How Do I Block Apps on My iPhone So I Can't Unblock Them?
By Max Ward, co-founder of DisConnect ·
Short answer: you need a lock you don't hold the key to. Either have someone else set your Screen Time passcode and turn on Block at End of Limit, or use a physical blocker like the DisConnect Card, where blocked apps stay locked until you tap the card again. Then leave the card in another room.
Why your blocks keep failing
Most iPhone app blocks fail for the same reason: the person being blocked is also the person holding the override. Apple's App Limits show an "Ignore Limit" button by default, and third-party blockers can usually be switched off in Settings or deleted. If unblocking takes one tap, you will tap it. That's not a character flaw. It's what anyone does at 11:40 p.m.
Option 1: Let someone else hold the Screen Time passcode
Apple's built-in route. In Settings > Screen Time, set App Limits for the apps you want gone, turn on Block at End of Limit, then turn on the Screen Time passcode (shown as Lock Screen Time Settings on recent iOS versions) and have a partner or friend type in a code you don't know. Now more time needs their code.
- Good: free, built in, and it blocks for real.
- Bad: you need that person every time you want an exception, and a forgotten Screen Time passcode can be reset with the Apple Account that set it up. It's a speed bump, not a wall.
Option 2: A blocker app with a strict mode
Blocker apps add schedules and "strict" modes that are harder to cancel. They all run on Apple's Screen Time framework, so none of them can stop you from revoking their permission or deleting the app. They raise the effort. They can't remove the exit. Why screen time apps on their own tend to fail.
Option 3: Put the key somewhere else
A physical blocker takes the unlock off your screen entirely. With the DisConnect Card, you choose the apps, tap the card to block them, and they stay blocked until the card touches your phone again. There's no timer and no ignore button. Leave the card at the office, in the car or in a drawer across the house, and getting back into TikTok means getting up and going to get it. Most nights you won't.
One honest note: the DisConnect app has an emergency unlock, so you're never truly locked out of your own phone. It exists for real emergencies, not for a quick look at your feed. How NFC app blockers work.
Which one should you pick?
If you have someone you trust to hold a code and don't mind asking them, start with Screen Time and Block at End of Limit. It costs nothing. If you want to control your own phone without asking permission, but still can't be trusted at midnight (welcome), use a physical card and keep it out of reach.
Hand the key to a drawer. The DisConnect Card is $39 one-time, needs no battery or subscription, and works with the free DisConnect app for iPhone. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Sources
Questions people ask
How do I block apps on my iPhone so I can't unblock them?
Use a lock you don't control: have someone else set your Screen Time passcode with Block at End of Limit turned on, or use a physical NFC blocker card and keep the card in another room.
Can I set a Screen Time passcode I don't know?
Yes. Have a friend or partner enter the Screen Time passcode for you. Note that a forgotten Screen Time passcode can be reset with the Apple Account that set it, so it slows you down rather than locking you out.
Why does Screen Time keep letting me ignore the limit?
App Limits show an Ignore Limit option unless Block at End of Limit is on and a Screen Time passcode is set. Without a passcode you don't know, the limit is only a reminder.
