumes automatically.
• If Strict Mode is active, pausing will be restricted.

Good to know

• You can edit a schedule any time unless Strict Mode is active.
• Schedules are based on your device’s local time.

Tip

Pair Quick Block with Strict Mode to make sure you can’t simply turn it off the moment temptation hits.

Quick Block is AppBlock’s fastest way to start a distraction-free session. Unlike schedules, it’s a one-time block you start manually. Perfect for when you need to focus for an hour or want a short digital detox.

When to use Quick Block

• You need to focus for the next hour or two.
• You don’t want a recurring schedule.
• You want a one-tap distraction-free moment.

How to start a Quick Block

1. Open AppBlock.
2. Tap Quick Block on the home screen.
3. Select the apps and websites you want to block.
4. Choose the duration.
5. Tap Start.

How to stop Quick Block

1. Open AppBlock and tap Stop Quick Block.
2. If Strict Mode is active, you’ll need to wait for the timer to expire or fulfill your unlock condition.

Quick Block vs. Schedules

• Quick Block: one-time, on-demand · set up in seconds · best for spontaneous focus.
• Schedules: recurring or rule-based · more options and conditions · best for daily habits.

Tip

Pair Quick Block with Strict Mode to make sure you can’t simply turn it off the moment temptation hits.

Many users are surprised that website blocking on iPhone behaves a bit differently than app blocking. This article explains why and what to expect.

How it works

AppBlock uses Apple’s Screen Time framework to block websites. When you add a website or keyword, AppBlock tells the system to restrict pages matching that URL or keyword across supported browsers.

Supported browsers

• Safari – fully supported for websites and keywords blocking.
• Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave… – supported for website blocking, not for keyword blocking.
• Some less common browsers may bypass blocking entirely.

Domain vs. keyword blocking

• Domain blocking: entering youtube.com blocks the full domain and its subpages.
• Keyword blocking: entering a keyword like tiktok blocks any URL containing that word.

Why some pages may still load briefly

A page may flash on screen for a moment before the blocking screen appears. This is normal iOS behavior — Safari starts loading the page before Screen Time intercepts it.

Limitations

• Incognito or private browsing in unsupported browsers may bypass blocking.
• In-app browsers (for example, inside social media apps) may not always be blocked.
• HTTPS sites with unusual configurations may behave inconsistently.

If a site isn’t being blocked

1. Go to the Blocking tab in AppBlock.
2. Tap the refresh icon in the top-right corner.
3. Reopen the website.

If it still doesn’t work, contact our support team and we’ll help look into it.

AppBlock can block distracting websites alongside apps, helping you stay focused even when browsing the web. Here’s how to set it up on iPhone.

Step 1: Create a new schedule or Quick Block

1. Open AppBlock.
2. Tap + / +Add in Schedules, or use Quick Block.

Step 2: Choose your blocking condition

Decide when websites should be blocked:

• Time schedule – block during specific hours.
• Location – block when you’re in a certain place.

Step 3: Add Websites or Safari Keywords

1. Tap Websites or Safari Keywords.
2. Enter a full website (for example, instagram.com) or a keyword that should be blocked across the Safari browser.
3. Confirm your selection.

Step 4: Save and test

Tap Save and then open Safari to try the blocked site. You should see the AppBlock blocking screen.

Good to know: Website blocking on iPhone works through Safari and other major browsers. The behavior can differ from app blocking, so we recommend reading “How website blocking works in Safari” for more details. Keywords Blocking works only in Safari and not in any other browser.

AppBlock lets you block individual apps, app categories, or your entire device — on a schedule or on demand. Here’s how to set it up.

Step 1: Open AppBlock and start a new block

1. Open AppBlock.
2. Tap + (or + Add) in the Schedules tab, or use Quick Block for an immediate one-off block.

Step 2: Choose your blocking condition

Pick how you want the block to be triggered:

• Time schedule: apps are blocked between selected hours.
• Open limit: apps are blocked after a set number of opens per day.
• Usage limit: apps are blocked after a set amount of usage time per day.
• Location: apps are blocked when you arrive at a specific place.

Step 3: Select the apps to block

• Add Apps/Websites/Safari keywords — if you use a Time Schedule or a Location schedule, you can also block websites or Safari keywords. Open Limit and Usage limit Schedules only work for app blocking.
• Pick apps from categories (Social, Games, etc.) or use the search bar to find specific apps.
• Confirm your selection.

Tip: If the search bar or the Other category crashes, type any emoji first and then the app name. This is a known iOS Screen Time issue on some older iOS versions and the emoji trick usually fixes it.

Step 4: Save and activate

Tap Save, and your block becomes active based on the condition you chose.

Step 5: Make your setup unchangeable with Strict Mode (Optional)

Once you’ve created your block, you can lock it in place with Strict Mode. This prevents you from disabling the block, deleting the schedule, or changing your blocklist in a moment of weakness.

For full setup instructions, see How to use Strict Mode.

Best Practices

• Start with a small group of apps — it’s easier to stick to.
• Use realistic limits so you don’t sabotage yourself.
• Combine schedules with Strict Mode for stronger focus.

AppBlock for iPhone helps you reduce screen time, block distracting apps and websites, and build healthier digital habits. This guide will walk you through the essential setup process to make sure everything works properly.

Step 1: Install AppBlock

1. Download AppBlock from the App Store.
2. Open the app.
3. Complete the initial onboarding process.

Step 2: Allow Required Permissions

For AppBlock to block apps and track usage correctly on iPhone, the correct permissions are essential.

Enable Screen Time access

1. Open AppBlock.
2. Follow the prompt to connect Screen Time.
3. Approve all requested permissions.

Important: Without Screen Time permissions, app blocking and usage limits may not work correctly.

Step 3: Create Your First Block

1. Open AppBlock.
2. Tap + Add in Schedules or choose one of our templates.
3. Choose when the block should run:
   • Time schedule: AppBlock will block your selected apps from one time to another.
   • Open limit: Choose how many times per day you want to be able to open blocked apps before they are blocked.
   • Usage limit: Set a daily time limit for how long you can use your blocked apps before they are blocked.
   • Location: Choose where you want your apps to be blocked.
4. Select the apps, websites, or keywords you would like to block.

Step 4: Enable Strict Mode (Optional)

Strict Mode adds extra protection by preventing easy changes to your blocks.

To enable it:

1. Go to Strict Mode.
2. Choose an unlock method. We recommend using PIN or Charger for your first test setup, so you can disable it if needed.
3. Select Advanced options and choose how strict you want Strict Mode to be.
4. Tap Activate lock.

Step 5: Test Your Setup

Before relying on your block schedule:

• Open a blocked app.
• Confirm that the block activates correctly.
• Check that usage timers count down properly.

Best Practices

• Keep AppBlock updated.
• Review your schedules regularly.
• Use realistic limits.
• Combine schedules with Strict Mode for stronger focus.
• Adjust your settings as your needs change.

Final Tip

The best AppBlock setup balances strong protection with practical flexibility. Start simple, test your blocks, and gradually strengthen your digital boundaries. AppBlock is designed to help you stay focused, reduce distractions, and regain control over your screen time.