Block Apps
How to Completely Disable and Block the App store on iPhone
There are several effective methods that can be used to disable or block the App Store on an iPhone / iOS device.
If you're an iPhone user who is trying to limit access to addictive content, a good option to consider is to block or disable the App Store. You've probably already installed all the apps you'll need, so making it impossible to download news apps that could be a problem later is the logical next step.
Unfortunately, Apple doesn't provide any way to completely remove the App Store. You can get around this by blocking access to it or disabling it, but deleting it entirely isn't possible. That's probably for the best, since app updates can't be installed without the App Store; but for us, it means that we'll need to tackle the problem a different way.
This guide will provide you with several different layers for disabling (or blocking) the App store on your iPhone device.
Limit the App store using Screen Time
The simplest way to limit the App store is by using Screen Time. However, it's not perfect and tends to be pretty easily bypassed. If you're self-managing and need a more restrictive setup, then we strongly recommend using a Supervised App Blocker , which prevents you from accessing App Store without the help of another device.
There are two main ways that standard iPhones let you limit the App Store:
- Block access to the App Store with app time limits. This is a little less effective, since the lowest time limit you can set for an app is 1 minute.
- Disable the App Store completely. This fully disables the App Store and removes it from your App Library.
We'll take a look at both options, starting with the easiest.
Option 1: Block Access to the App Store with Time Limits
If you just need a gentle reminder for yourself not to download new apps, you can use an App Limit to display a notification as you use the App Store.
App Limits let you set how long you can access most apps. There are a few exceptions (such as the Settings app itself or the Phone app) that you can't restrict, but you can add the App Store.
There are some pretty important weaknesses if you're relying on this approach for self-managing.
- You will still have access to the App Store for 1 full minute. You cannot set a time limit of zero.
- The block page after the time limit expires lets you add more time, or ignore the limit altogether.
If you need something more restrictive than Screen Time, you should consider disabling the App Store instead.
Option 2: Disable the App Store with Screen Time Restrictions
Disabling the App Store is much more powerful than adding a time limit. Not only will this prevent apps from being downloaded, it will also:
- Hide the App Store from your home screen and App Library.
- Pause app updates.
It's important not to skip over that last part. Disabling the App Store also disables app updates. If that's something you'll need, you'll need to consider using a Supervised App Blocker which still allows app updates.
While disabling the App Store this way can be a great option for parents managing their children's devices, users self-managing might notice some serious issues:
- Screen Time settings can be easily locked and unlocked with a simple passcode. If you're self managing, it's important to know how to properly set up proper blocking system and lock your own accounts without an accountability partner .
- If you use apps that require important security updates, like web browsers or a protected content filtering VPN , you'll need to re-enable the App Store to install those updates.
Disable the App Store with Supervised App Blocking that Enables App Updates
If you're willing to do some more setup first, it is possible to disable the App Store will still allowing app updates. Using Apple's better alternative to Screen Time , it's possible to block access to the App Store without completely disabling it.
There are two main ways that we recommend to correctly disable the App Store:
- Install a Config File with restrictions that Prevent New App Installs.
- Setting an App Allowlist, choosing a limited number of apps while blocking all others.
The easiest option is to create a Supervised Config File that disables the ability to download new apps. This is similar to the Screen Time restriction that we looked at earlier, however, it still allows app updates.
Alternatively, you could create a list of apps that you want allowed only (also called an App Allowlist). Any other app, even if they are downloaded from the App Store later on, won't be visible on your iPhone's App Library and can't be opened.
Using a specialized tool, such as the one Tech Lockdown provides, you can create a list of apps to add to your Allowlist:
Using an App Allowlist makes it possible to achieve a dumb iPhone setup (an iPhone with all of the distracting features removed).
How to Lock Screen Time Settings with a 4-digit Passcode
Screen Time let's you set a simple passcode to make it a little trickier to bypass (at least if you're self-managing). For parents and accountability partners, we strongly recommend choosing a passcode that can't be easily guessed and using a separate Apple ID to lock restrictions.
There are two option you can try. You can either set up a personal passcode, or set up the device like a Child's device. We recommend setting up you iPhone like a Child's device, and use a secondary Apple ID to lock down your main account.
Unfortunately, that's it. There isn't much more that you can do with Screen Time, and it doesn't look like Apple is planning on changing this in the near future.
If you need more powerful restrictions, it will require using a Supervised App Blocker ; one that can block any app, including the App Store.
