How to Block Channels on Whatsapp on iPhone
Restrict access to channels and other social features on Whatsapp on iPhone or iPad. Turn the app back into an app for family and friends without the intrusive social features.
Chances are that if you use WhatsApp, you might be familiar with WhatsApp channels. Parents are often hesitant to allow their children to browse and add these channels, because not all of these channels are family friendly. Even for adults, if your goal is to remove sources of temptation, it’s possible to limit WhatsApp so it behaves more like a text messaging or phone app, without the images and videos.
There is a wide range of channels or other kinds of content available, and unfortunately for parents, WhatsApp does not currently have any kind of parental control options. This might change in the future, but for now, parents and accountability partners can consider several options for a blocking approach.
Choosing an Effective Blocking Approach
Your goal is likely to block channels on WhatsApp entirely, but if you’re using the WhatsApp app (on iOS or Android smartphones), there isn’t actually much that can be done to disable the buttons or other UI features in the app. Even if you were able to block channels, this often isn’t the only kind of blocking strategy that works in the long run; WhatsApp could be updated in the future.
However, there are still options to consider. One of the best ways to limit WhatsApp is to block images and videos on the app instead, because these are part of what makes channels “enticing” in the first place. You’re removing a critical feature that channels often use to draw attention to themselves.
While this might work to block the obvious cases for a child and even for an adult, parents should also consider going a step further by monitoring their child’s device. For example, some apps, like the LivingRoom for Families app , use screenshot-based monitoring so parents can review private messages or channel activity on their child’s iPhone. Screenshot-based monitoring is the most effective way to monitor activity on WhatsApp, especially since there are limited parental control options available.
Use Screenshot Monitoring to avoid future loopholes
If you’re a parent or accountability partner for an adult, the most effective option to prevent and monitor activity on WhatsApp (especially on smartphones) is to use screenshot monitoring. This is a very comprehensive approach that works on any app (not just WhatsApp).
For example, on iPhones, the LivingRoom for Families app allows parents and accountability partners to review private messages or channels viewed on WhatsApp. The app includes automatic nudity protection , which cuts off the internet to the iPhone if nudity is found anywhere on the iPhone’s screen.
You might still consider blocking images and videos, just to be safe or proactive as opposed to reactive only.
Block WhatsApp’s Servers that host images and videos
Another option that is usually a better option for adults is to block images and videos, and this essentially converts WhatsApp into a phone and text messaging app only.
Trying to open a channel on WhatsApp doesn’t display full images:
To do this, your device needs to be connected to a DNS filter. For example, if you’re using Tech Lockdown’s Content Policy , you can use rule presets to automatically configure your rule for you.
You can also block these domains directly:
media.fosu2-1.fna.whatsapp.net mmx-ds.cdn.whatsapp.net cdn.whatsapp.net
You should also allow (not block) this hostname to ensure some chat features work correctly:
chat.cdn.whatsapp.net
On the Tech Lockdown dashboard, add this domain directly to an Allow rule.