How to Restrict Apps on iPhone [Time / Age / Download Included]

Whether you're a parent aiming to create a safer digital environment for your children, or you're looking to boost your own productivity by curbing distractions, learning how to restrict apps on your iPhone is an essential skill. Thankfully, Apple provides a powerful, built-in suite of tools designed to give you granular control over your device.

In this guide, we'll walk you through every effective way to block, limit, and manage apps - so you can enjoy a healthier, more productive digital experience.

Part 1. Top Reasons You Should Restrict Apps on iPhone

Before we dive into how to restrict apps on iPhone, it's helpful to first understand why you might want to do it. Everyone has different motivations for managing app access - and knowing your goal will help you pick the best restriction settings for your needs.

1️⃣ Parental Controls: This is the most common reason. As parents, you might want to protect your children from inappropriate content, limit excessive gaming or social media time, and prevent unauthorized purchases from App Store.

2️⃣ Digital Wellbeing: App restrictions aren't just for kids - many adults use them to stay focused and productive. By limiting access to social media, entertainment, or news apps during work or study hours, you can reduce distractions and boost your concentration throughout the day.

3️⃣ Financial Security: Another key reason to restrict apps or app downloads on iPhone is to protect your finances. Disabling in-app purchases and restricting access to the App Store can prevent unexpected charges or unauthorized spending by anyone who shares your device.

4️⃣ Device Management: If you use your iPhone for work or share it with others, restricting app downloads and deletions can keep your device organized and secure.

Part 2. How to Restrict Apps on iPhone via Screen Time Settings

Screen Time is one of the most powerful tools for setting up comprehensive app restrictions on your iPhone.

To get started, go to Settings > Screen Time and tap Turn On Screen Time. Then, make sure to set a Screen Time passcode by tapping Use Screen Time Passcode. This passcode ensures that only you can change restriction settings. You'll be asked to enter your Apple ID and password, which can help you recover the passcode if you ever forget it.

#1. How to Put Time Restrictions on Apps with App Limits

If you don't want to block an app entirely but simply want to reduce your usage, App Limits is the perfect feature. It lets you set a daily time allowance for specific apps or even whole app categories.

Here's how to restrict certain apps on iPhone using App Limits:

Step 1. Go to Settings > Screen Time and tap App Limits.
Step 2. Tap Add Limit. If prompted, enter your Screen Time passcode.
Step 3. Select the apps or categories you want to limit (for example, Social, Games, or individual apps like Instagram or TikTok). Tap Next.
Step 4. Set how much time you want to allow per day. You can also tap Customize Days to set different limits for each day of the week.
Step 5. Turn on Block at End of Limit, then tap Add.

Once the limit is reached, the app icon will appear dimmed, and a full-screen message will pop up when you try to open it. While you can still request extra time, this visual barrier often helps break the cycle of endless scrolling.

#2. How to Block Apps & Change Restrictions with Content & Privacy Restrictions

Content & Privacy Restrictions is another powerful section within Screen Time that lets you manage what content, apps, and features can be accessed on your iPhone or iPad.

To enable these settings, you should first go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, then turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions and input the Screen Time passcode if prompted.

From here, you can customize restrictions for apps, content types, and privacy settings according to your needs. Below you can check 3 scenarios in detail.

✅ How to Change App Age Restrictions on iPhone?

If you want to block apps based on age ratings:

Step 1. On the Content & Privacy Restrictions screen, tap Content Restrictions (or App Store, Media, Web & Games, depending on your iOS version).
Step 2. Under Apps, select an appropriate age rating (for example, 9+, 12+, or 17+). This automatically hides apps that don't meet the age criteria.

✅ How to Restrict App Downloads on iPhone?

To stop anyone from installing new apps:

Step 1. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Step 2. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases (or App Installation & Purchases).
Step 3. Tap Installing Apps, then choose Don't Allow.

This ensures that no one can download new apps unless the setting is changed back, which is especially useful for shared or kids' devices.

✅ How to Restrict App Purchases on iPhone?

To prevent unauthorized spending or accidental in-app purchases:

Step 1. In iTunes & App Store Purchases, tap In-App Purchases.
Step 2. Select Don't Allow to completely block in-app purchases.

If you've set up Apple Family Sharing, you can take this as an alternative:

Step 1. Go to Settings > Family > [Child's Name].
Step 2. Tap Ask to Buy, then turn it on.

