Block Apps
Block TikTok on an iPhone
Effectively block TikTok on an iPhone in a way that is difficult to bypass (even for adults).
For the readers of Tech Lockdown who care about breaking harmful online habits, they know how important it is to block TikTok on their iPhone. However, because of the addictive nature of this social media app, many people discover that they need to go further than simply uninstalling the TikTok app and deleting their TikTok account.
Why? Because as we've seen with other subjects, like blocking adult content on iOS , people will go through great lengths to access addicting content.
For people who may need some extra assistance staying away, follow our guide to effectively block TikTok on your iPhone.
Choosing the Right Approach to Block TikTok
When dealing with addictive apps like TikTok, traditional app blocking might not be restrictive enough. For example, it's possible to download a "TikTok Blocker" from the App Store, but these types of apps are easily bypassed:
If you're an adult wanting to self-restrict access to TikTok, there are some alternative approaches you should consider.
Add TikTok to a Supervised App Blocklist
Apple provides an alternative to Screen Time called Supervised Mode, which unlocks app blocking capabilities that work well for restricting addictive apps like TikTok (even for adults).
This approach is a bit different. Instead of downloading a typical "app blocker" from the App Store, you'll add a config file to your iPhone with your TikTok 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 TikTok.
If you want to prevent the TikTok app from being downloaded from the App Store and installed on an iPhone, you can use a supervised app blocklist and add TikTok to the list. This approach completely restricts the TikTok app from being added to the iPhone.
You can customize your blocklist to include other apps that you want to restrict access to as well:
Once you install this list on your iPhone, TikTok will be completely restricted from being opened or installed.
Disable TikTok with a DNS Content Policy
One of the most comprehensive ways to block TikTok on an iPhone involves the use of a Content Policy to disable the TikTok app's ability to connect to the internet.
This approach has a few advantages:
- Blocking the TikTok app using DNS also blocks the mobile website so that you can't access it in browsers. Blocking the app is a good start, but you don't want to allow a loophole where you can simply open Safari and view TikTok in the browser.
- This approach also can prevent you from accessing TikTok on another device, like a Mac or iPad. This closes another loophole.
For example, I configure my Content Policy to always block harmful apps, websites, and categories. Blocking TikTok is simple this way:
Scheduling when you can use TikTok on your iPhone
Instead of blocking TikTok on your iPhone 24/7, you might consider adding a schedule to your DNS Content Policy TikTok block rule.
If you need to access TikTok sometimes, or want to slowly reduce your usage, scheduling usage is a good middle-ground.
For example:
- If you are trying to quit addictive behaviors, scheduling TikTok usage earlier in the day can help you use it in a safer way.
- Scheduling usage allows you to rewire your habits so that you don't compulsively check TikTok.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I completely restrict access to TikTok using Screen Time?
Unfortunately, Screen Time does not allow you to completely block specific apps that you download from the App Store. If you want to use screen time to restrict TikTok, you have the following options:
- Set a low app time limit for screen time (this is easy to override unfortunately)
- Completely restrict the App Store to prevent new apps from being downloaded.
Assigning a Time Limit to TikTok Usage on the iPhone
Another approach involves setting app time limits to block TikTok on your iPhone after it has been used for a certain amount of time. This can be a good approach, especially when you combine this with scheduling when you can use TikTok.
For example, you can set App Limits with Screen Time , which can be used to limit how long you can use TikTok.
One of the issues with parental controls like Screen Time is that they are fairly easy to bypass.
For example, once you hit an App Limit, you receive a prompt to add more time:
In our experience, we don't recommend depending completely on the iPhone's screen time feature.
Time limits can supplement more effective approaches, like our previously discussed scheduled Content Policy block rule.