For the readers of Tech Lockdown who care about breaking harmful online habits, they know how important it is to block TikTok on their iPhone. However, because of the addictive nature of this social media app, many people discover that they need to go further than simply uninstalling the TikTok app and deleting their TikTok account.
Why? Because as we've seen with other subjects, like blocking adult content on iOS , people will go through great lengths to access addicting content.
It's not your fault: billions of dollars have been invested into increasing your screen time so that large corporations can influence you and keep you hooked.
For people who may need some extra assistance staying away, follow our guide to effectively block TikTok on your iPhone.
This article suggests several methods, but you can combine them all for the ultimate blocking setup!
Add TikTok to a Supervised App Blocklist
If you want to prevent the TikTok app from being downloaded from the App Store and installed on an iPhone, you can use a supervised app blocklist and add TikTok to the list. This approach completely restricts the TikTok app from being added to the iPhone.
For example, in the Tech Lockdown dashboard, you can create your own native app blocklists for the iPhone:
Once you install this list on your iPhone, the selected apps will be completely restricted from being opened or installed.
Disable TikTok with a DNS Content Policy
One of the most comprehensive ways to block TikTok on an iPhone involves the use of a DNS Content Policy to disable the TikTok app's ability to connect to the internet.
This approach has a few advantages:
- Blocking the TikTok app using DNS also blocks the mobile website that you can't access it in your browser. Blocking the app is a good start, but you don't want to allow a loophole where you can simply open Safari and view TikTok in the browser.
- This approach also can prevent you from accessing TikTok on another device, like an iMac or iPad. This closes another loophole.
For example, I configure my Tech Lockdown Content Policy to always block harmful apps, websites, and categories. Blocking TikTok is simple this way:
Then, you can connect your devices to your DNS Content Policy so that TikTok is blocked everywhere, not just on your iPhone.
Scheduling when you can use TikTok on your iPhone
Instead of blocking TikTok on your iPhone 24/7, you might consider adding a schedule to your DNS Content Policy TikTok block rule.
Personally, I don't think you should use TikTok on your iPhone at all. However, you may decide that you aren't quite ready to entirely remove it from your life. Scheduling usage is an ideal way to limit the harm that TikTok can cause.
For example:
- If you are trying to quit addictive behaviors, scheduling TikTok usage earlier in the day can help you use it in a safer way.
- Scheduling usage allows you to rewire your habits so that you don't compulsively check TikTok.
Furthermore, you'll significantly cut down on your screen time with this approach.
In order to schedule TikTok usage, you should use a DNS Filtering service that lets you assign schedules to block rules.
For example, I create a scheduled block rule using Tech Lockdown to give myself a 30 minute window at lunch where I can browse social media and other distracting apps:
When dealing with addictive habits, bypass prevention is an important point to consider. Otherwise, you'll simply develop a habit of compulsively adjusting your block schedules until you eventually don't block it at all.
To keep myself from adjusting my rule, I lock my Tech Lockdown profile.
Another advantage of using a DNS Filter to block TikTok is that you can install this on all types of devices:
- Home Router / Home Wifi. Schedule when TikTok can be used on all devices using your home internet connection.
- iPhone Always-on VPN. You can schedule TikTok usage on your iPhone by downloading an app that configures the VPN. This ensures your schedule is still enforced even when your WiFi is off and you are using 4g/5g internet.
- Computer Always-on VPN. Similar to the smartphone, computers can install a program that activates an always-on VPN that keeps you always connected to your Content Filter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I completely restrict access to TikTok using Screen Time?
Unfortunately, Screen Time does not allow you to completely block specific apps that you download from the App Store. If you want to use screen time to restrict TikTok, you have the following options:
- Set a low app time limit for screen time (this is easy to override unfortunately)
- Completely restrict the App Store to prevent new apps from being downloaded
Assigning a Time Limit to TikTok Usage on the iPhone
Another approach involves setting app time limits to block TikTok on your iPhone after it has been used for a certain amount of time. This can be a good approach, especially when you combine this with scheduling when you can use TikTok.
For example, you can set App Limits with Screen Time , which can be used to limit how long you can use TikTok.
One of the issues with parental controls like Screen Time is that they are fairly easy to bypass.
For example, once you hit an App Limit, you receive a prompt to add more time:
In our experience, we don't recommend depending completely on the iPhone's screen time feature.
Time limits can supplement more effective approaches, like our previously discussed scheduled DNS Filtering Content Policy block rule.