From now on, whenever your child wants to buy something, you'll receive a request to approve the purchase before it goes through.

Part 3. How to Restrict Apps on iPhone via Guided Access

Guided Access is another great built-in iPhone feature that helps you stay in control of app usage, especially when you're sharing your device. It locks your iPhone to a single app, so users can't switch to other apps or access settings. This makes it ideal for parents who want their kids to watch a video, use an educational app, or play a game without wandering into other parts of the phone.

Here's how to restrict apps on iPhone using Guided Access:

Step 1. Enable Guided Access. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access. Toggle it on. Then, tap Passcode Settings to create a dedicated passcode for Guided Access. You can also enable Face ID or Touch ID to end a session more easily.

Step 2. Start a Session. Open the app you want to lock your iPhone into. Triple-click the Side button (or the Home button on older models).
Step 3. Configure and Begin. Before you start, you can fine-tune what's allowed during the session. For example, disable parts of the screen by circling areas you want to make unresponsive to touch. You can also set time limits by taping Options (or Session Settings) and scrolling down to set how long the session should last.

When everything looks good, tap Resume to start Guided Access.

To end the session, simply triple-click the Side or Home button again and enter your passcode (or use Face ID/Touch ID if enabled).

Part 4. How to Restrict Apps on iPhone via Focus Mode

While Focus Mode isn't a strict way to block apps, it's an incredibly effective tool for reducing distractions and boosting productivity. Whether you're working, studying, or winding down for the night, Focus Modes like Work, Sleep, or a custom setup can help you stay focused. With the right configuration, you can hide entire Home Screen pages and silence notifications from distracting apps.

Here's how to restrict certain apps on iPhone using Focus Mode:

Step 1. Set Up a Focus Mode. Go to Settings > Focus. Choose an existing Focus or tap the + icon to create a new one.
Step 2. Choose Who and What Can Reach You. Under Allowed Notifications (or Silence Notifications), select the People and Apps that can still send notifications after the Focus Mode is on.
Step 3. Customize Your Home Screen. Under Customize Screens, choose which Home Screen pages will be visible when the Focus is active. You can even create a dedicated page with only essential or work-related apps - so when your "Work" Focus is on, everything else temporarily disappears.

This setup is perfect for those who want to reduce temptation without completely blocking access. It helps you stay on task while keeping distractions quietly out of the way.

Part 5. An Easier Way to Unrestrict Apps If You Forgot Passcode

Setting up Restrictions on your iPhone allows users to manage and restrict apps on your iPhone much more conveniently. However, what if you forgot the correct Restriction passcode to turn off the feature on your iOS device? If you can't remember the passcode, using a third-party tool to unlock it can be the best choice you can use. Here, I will recommend TunesKit iPhone Unlocker to you.

TunesKit iPhone Unlocker is a comprehensive iOS unlocking with powerful unlocking features including unlock iOS screen, remove Screen Time, unlock Apple ID, and remove MDM restrictions. When you face problems like forgot Restrictions passcode, forgot Screen Time passcodes, or Screen Time passcode not working, TunesKit iPhone Unlocker can solve your problems without encountering any hassle.

Now, let's see how to use TunesKit iPhone Unlocker to remove and turn off Restrictions from an iOS device.

Step 1Connect iPhone to Computer

Download and install TunesKit iPhone Unlocker on your computer. Then, connect your iPhone to the computer. There are 4 features for users to choose from. To turn off Restrictions on iPhone, please select the Unlock Screen Time Passcode feature.

Step 2Remove Screen Time from iPhone

Before removing the Screen Time feature from your iPhone, please check the Find My iPhone feature. If the Find My feature on your iPhone is enabled, please turn it off first. Then, TunesKit iPhone Unlocker will start to remove the Screen Time feature from your iOS device.

Step 3Set Up iPhone Again

After removing the Screen Time from iPhone, you will need to set up your iPhone again. While setting up your iPhone, please select Don't Transfer Apps & Data and Set Up Later.

Part 6. Conclusion

Learning how to restrict apps on iPhone gives you better control over your device, helping you stay focused, secure, and balanced. By utilizing features like Screen Time, Guided Access, and Focus Mode, you can effectively control app usage and maintain a balanced digital lifestyle. If you want to turn off Restrictions on iPhone but forgot the passcode, you can try using TunesKit iPhone Unlocker to turn off Restrictions on iPhone without any passcode.