You can block an app three ways: prevent it from opening, hide it from your home screen, or restrict it with Screen Time
The method you choose depends on what you want to stop. If you want to prevent someone else from opening an app, use Screen Time with a passcode. If you want to stop seeing an app on your home screen but keep it installed, hide it. If you want to delete it entirely, remove it. Each approach takes less than a minute.
The most common reason to block an app is parental control — preventing a child from accessing something. The second is stopping yourself from opening something distracting. Screen Time handles both. It lets you set time limits, block apps during certain hours, or require a passcode before opening.
Key Takeaways
- Screen Time with a passcode is the only method that actually prevents someone from opening an app; hiding or deleting an app does not stop determined access.
- You can set time limits so an app stops working after a certain number of minutes per day, or block it entirely during specific hours.
- Hiding an app removes it from your home screen and app library search, but the app remains installed and can still send notifications.
- Deleting an app removes it completely, but you can reinstall it free from the App Store if you change your mind later.
- If you forget your Screen Time passcode, you must reset your iPhone or contact Apple Support; there is no bypass.
Block an app with Screen Time and a passcode
This is the only method that actually stops someone from opening an app. Open Settings, then tap Screen Time. If you have not set up Screen Time yet, tap Turn On Screen Time and choose whether this is your device or a child's device. If it is a child's device, you will set a Screen Time passcode that only you know.
Once Screen Time is on, tap App Limits and then Add Limit. Select the app you want to block, then set the time limit to 0 minutes. This stops the app from opening at all. If you want to allow it for a certain number of minutes per day, set that number instead — when time runs out, the app closes and cannot be reopened until the next day.
To block an app during specific hours instead, go back to Screen Time settings and tap Downtime. Set the hours when apps should be blocked, then choose which apps are allowed during downtime. Apps not on the allowed list will not open during those hours.
If you set a Screen Time passcode and later forget it, you cannot reset it without resetting your entire iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This deletes everything on the phone, so only do this if you have a backup.
Hide an app from your home screen
Hiding an app removes it from your home screen and from search results in the App Library, but the app stays installed. Someone can still find it by scrolling through the App Library categories, and the app can still send notifications. Use this method if you want to reduce temptation for yourself, not to prevent access by someone else.
Press and hold the app icon on your home screen, then tap Remove App. Choose Remove from Home Screen. The app disappears from your home screen but remains in the App Library. To find it later, open the App Library (swipe to your last home screen), search for the app by name, and tap it to open.
If you want to hide an app that is not on your home screen, open the App Library, press and hold the app, and tap Remove from Home Screen. This does not hide it from the App Library itself — it just ensures it does not appear on any home screen.
Delete an app completely
Deleting removes the app from your iPhone entirely. You can reinstall it free from the App Store at any time. Press and hold the app icon, tap Remove App, then tap Delete App. Confirm by tapping Delete.
Deleting an app also removes its data and notifications. If the app stored information you want to keep — like notes, photos, or login details — check the app itself first to see if you can export that data. Some apps let you back up your data before you delete them.
Prevent app installation on a child's device
If you manage a child's iPhone through Family Sharing, you can require approval before they can read any app. Open Settings on your own iPhone, tap your name, then Family Sharing. Select the child's name, tap Screen Time, then Content & Privacy Restrictions. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions, then tap iTunes & App Store Purchases. Set Installing Apps to Don't Allow or Require Password.
If you choose Require Password, the child can request an app and you will receive a notification asking you to approve or decline. This gives you control without completely locking down the device.
What happens when you block an app with Screen Time
When an app hits its time limit or downtime begins, the app closes when ready. If the child tries to open it, they see a message saying the time limit has been reached and must tap Ask for More Time. This sends a notification to the parent, who can approve more time or deny the request.
The app can still send notifications even when blocked by Screen Time. If you want to stop notifications too, go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and tap Allow Notifications to turn it off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone bypass Screen Time if they know the passcode?
No. If they know the passcode, they can change the settings themselves. If they do not know the passcode, they cannot open a blocked app or change time limits. The only way around a forgotten passcode is to reset the entire iPhone.
If I hide an app, can someone still find it?
Yes. Hiding removes it from your home screen and search, but it still appears in the App Library if someone scrolls through the categories. To actually prevent access, use Screen Time with a passcode instead.
Will deleting an app remove my data from it?
Yes. Deleting an app removes all its stored data from your iPhone. If the app syncs to iCloud or another service, that data may remain there. Check the app's settings before deleting to see if you can back up or export your information.
Can I block an app on someone else's iPhone without their knowledge?
Only if you manage their device through Family Sharing and they are under 18. If they are an adult, you cannot access their iPhone's settings. If they are a child, you can set Screen Time restrictions from your own device.
What if my child asks for more time on a blocked app?
They tap Ask for More Time and you receive a notification on your iPhone. You can approve the request for 15 minutes, one hour, or all day, or deny it. You can also ignore the request and it expires after a few hours.