What blocking an app actually does

Blocking an app on iPhone means preventing it from sending you notifications, accessing certain data like your location or contacts, or running in the background. It does not delete the app from your phone — the app stays installed, but you control what it can do and when it can bother you.

iPhone gives you several ways to block, depending on what you want to stop. You might block notifications so an app stops pinging you. You might block an app's access to your camera or microphone so it cannot use those features. Or you might block an app from running when you are not actively using it. Each method is separate, and you can use them together.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking notifications stops an app from sending you alerts, but the app still works when you open it.
  • Blocking app permissions (camera, location, contacts) prevents the app from accessing that specific data, even if it asks.
  • Limiting background activity stops an app from running when you are not using it, which saves battery and data.
  • You can block a specific person's messages or calls using the Contacts app, which is different from blocking an app itself.

How to turn off notifications from a specific app

Open Settings on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app that sends you notifications, organized by how recently they notified you.

Find the app you want to block notifications from and tap it. At the top of that app's settings, you will see a toggle next to Allow Notifications. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The app will no longer send you any alerts, badges, or sounds.

If you want to keep some notifications but silence others, you can customize instead of turning notifications off completely. In that same app's notification settings, you can turn off Sounds, turn off Badges (the red number circles), or change the notification style from Lock Screen to Notification Center only, so alerts appear only when you swipe down from the top of your screen.

How to block an app from accessing your camera, microphone, or location

Open Settings and scroll down to find the permission you want to control: Camera, Microphone, or Location Services. Tap it.

You will see a list of apps that have asked for that permission. Apps with a green indicator have permission. Apps with no indicator have been denied. Tap any app to see its current status. If the toggle next to the app name is on (green), tap it to turn it off and block that app from using that feature.

For Location Services specifically, you have more options. Tap an app and you will see choices: Never (blocks location), Ask Next Time (the app must ask each time), While Using the App (location only when you are actively using it), or Always (location even in the background). Choose Never to block the app completely.

How to stop an app from running in the background

Open Settings and tap General. Scroll down and tap Background App Refresh. You will see a list of apps.

The toggle next to each app controls whether it can run when you are not actively using it. If the toggle is green, the app can refresh in the background. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The app will only update or check for new information when you open it yourself.

You can also turn off background refresh for all apps at once by tapping the toggle at the very top of this screen, though most people prefer to turn it off only for apps that drain battery or use a lot of data.

How to block messages or calls from a specific person

This is different from blocking an app, but it is a common reason people search for blocking options. Open the Phone app, Messages app, or FaceTime app — whichever one you want to block someone in.

Find the person's name or number in your recent calls or messages. Swipe left on their name (or tap and hold it). You will see options including Block this Caller or Block Contact. Tap it. That person can no longer call, text, or FaceTime you, and their attempts will not show up on your phone.

To unblock them later, go to Settings > Phone (or Messages or FaceTime) and scroll to the bottom. Tap Blocked Contacts and swipe left on the person's name, then tap Unblock.

How to delete an app instead of just blocking it

If you want to remove an app entirely rather than just block its features, press and hold the app icon on your home screen. A menu will appear. Tap Remove App, then tap Delete App, then tap Delete to confirm.

Deleting removes the app from your phone completely. If you change your mind later, you can read it again from the App Store for free (if it was free) or you may need to repurchase it (if it cost money). Your data inside the app is usually deleted too, though some apps back up their data to iCloud.

What happens when you block an app's permissions

When you block an app from accessing your camera, microphone, location, or contacts, the app may stop working properly or may ask you repeatedly to turn the permission back on. Some apps will not function at all without certain permissions — for example, a maps app cannot show your location if you block location access.

This is intentional. Blocking permissions is a safety feature. If an app tries to use a permission you have blocked, it straightforward cannot. The app does not get around the block, and it does not notify the app developer that you blocked it. You are in control.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I block notifications from an app, can it still send me messages?

No. Blocking notifications stops all alerts from that app. However, if you are blocking notifications from a messaging app like Messages or WhatsApp, the messages still arrive on your phone — you just will not see a notification about them. You will see them when you open the app.

Can an app tell if I blocked its notifications?

No. The app developer cannot see whether you blocked notifications. They only know if you uninstalled the app. Blocking notifications is private.

Will blocking background app refresh slow down my phone?

No, it will not slow your phone down. It may actually make your phone slightly faster because apps are not running when you are not using them. The main benefit is saving battery life and data usage.

What is the difference between blocking an app and restricting it?

Blocking usually means turning off notifications or permissions. Restricting (also called Screen Time restrictions) means preventing the app from opening at all or limiting how long you can use it per day. Restrictions require a passcode to change, so they are useful for parental controls.

If I block location access, will the app still work?

It depends on the app. Some apps need location to function and will not work at all if you block it. Others use location as an optional feature and will work fine without it. The app may ask you to turn location back on, but it cannot force you to.