AppBlock on iOS

AppBlock currently supports daily usage limits — not hourly or weekly ones. Here’s why, and what you can do in the meantime.

What’s currently possible

• Daily Usage Limit — block an app after a set number of minutes or hours per day (resets at midnight).
• Daily Open Limit — block an app after a set number of opens per day.
• Time Schedule — block apps between specific hours each day.

There is no native support for weekly limits or hourly limits at this time.

Why this limitation exists

AppBlock uses Apple’s Screen Time API to track app usage. The API currently only provides daily usage data — weekly or hourly breakdowns aren’t available to third-party apps.

Workarounds in the meantime

• Set a smaller daily usage limit. Instead of 5 hours per week, try approximately 43 minutes per day.
• Use day-specific schedules. Block social media entirely on certain days of the week.
• Combine schedules. Run one schedule with a Daily Usage Limit and another that blocks specific time ranges — together they create a stronger structure than either alone.

If hourly or weekly limits are important to you, let us know at support@appblock.app — every request helps shape our roadmap.

Yes — you can set up a block that runs continuously without an end time. Here’s how.

Using a time schedule without an end time

The most reliable way to create a permanent block is to set a schedule that covers the entire day, every day:

1. Open AppBlock and create a new schedule.
2. Set the condition to Time schedule.
3. Set the time range to all day (for example, 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM).
4. Enable it for all days of the week.
5. Select the apps you want to block.
6. Save and activate.

Make it harder to undo with Strict Mode

To prevent yourself from disabling the block later:

1. Activate Strict Mode after setting up the schedule.
2. Choose an unlock method that makes it hard to turn off (like Approval Contact or a long Cooldown).

Good to know

AppBlock doesn’t have a dedicated “permanent block” toggle, but a full-day recurring schedule combined with Strict Mode achieves the same result.

Not directly — and this is a common point of confusion. Here’s why.

How app blocking works on iPhone

AppBlock blocks entire apps using Apple’s Screen Time framework. When you block Instagram, the whole app is blocked — not just Reels.

AppBlock cannot block specific features or sections within an app (like Reels, Shorts, or Stories) because iOS doesn’t give third-party apps that level of control.

What you can do

• Block the entire app — if Reels or Shorts are the problem, blocking the whole app is the most effective solution.
• Use a Usage Limit — set a daily time cap for the app to limit overall use without fully blocking it.
• Use an Open Limit — restrict how many times per day you can open the app.

Why in-app content blocking isn’t possible

Apple doesn’t provide APIs that allow third-party apps to control what happens inside another app. This is a platform limitation, not something AppBlock can work around.

Website blocking on iPhone works differently from app blocking, and there are a few important limitations to be aware of.

Limitations

• Keyword blocking only works in Safari — other browsers need full domain addresses.
• In-app browsers are not blocked — if you open a link inside Instagram or Twitter, the built-in browser inside those apps may bypass website blocking.
• Incognito or private browsing may bypass blocking — especially in less common browsers.
• Some browsers are not supported — unusual browsers may bypass website blocking entirely.
• A site may flash briefly before being blocked — this is normal iOS behavior.
• Websites can only be blocked with Time or Location schedules — not with Open Limit or Usage Limit schedules.

Supported browsers

• Safari — fully supported (domains and keywords).
• Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave — supported for domain blocking, but not keyword blocking.
• Less common browsers — may bypass blocking entirely.

Starting with iOS 18, Apple changed how the Shortcuts app handles automation, which broke the method previously used to block Screen Time.

What changed

On iOS 17 and earlier, AppBlock used a Shortcut to intercept when you opened Screen Time and redirect you to AppBlock instead. This no longer works reliably on iOS 18.

What still works on iOS 18

• Blocking the Settings app via Shortcuts still works on iOS 18 (not Screen Time).
• Blocking apps and websites still works fully.
• All other AppBlock features are unaffected.

What you can do instead

Since iOS 26.4, Apple has added the option to set up a Screen Time Passcode that’s separate from your iPhone passcode. If a trusted friend sets that passcode for you, you won’t be able to easily disable Screen Time permissions for AppBlock from Settings.

See “How to block Settings or Screen Time on iPhone” for the full setup.

Many users want to block access to Settings or Screen Time to prevent themselves from disabling AppBlock. Here’s what’s possible and why it’s limited.

Why direct blocking isn’t possible

Apple does not allow third-party apps to directly block access to the Settings app or Screen Time. This is an iOS restriction, not an AppBlock limitation.

The Shortcuts workaround

As a workaround, AppBlock uses Apple’s Shortcuts app to redirect you to AppBlock whenever you open Settings.

This works on:

• iOS 16 and older: Settings and Screen Time can both be blocked via Shortcuts.
• iOS 17: Settings and Screen Time can both be blocked via Shortcuts.
• iOS 18: Settings blocking still works; Screen Time blocking is no longer reliable.
• iOS 26+: Neither Settings nor Screen Time blocking via Shortcuts is reliable.

What you can do on iOS 26+

Since iOS 26.4, Apple has added the option to set up a Screen Time Passcode that’s separate from your iPhone passcode. If a trusted friend sets that passcode for you, you won’t be able to easily disable Screen Time permissions for AppBlock from Settings.

See “How to block Settings or Screen Time on iPhone” for the full setup.

AppBlock uses Apple’s Screen Time framework to block apps and websites on iPhone. This means some things are possible, and some aren’t — not because of AppBlock, but because of how iOS works.

What AppBlock can block

• Apps — any app installed on your device, including social media, games, and browsers.
• Websites — domains and keywords in Safari and most major browsers.
• App categories — block entire categories like Social or Games.
• New app installations — AppBlock can hide the App Store via Strict Mode.
• Settings and Screen Time — via Shortcuts (iOS 17 and earlier; limited on iOS 18+).

What AppBlock cannot block

• Phone calls and SMS — Apple does not allow third-party apps to block the Phone or Messages app.
• In-app content like Reels or Shorts — AppBlock blocks the app entirely, not specific features inside it.
• Browsing in apps with built-in browsers — these use in-app browsers that bypass website blocking.
• Settings on iOS 26+ — Apple’s Shortcuts-based method no longer works reliably.
• Screen Time settings directly — Apple restricts this for third-party apps.

A note on iOS limitations

AppBlock works within what Apple allows for third-party apps. When Apple changes their APIs or restrictions, some features may stop working or behave differently. We update AppBlock to match new possibilities as quickly as we can.