How to Block Apps on iPhone

Technology is a natural part of our everyday life now, and kids are integrating it into their own routines at an astonishing young age. According to reports, more than half of kids own a personal tablet before entering kindergarten, while a quarter of them own a smartphone by the age of 8. And while there are practical reasons for allowing kids to use smart devices, there are also potential dangers parents must consider, such as inappropriate content and apps. 

Understanding how to block apps on an iPhone and limit the kind of content your child can access on their device is the first step in keeping them safe. iPhones were not made for children, so parents need to take extra special precautions to encourage safe and responsible use. 

In this guide, we will explain how to block an app on an iPhone and set screen time limits on the device. By the end, you will be able to take action and have strong reasoning for securing your child’s iPhone! 

Why Should You Block Apps on an iPhone?

Just like you wouldn’t let your kids eat candy and ice cream for dinner every night, even though they want to, neither should you allow them unrestricted access to every app under the sun. Not only are there apps out there that are downright inappropriate for children, but even those that are geared specifically for children should also have limits. Blocking certain apps, or some apps for just a certain time, should be part of your digital parenting strategy to:

• Protect your kids from harmful and inappropriate content. Blocking apps with mature, explicit, or violent content helps protect them from accidental exposure
• Help them learn digital boundaries and how to manage screen time. Parents can leverage time limit tools to help lay the foundation for healthy habits for the rest of their kids’ lives
• Limit apps that are addictive or distracting. Apps like social media and games can be highly addictive, and learning how to have healthy interactions with these kinds of apps under parental guidance may be the first step to more responsible use when the training wheels come off
• Prioritize real-world connections and activities, family time, and schoolwork. Limiting screen time and blocking apps enables kids to spend more time on what matters most instead of hiding behind a screen

Blocking via Screen Time Settings

Screen Time on iPhone is a great first step in blocking access to apps, downloading only age-appropriate apps from the App Store, and setting time limits on apps. Here’s how to get started with Screen Time:

1. Open the Settings app and select Screen Time.
2. Under Family, tap your child’s name.
3. Tap Content and Privacy Restrictions.
4. You may be prompted to set up or enter your Screen Time Passcode at this time.
5. Turn on Content and Privacy Restrictions.

Once you’ve enabled Content and Privacy Restrictions, you can start using parental controls to limit access to certain apps.

Blocking Via Kids360 Parental Controls App

While Apple’s built-in parental controls are a great first line of defense for keeping kids out of trouble on their iPhones, they could be better. Kids these days are raised on devices and are tech-savvy enough to quickly figure out how to bypass Screen Time limits or get rid of them altogether.

To truly ensure you know what’s happening on the other side of your child’s screen, you’re going to have to shore up your parental controls with the help of a third-party app. Apps like Kids360 give parents more oversight when it comes to how much time kids are spending on their phones and on which apps.

With Kids360, parents can set daily or weekly screen time limits, helping to manage overall screen time and ensuring they don’t spend too much time on their devices.

Unlike Apple’s own Screen Time settings, parents can block any app easily and in its entirety with Kids360. Kids360 lets parents manage and monitor multiple apps in one place. Block them all, or one at a time; either way, it’s simple and easy with Kids360.

Not only does Kids360 help parents manage their kids’ screen time, but it also helps kids learn how to manage it on their own. Kids360 offers kids the opportunity to earn more time on apps. Additional time can be unlocked by completing educational tasks set by parents. This empowers and encourages kids to take responsibility for their own screen time habits, balancing learning with fun.

In addition, Kids360 has a full range of parental control features such as:

• Location tracking
• The ability to send a loud signal to your child’s device, overall screen time management
• Safe internet capabilities

Blocking with Passcode

The most effective way to use iPhones’ Screen Time feature is to enable Passcode. Setting a passcode enables only the person with the passcode to change Screen Time and parental control settings.

To set up a passcode on your child’s device:

1. Navigate to and open the Settings app.
2. Select Screen Time.
3. Tap Family and select the child.
4. Tap Lock Screen Time Settings.
5. Enter a passcode, and re-enter it to confirm.
6. Sign in with your Apple ID and password.

While using a passcode to manage your kids’ Screen Time is a great idea, once your child discovers the passcode, your parental controls are out the window. Using a third-party app, like Kids360, adds another layer of security and gives you the confidence that you can keep your kids’ devices permanently or temporarily locked down when you need them to be.

Using Downtime on iPhone

If kids could spend all night on their phones, they would. That’s why Apple’s Downtime feature is such a great option for parents. In Downtime, you can block apps and notifications during specific time periods. When using Downtime, only phone calls and apps from the list you choose to allow are available. To give kids a heads-up, Downtime issues a reminder 5 minutes before Downtime begins.

If you choose to use a Screen Time passcode with Downtime, you can enable Block with Downtime. With this option, your child can tap One More Minute one time or Ask For More Time for their parent to approve.

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iPhones come with a great set of free, built-in parental controls. However, they’re easy to bypass, especially for kids who know their way around technology. But not all hope is lost. Between Apple’s built-in features and third-party apps like Kids360, you can rest easy knowing your kids aren’t on apps when they’re supposed to be sleeping, studying, or spending time with friends and family face-to-face.