What blocking an app actually does
Blocking an app on iPhone means preventing it from running, sending notifications, or accessing certain data — but the method depends on what you want to stop. You might want to prevent a child from opening TikTok, stop an app from draining your battery in the background, or keep a work app from accessing your location. Each goal uses a different iPhone feature, and some require a different device to set up.
iPhone does not have a single "block this app" button. Instead, Apple built separate tools for different situations: Screen Time for parental controls, notification settings for alerts, background app refresh for battery drain, and app permissions for location and camera access. Understanding which tool matches your goal saves you from looking in the wrong place.
Key Takeaways
- Screen Time is the feature that actually prevents someone from opening an app — it requires a passcode and works on child accounts or devices you manage.
- Turning off notifications silences an app's alerts without blocking the app itself, and you can do this in Settings without a passcode.
- Disabling background app refresh stops an app from running when you are not using it, which saves battery but does not prevent opening the app.
- App permissions let you block access to location, camera, microphone, and photos without removing the app from your phone.
- If you want to block an app on someone else's iPhone, you need their device in your hands or Family Sharing set up in advance.
Using Screen Time to prevent opening an app
Screen Time is the only iPhone feature that actually stops someone from launching an app. It works by setting time limits or blocking categories of apps entirely. To set it up on your own iPhone, go to Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap App Limits or Downtime. You can block individual apps like Instagram or entire categories like Social Media.
If you are setting Screen Time on a child's iPhone, the process is the same, but you will need to enter a Screen Time passcode when prompted. This passcode prevents the child from changing the restrictions. Write this passcode down somewhere safe — if you forget it, you cannot change the rules without erasing the phone and setting it up again.
Screen Time also lets you set Downtime, which blocks all apps except phone calls and emergency contacts during specific hours. This is useful for bedtime or family dinner rules. The child can request more time, and you will get a notification to approve or deny it.
Turning off notifications to silence an app
If you just want to stop seeing alerts from an app without blocking it entirely, turn off its notifications. Go to Settings, tap Notifications, find the app in the list, and tap it. Toggle off Allow Notifications. The app will still work and run in the background — you straightforward will not see badges, sounds, or pop-ups from it.
You can also customize notifications instead of turning them off completely. Tap the app name in Notifications settings and choose options like Sounds, Badges, or Lock Screen. For example, you might allow notifications on the lock screen but not on your home screen, or allow sounds but not badges. This gives you control without fully silencing the app.
Stopping background activity to save battery
Apps that run in the background drain your battery even when you are not using them. To stop this, go to Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh. You will see a list of every app with permission to refresh in the background. Toggle off the ones you want to stop, or toggle off Background App Refresh entirely at the top to disable it for all apps.
Turning off background app refresh does not prevent you from opening the app — it just stops the app from checking for new messages, downloading updates, or running tasks when the app is closed. Mail, Messages, and Maps often use background refresh, so disabling it for these apps might mean you do not see new messages until you open them manually.
Blocking app access to location, camera, and microphone
Apps can request permission to use your location, camera, microphone, photos, and contacts. You can block individual apps from accessing these features without removing the app. Go to Settings, scroll down to find the app name, and tap it. You will see a list of permissions — Location, Camera, Microphone, Photos, and others. Tap each one and choose Never, Ask, or Always.
For location specifically, you can choose While Using, which only allows the app to see your location when it is open, versus Always, which lets it track you in the background. Never means the app cannot access that feature at all. If an app needs a permission to work, it will ask you again the next time you try to use that feature.
Using Family Sharing to block apps on someone else's device
If you want to block an app on a family member's iPhone, Family Sharing lets you manage their Screen Time from your own device. First, set up Family Sharing in Settings by tapping your name, then Family Sharing, then Add Family Member. The other person needs to accept the invitation.
Once Family Sharing is active, go to Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap the family member's name. You can now set app limits or downtime on their phone without needing their passcode. They will see that you are managing their Screen Time, and they cannot change the rules without your approval.
This only works if the family member has already accepted your Family Sharing invitation. If you are trying to block an app on a device you do not own and are not set up as a family organizer, you will need physical access to the device and the ability to enter the Screen Time passcode.
What happens when an app is blocked
When an app is blocked by Screen Time, the icon remains on the home screen, but tapping it shows a message saying the app is blocked and asks if you want to request more time. If downtime is active, the message says downtime is on. The app does not delete itself, and you can unblock it by changing the Screen Time settings.
If you turn off notifications, the app still works normally — you just will not see alerts. If you disable background app refresh, the app will not update or check for new content until you open it. If you block a permission like location, the app may ask for permission again the next time it needs that feature, or it may straightforward not work for location-dependent tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block an app without a passcode?
You can turn off notifications and disable background app refresh without a passcode. You can also block app permissions without a passcode. The only feature that requires a passcode is Screen Time, which actually prevents opening an app. If you want to set Screen Time on your own phone, you create the passcode yourself.
What if I forget my Screen Time passcode?
You cannot reset a Screen Time passcode without erasing the phone. Go to Settings, tap General, then tap Reset, and choose Erase All Content and Settings. This removes everything on the phone. After setup, you can create a new Screen Time passcode. If the phone belongs to a child in Family Sharing, the family organizer can change the passcode from their own device.
Can an app blocked by Screen Time still send notifications?
No. When Screen Time blocks an app, the app cannot run at all, so it cannot send notifications. If you want to allow an app to run but silence its notifications, use the Notifications settings instead of Screen Time.
Does blocking an app delete it from my phone?
No. Blocking an app with Screen Time, turning off notifications, or disabling background refresh does not delete the app. The app stays on your phone and in your App Library. You can unblock it anytime by changing the Screen Time settings or turning notifications back on.
Can someone bypass Screen Time if they know my passcode?
Yes. If someone knows your Screen Time passcode, they can change any restriction. Keep your passcode private and do not share it. If you suspect someone has changed your Screen Time settings, go to Settings, tap Screen Time, and review the app limits and downtime rules.