Social Media
Block Instagram on an iPhone
Effectively block Instagram on an iPhone in a way that is difficult to bypass (even for adults).
Have you tried to uninstall the Instagram app from your iPhone, just to reinstall it a few days later? If so, you may have wondered whether it's possible to completely block the Instagram app - without allowing you the possibility to reinstall it later on. Contrary to popular belief, there are some effective Instagram app blocking approaches that work for adults too (not just kids).
iPhone users seeking to quit Instagram should consider the following:
- The downloadable Instagram app and the one that can be accessed in Safari
- Block the Instagram app in a harder to bypass way with Apple's better Screen Time alternative .
Choosing the Right Approach to Block the Instagram App
When dealing with apps like Instagram, traditional app blocking might not work well for adults. For example, it's possible to download a "Instagram Blocker" from the App Store, but these types of apps are easily bypassed:
If you're an adult wanting to self-restrict access to Instagram, there are some alternative approaches you should consider.
Add Instagram to a Supervised App Blocklist
Apple provides an alternative to Screen Time called Supervised Mode, which unlocks app blocking capabilities that work well even for adults.
Instead of downloading a typical "app blocker" from the App Store, you'll add a config file to your iPhone with your Instagram app restriction.
These config files can be protected from being removed, which makes this a great option for adults who want to restrict themselves from accessing Instagram.
If you want to prevent the Instagram app from being downloaded from the App Store and installed on an iPhone, you can use a supervised app blocklist and add Instagram to the list.
This approach completely restricts the Instagram app from being added to the iPhone and it will remove it if it is already installed:
You can also block other apps like TikTok as well and make a comprehensive list of blocked apps.
Disable Instagram with a DNS Content Policy
Another effective way to block Instagram is to use a Content Policy to completely disable the app's ability to connect to the internet.
A Content Policy doesn't prevent Instagram from being installed, but it will prevent it from working. This can also help block the version of Instagram that can be accessed in Safari and other web browsers.
Scheduling Instagram Access Using a DNS Content Policy
If you don't want to block Instagram entirely, you could instead set a schedule for when it's disable within your Content Policy.
Open the rule you created for blocking instagram on the Tech Lockdown dashboard.
Schedules can be added from the schedules tab:
Content Policy schedules can be combined with App Limits in Screen Time to further restrict how much time you spend on the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I limit the total amount of time I spend on Instagram?
You can create an App Time Limit using Screen Time.
I strongly recommend combining Screen Time App Limits with a DNS Content Policy when scheduling access for your iPhone. Screen Time settings alone aren't going to be the best option for you if you're self-managing, since it's been designed with productivity in mind and not bypass prevention.