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How to Block Time-Wasting Apps on iPhone With Screen Time

Use App Limits for a daily allowance or Downtime with Block at Downtime to restrict apps during a scheduled window. See how exceptions and built-in app restrictions work.
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Use Settings > Screen Time > App Limits > Add Limit to set a daily allowance for distracting apps. To block apps during a specific period, configure Downtime and enable Block at Downtime. These controls work differently: a reached App Limit can be ignored by default, while Block at Downtime prevents restricted apps from opening during the scheduled window.

Choose the right Screen Time control

What you want to do Use this setting What it does
Limit time in an app each day App Limits Sets a daily allowance for selected apps or a category. Apple says a limit can be ignored after it is reached by default. Apple Support
Restrict apps during work, bedtime, or another recurring period Downtime with Block at Downtime enabled Stops restricted apps from opening during the chosen window. Apple Support
Hide a built-in Apple app or restrict websites Content & Privacy Restrictions Use Allowed Apps & Features to hide an applicable built-in app temporarily, or Web Content to restrict websites. Apple Support

Apple’s Screen Time controls and labels can vary by software version; the instructions below use the paths in Apple’s current guidance.

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Set a daily limit for one or more apps

  1. Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
  2. Tap App Limits, then Add Limit.
  3. Select a category. To limit specific apps instead of every app in that category, tap the category name and select the apps you want.
  4. Tap Next, set the time allowance, then tap Done. Choose Customize Days if the limit should differ on particular days. Apple Support

If you select multiple apps or categories for one limit, their use counts toward the same allowance. App Limits are therefore useful for setting a shared daily cap, but they are not a hard lock: Apple says a limit can be ignored once reached.

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Block apps during a scheduled window

  1. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Downtime.
  2. Choose Scheduled, then set the days and start and end times. You can also turn on Downtime until the next day instead of creating a recurring schedule.
  3. Turn on Block at Downtime. Apple says restricted apps cannot be opened during downtime when this is enabled; they appear dimmed with an hourglass icon. Apple Support
  4. Return to Screen Time and open Always Allowed. Remove any app that should not remain accessible during downtime. This list is an exception to the downtime restriction. Apple Support

With a Screen Time passcode set, Apple says you can choose whether restricted apps are completely blocked or only dimmed during downtime. The cited guidance does not establish that a self-managed setup prevents the iPhone owner from changing their own settings, so it should not be treated as a tamper-proof self-block.

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Hide a built-in app or restrict websites

Hide an Apple built-in app

For supported built-in apps and features, open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps & Features and turn off the applicable item. This hides the app temporarily; it does not delete it. Apple Support

Restrict specific websites

Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > App Store, Media, Web, & Games > Web Content, then add sites to Never Allow. Apple Support

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Keep essential access available

Before relying on a block, check Always Allowed and leave essential communication or other necessary apps available if you need them during downtime. For a child’s device, Apple provides guidance on setting a Screen Time passcode to help keep the settings in place. Apple Support

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