Block VPN
How to Block VPNs on an iPhone
Prevent bypass of content filtering by blocking VPNs on an iPhone. Restrict changing VPN settings and block VPN apps.
If you have your iPhone connected to your Content Policy through a VPN to turn on content filtering, you need to block conflicting VPNs. iPhones only support one VPN connection at a time, so it's possible to disable a content filtering VPN by installing a conflicting VPN app. To fully enforce your Content Policy, you must block conflicting VPN connections from being added on your iPhone.
It's tricky to block conflicting VPN connections on an iPhone since there are several ways they can be added:
- Manually specified through the iPhone's VPN & Device Management section of settings.
- Apps downloaded from the App Store can ask permission to add a VPN configuration automatically.
- Some apps (especially popular VPNs) have an app that's easily installed from the App Store, which will override your content filtering VPN.
- Even if you decide not to download these VPN apps, it is still possible to manually add a VPN configuration within iPhone settings. This can be especially problematic if you are acting as a parent or accountability partner trying to set up another person's device.
Blocking VPNs can feel complicated, but there are a few effective ways:
- Block conflicting VPN apps that can be downloaded from the App Store or other locations.
- Protect iPhone settings to restrict changing settings that would bypass a content filtering VPN.
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Enforce a content filtering VPN on an iPhone
so that it cannot be disabled or deleted while blocking conflicting VPNs entirely
We've spent a significant amount of time and effort researching how you can best address these issue on the iPhone, even creating our own tools to address these loopholes in a iPhone blocking system. It's possible to achieve a highly restricted setup that fully disables conflicting VPNs; whether that be from an installed app or by manually adding them in settings.
Block Conflicting VPN Apps
One area to consider would be block app on an iPhone to restrict downloading conflicting VPN apps.
The most reliable way to do this is with Supervised App Blocking , which lets you add a configuration file to an iPhone that silently restricts the apps you specify.
Tech Lockdown users can easily search for apps and add them to a blocklist or block all apps by default other than the ones added to an allowlist.
Once the blocklist is specified it can easily be installed on the supervised device and those VPN app restrictions will be enforced.
Prevent New VPN Apps from Being Installed from App Stores
Another option to consider is to completely disable the app store so that new apps cannot be installed on the iPhone. This approach is quite restrictive, but it something that could be considered.
The most effective approach involves enabling Apple's better alternative to screen time , Supervised Mode, and then setting the option to completely prevent all new apps from being downloaded and installed.
This approach also applies to other iOS that aren't downloaded via the App Store. For example, on iOS 18, it's possible to download apps without using the App Store (through third-party app stores).
Prevent New VPN Configurations from Being Added in Settings
In addition to limiting VPN apps, it's also important to completely prevent new VPN configurations from being added in the iPhone's VPN & Device Management settings.
On most iPhone devices, it's possible to add a VPN configuration like this:
One way to prevent this would be to completely block access to iPhone settings , but this is incredibly limiting and we don't recommend it.
Instead, if you enable Supervised Mode on the iPhone, you can protect specific iPhone settings like completely preventing new VPNs from being added. You can download the required config from your Tech Lockdown dashboard and easily add it to a supervised device.
When done right, the VPN settings screen won't have the option to add a new VPN Configuration.
Doing it this way is much more powerful than using both Screen Time and Automations.
Block VPN Downloads and Services with a DNS Content Policy
A quick way to block VPNs on an iPhone is to block the websites where the VPN can be downloaded or accessed through a web browser. You can also cause some VPNs to not function even if they are downloaded on the iPhone.
If you've connected your iPhone to a DNS Content Policy , you can block entire categories of websites and even pick specific apps, domains, or domains containing keywords that you want to block.
For example, you can create a block rule in the Tech Lockdown content policy and select the Anonymizer category.
This will cause certain anonymous browsing websites to not function properly.
Next, you should add the CIPA Filter category to a block rule.
When you add the CIPA category to a blocklist, access to adult websites will also be limited.
This will block most VPN websites and services. It will be difficult to download a VPN using a web browser and many VPNs won't function properly when this category is blocked.
You can also block domains containing keywords using the domain section of the block rule:
Once you add a word like "vpn," any website containing that word in the domain will be blocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is supervised mode?
Supervised mode is a configuration option provided by Apple that allows you to enforce more restrictions on your iPhone/iOS devices than you can with the Settings app. Tech Lockdown members get access to a step-by-step guide on how to turn on this mode.
It also allows you to prevent these settings from being changed from the iPhone itself.
Can I enforce a Content Filtering VPN Specifically?
Yes, in addition to blocking conflicting VPNs, you can protect a specific Content Filtering VPN connection on an iPhone so that it can't be disabled. This is most reliably achieved with Supervised Mode using the Enforce Content Filtering VPN config preset that we provide.
There are also some other methods for enforcing a VPN on an iPhone that don't require device supervision, like using Apple Shortcuts and automations or restricting access to iPhone settings entirely.