One of the most popular social media platforms, Instagram, is notorious for the amount of time that its user spends on the platform per day. Many users will spend around 30 minutes a day on the platform, and this can increase like an obsession. That's why, for many of us, it is important to know how to block the Instagram app on our iPhones altogether.
In order to promote self-control and wellbeing online, it may become necessary to block the app entirely. But how do you do that? This guide will provide you with several different techniques that work on an iPhone.
Using a DNS Filter to Block Instagram on an iPhone
Apple's built-in content filter can work to provide a basic level of blocking. While the app itself can be blocked, as well as the website, the most effective way to block content is with a DNS Filter. However, due to the way that Apple has decided to handle which settings can be changed on their devices, a managed device will be required in order to properly enforce on an iPhone. Tech Lockdown provides guides for how create a managed device for their members.
Using a DNS Filtering App on your iPhone to Block Instagram
instagram.com cdninstagram.com
This blocks both Instagram's main site, in addition to their Content Delivery Network. This means that any links to Instagram, as well as any images or videos that are hosted by Instagram, will be blocked on all your filtered devices.
Setting up a DNS Filter on your Router to Block Instagram on your Home Network
You can also set up filtering on your home network, and block Instagram for all your devices connected to your Router. To do this, you will need to follow the instructions provided by the DNS Filtering service in order to change your Router's DNS settings.
You can also prevent devices from being able to bypass your filtering settings by enabling your filter's Proxy & Avoidance category. For Tech Lockdown, it looks like this:
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Set up filtering on all your devices and prevent common bypass techniques.
Using Screen Time to Block Instagram on an iPhone
Screen Time provides a very basic way for you to block either apps or websites on your iPhone. To do this, you can create device limits, prevent the installing of apps, and properly lock down Screen Time settings.
iPhone can be set up to block certain websites or restrict apps by using the built-in Screen Time settings. Screen Time is accessible through the Settings app.
We recommend setting up the device using the "This is my Child's Phone" option when setting it up for the first time. This allows you to set up a pin.
You can limit an app by setting it's time limit to the lowest possible value.
You can also block the website from being accessed in Safari. To do this from the Screen Time Settings page, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, and then Content Restrictions.
There are a couple of options that you can choose. You can choose to Limit Adult Websites, and then add the website to the Never Allow Category:
Or you could choose the Allowed Websites Only, and manually decide which websites are available on the device.
An important note, it is strongly recommended that you set up a Screen Time pin, if at all possible, with another Apple ID. This will prevent you from resetting your pin.
The websites that you can add to your Screen Time's Never Allow list:
instagram.com cdninstagram.com
While this is a decently effective approach, this is not as effective as a supervised or managed device.
Blocking Instagram on a Supervised iPhone
If you have a supervised device, you can add Instagram to your devices App Blocklist. This will block the App at the device level and won't be able to be easily undone by from the device itself.
You can use a Device Manager, like Apple Configurator, to add these settings your profile's app blocklist.
You can then search for which apps you want to add to this list:
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Add an additional level of blocking with a DNS Filter enforced on supervised devices.
Blocking Instagram on a Managed iPhone
With a managed iPhone, blocking Instagram is even easier.
A managed device is a step above a supervised device. In addition to the features available to a supervised device, you also have some other advantages:
- Remote Management, you will be able to make changes to your device's profile without needing to physically access the device.
- DNS Proxy, which allows you to enforce a DNS filter on your device. This is not a supported feature for a standard or supervised device.
- Kiosk Mode, which allows you to disable all but a selected few apps.
To learn more about how to set up a managed device, check out our guide for creating a Healthy iPhone .
Blocking Apps on a managed device requires a piece of software called a Mobile Device Manager. One example of a Mobile Device Manager (also known as an MDM), is called ManageEngine.
You can then add the App store to an App Blocklist, which will then automatically uninstall the blocked apps on your managed device.
Closing Thoughts
There are many different ways to block the Instagram app on your iPhone. These different techniques discussed in this guide have hopefully helped you find a solution that works for you.
The most effective way to block any kind of content online with an iPhone is to use a Content Blocker, like a DNS Filter. Tech Lockdown offers a comprehensive solution for blocking content for all kinds of devices, not just iPhone. If you are interested in learning more about how Tech Lockdown can help you, c heck out our main page to get started!
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