The fastest way to block apps on an iPhone

You can block individual apps on your child's iPhone using Screen Time, which is built into iOS. Open Settings, tap Screen Time, select your child's name, go to App Limits, and add the apps you want to restrict. You can set daily time limits for specific apps, or use Content & Privacy Restrictions to block them entirely so they cannot be opened at all.

The difference matters: App Limits let your child use an app for a set time each day (say, 30 minutes of TikTok), then it locks until tomorrow. Content & Privacy Restrictions remove the app from the home screen and prevent it from opening, period. Which one you choose depends on whether you want to allow some use or none.

Both methods require you to set a Screen Time passcode — a four-digit code separate from the device passcode. Without this code, your child can request more time or change the settings. If you forget the Screen Time passcode, you will need to erase the device and set it up again, so write it down somewhere safe.

Key Takeaways

  • App Limits let your child use an app for a set number of minutes per day, then lock it until the next day; Content & Privacy Restrictions block the app entirely.
  • Both methods live in Settings > Screen Time > [Child's Name], and both require a separate Screen Time passcode that your child cannot bypass without your permission.
  • You can block apps by category (Games, Social Networking, Entertainment) or by individual app name, depending on how specific you want to be.
  • If your child requests more time on a limited app, you will receive a notification and can approve or deny the request from your own iPhone.

Setting up App Limits for daily time caps

App Limits are useful when you want to allow some screen time but cap it — for example, letting your child use Instagram for 45 minutes a day, then locking it until tomorrow. To set this up, go to Settings on your child's iPhone, tap Screen Time, select your child's name, then tap App Limits.

Tap Add Limit and choose the apps or categories you want to restrict. You can pick individual apps (like YouTube or Snapchat) or entire categories (like Games or Social Networking). Set the daily time limit in hours and minutes. Once the time runs out, the app will show a lock screen and cannot be opened until midnight or whenever the next day begins on that device.

Your child will see a warning when they have five minutes left, then another warning when time is up. They can request more time by tapping "Ask for More Screen Time," which sends you a notification on your iPhone. You can approve 15 more minutes, one hour, or deny the request entirely. This gives you a moment to decide whether the request is reasonable without having to physically take the phone.

Using Content & Privacy Restrictions to block apps completely

If you do not want your child to use an app at all, Content & Privacy Restrictions will hide it and prevent it from opening. Go to Settings, tap Screen Time, select your child's name, then tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn it on. Tap Allowed Apps and toggle off any app you want to block.

When you turn off an app here, it disappears from the home screen and cannot be opened, even if your child knows it exists. The app stays installed on the device, but it is inaccessible. This is stronger than App Limits because there is no request option — your child cannot ask for permission to use it.

You can also restrict entire categories of apps this way. For example, you can block all Games, all Social Networking apps, or all Entertainment apps at once. This is faster than blocking apps one by one if you want to remove a whole category.

Blocking apps by category instead of by name

iOS organizes apps into categories like Games, Social Networking, Entertainment, Productivity, and Health & Fitness. If you want to block multiple apps at once — say, all social media apps — you can restrict the entire category instead of naming each app individually.

In Content & Privacy Restrictions, tap Allowed Apps and you will see both individual app names and category names. Toggle off a category name to block every app in that category. This is useful if new apps keep appearing in a category and you do not want to update the restrictions every time your child downloads something new.

The tradeoff is that blocking a whole category also blocks apps you might want to allow. For example, blocking Entertainment will block both YouTube and Apple Books. If you need finer control, stick to blocking individual apps instead.

What happens when your child tries to open a blocked app

If you have used Content & Privacy Restrictions to block an app, your child will not see it on the home screen at all. If they search for it using Spotlight (swipe down from the top), the search will not show it. The app simply will not appear to exist on the device.

If you have set an App Limit instead, the app will open normally until the daily time runs out. Once time is up, your child will see a lock screen that says "Time Limit Reached" and shows how much time was used. They can tap "Ask for More Screen Time" to send you a request, or they can wait until the next day when the limit resets.

Neither method will delete the app or prevent your child from reinstalling it later. If you want to prevent downloads and deletions entirely, you can restrict that separately in Content & Privacy Restrictions under iTunes & App Store.

Setting a Screen Time passcode so your child cannot change settings

When you first set up Screen Time, iOS will ask you to create a four-digit Screen Time passcode. This is different from your device passcode and is used only for Screen Time settings. Your child will need this code to change App Limits, turn off Content & Privacy Restrictions, or request more time beyond what you have allowed.

If you forget this passcode, you cannot reset it without erasing the device. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then set up the iPhone again from scratch. This is why it is important to write down your Screen Time passcode and keep it somewhere safe — not on the device itself.

You can change your Screen Time passcode later by going to Settings > Screen Time > [Child's Name] > Change Screen Time Passcode. You will need to enter the old code first, then create a new one.

Monitoring requests and adjusting limits over time

When your child requests more time on an app with an App Limit, you will get a notification on your own iPhone. You can approve the request right away, set a custom time amount, or deny it. You do not have to be at home or near the device to respond — the notification works across your devices.

Check in on your child's Screen Time report regularly to see which apps they are using most and how much time they spend on each one. Go to Settings > Screen Time > [Child's Name] > See All Activity to view a detailed breakdown by app and category. This information can help you decide whether your current limits are working or whether you need to adjust them.

As your child gets older, you may want to loosen some restrictions or shift from blocking apps entirely to setting time limits instead. Screen Time lets you make these changes anytime without affecting the rest of the device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child delete an app I have blocked with Content & Privacy Restrictions?

No. When you block an app using Content & Privacy Restrictions, your child cannot delete it, reinstall it, or even see it on the device. If you want to prevent downloads and deletions of any app, you can also restrict that separately under Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store > Installing Apps.

What if my child knows my Screen Time passcode?

If your child has figured out your passcode, they can change App Limits, turn off restrictions, or approve their own time requests. Change your passcode immediately by going to Settings > Screen Time > [Child's Name] > Change Screen Time Passcode. Use a code that is not your birthday or another number they might guess.

Do App Limits reset at midnight or at a specific time I choose?

App Limits reset at midnight in your device's time zone by default. You can change when the day resets by going to Settings > Screen Time > [Child's Name] > Downtime and adjusting the start and end times. Downtime is separate from App Limits but works similarly — it blocks all apps except those you mark as Always Allowed.

Can I block apps on my child's iPhone from my own iPhone?

Yes, if you have set up Family Sharing. Go to Settings > Family on your own iPhone, select your child's name, tap Screen Time, and you can view and adjust their limits remotely. Changes take effect on their device within a few minutes.

What is the difference between App Limits and Downtime?

App Limits restrict specific apps to a daily time budget. Downtime blocks most apps entirely during a set window of time (like 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.), but you can mark certain apps as Always Allowed so they stay accessible. Use App Limits for apps you want to allow in small doses, and Downtime for a screen-free period.