The fastest way to block YouTube on iPhone

The quickest method is to use Screen Time, Apple's built-in parental control tool. Open Settings, tap Screen Time, then App Limits, and add YouTube to the list. Set a time limit — when it runs out, the app becomes unusable until you enter your Screen Time passcode. This works whether you own the phone or are setting restrictions on someone else's device.

If you want to block YouTube entirely rather than limit it, you can use the same Screen Time feature to set the limit to zero minutes. You can also restrict YouTube through Content & Privacy Restrictions, which prevents the app from opening at all without your passcode.

A second option is to delete the YouTube app and block its reinstallation through Screen Time. This removes the app from the home screen and prevents it from being downloaded again without your permission.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Time is built into every iPhone and lets you set time limits or block apps entirely without installing anything else.
  • You can block YouTube for yourself or for another person — the person using the phone cannot remove the restriction without your Screen Time passcode.
  • Setting an app limit to zero minutes blocks the app completely; setting it to a specific number of minutes lets the app work until time runs out each day.
  • If you delete the YouTube app, you can prevent reinstallation by turning on Content & Privacy Restrictions and blocking App Store access.

Setting up Screen Time to block YouTube

Open the Settings app on the iPhone. Scroll down and tap Screen Time. If this is your first time using Screen Time, tap Continue, then choose whether this is your own device or a child's device — this determines whether you set a passcode now or later.

Once Screen Time is open, tap App Limits. Tap Add Limit, then scroll down and select YouTube. Set the time limit to zero minutes if you want to block it completely, or choose a specific number of minutes if you want to allow limited use. Tap Add.

You will be asked to set a Screen Time passcode — a four-digit code that prevents anyone from changing these restrictions without your permission. Write this down somewhere safe. If you lose it, you cannot change the restrictions without resetting the entire iPhone through Apple's account recovery process.

Blocking YouTube through Content & Privacy Restrictions

This method blocks YouTube at a deeper level and is useful if someone might try to delete the app and reinstall it. Open Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Turn the toggle on (it will turn blue).

Tap Apps, then select Don't Allow Apps. Scroll down to YouTube and tap it. The app will now be blocked and cannot be opened without turning off Content & Privacy Restrictions — which requires your Screen Time passcode.

This method is stronger than App Limits because it prevents the app from running at all, even if the time limit has not been reached. It also prevents the app from being deleted and reinstalled.

Blocking YouTube through the App Store instead

If you want to prevent YouTube from being downloaded in the first place, you can restrict App Store access. Open Settings, tap Screen Time, then Content & Privacy Restrictions. Make sure the toggle is on.

Tap App Store Purchase and In-App Purchases, then tap Install Apps. Select Don't Allow. This prevents any app — including YouTube — from being downloaded or installed without your Screen Time passcode.

This approach works well if you are setting up a device for a child and want to control what apps can be added. However, it blocks all app downloads, not just YouTube, so it is more restrictive than the other methods.

Deleting the YouTube app and preventing reinstallation

Press and hold the YouTube app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Tap Remove App, then tap Delete App. Confirm by tapping Delete.

To prevent the app from being reinstalled, open Settings, tap Screen Time, then Content & Privacy Restrictions. Turn the toggle on if it is not already. Tap App Store Purchase and In-App Purchases, then tap Install Apps and select Don't Allow.

This combination removes YouTube from the phone and makes it impossible to read again without your passcode. However, it also blocks all other app downloads, so this method is best used when you want to control the entire app environment on the device.

What happens when YouTube is blocked

If you set an App Limit, YouTube will open normally until the time runs out. Once the limit is reached, the app closes and shows a message saying time is up. The user can tap Ask for More Time, which sends a notification to whoever set the restriction — but the app remains blocked until that person enters their Screen Time passcode and approves more time.

If you use Content & Privacy Restrictions or delete the app, YouTube straightforward will not open. Tapping the icon does nothing, or shows a message saying the app is not available. There is no way to bypass this without the Screen Time passcode.

In all cases, the person using the phone can see that YouTube is blocked — they will not be confused about why the app is not working. This is intentional; Apple's design assumes that the person setting the restriction wants the user to know about it.

Protecting your Screen Time passcode

Your Screen Time passcode is the only thing standing between the restrictions and someone changing them. If you forget it, you cannot reset it without erasing the entire iPhone and setting it up again from scratch — there is no recovery process short of contacting Apple Support with proof of ownership.

Do not use a passcode that is straightforward to guess, like 0000 or 1234. Do not write it down where someone using the phone can find it. If you are setting restrictions on a child's device, consider using a passcode that is different from your Apple ID password and your iPhone unlock code.

If you suspect someone has guessed your passcode and changed the restrictions, you can check the Screen Time history by opening Settings, tapping Screen Time, and scrolling down. You will see when restrictions were last changed, though not who changed them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone remove YouTube blocking without my passcode?

No. Any change to Screen Time restrictions requires your passcode. If someone deletes the app, they cannot reinstall it if you have blocked App Store downloads. If they try to turn off Content & Privacy Restrictions, they will be asked for your passcode when ready.

Does blocking YouTube also block YouTube in Safari?

No. Screen Time app limits and Content & Privacy Restrictions only block the YouTube app itself. Someone can still watch YouTube through a web browser like Safari or Chrome. If you want to block YouTube entirely, you will need to use parental controls at the router level or a separate DNS filtering service.

What if I forget my Screen Time passcode?

You cannot reset it without erasing the iPhone. Go to Settings, tap General, then tap Reset, and choose Erase All Content and Settings. You will need your Apple ID password to complete this. After the phone resets, you can set up Screen Time again with a new passcode.

Can I set different restrictions for different times of day?

Screen Time App Limits reset at midnight each day, so you can set YouTube to be available for one hour per day. However, you cannot set different limits for weekdays versus weekends, or for different times of day. If you need that level of control, you will need a third-party parental control app.

Does Screen Time work if the iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi at someone else's house?

Yes. Screen Time restrictions explore to the device itself, not to the network. YouTube will be blocked whether the iPhone is on your home Wi-Fi, a coffee shop network, or cellular data. The only way around it is to know the Screen Time passcode.