How to block apps on iOS
Freedom uses iOS Screen Time controls to block apps on iOS. (iOS 16+) Follow the instructions below to block apps on your iOS device.
Step 1: Edit or Add a new blocklist
You can customize your blocklists to include which apps you would like to block with Freedom. To do this, follow the steps below:
Select the Blocklists tab.
Tap the three dots to the right of the blocklist name to edit an existing blocklist, or create a new blocklist by selecting Add New Blocklist.
Step 2: Allow Screen Time Permissions if not allowed yet
If you haven't yet given Freedom permission to access Screen time controls, you will see a pop-up asking for permission. Select Continue and follow the steps to authorize Freedom.
Step 3: Choose iOS Apps to Block
After granting permission, you will be taken to a screen where you can select apps to add. Select the apps, or categories of apps, you would like to block, and then select the Continue link.
Or, if editing an existing blocklist, select Add iOS Apps to Block.
Step 4: Save Blocklist
On the Create a Blocklist screen, name your blocklist. You can also add websites to the blocklist if desired by selecting Add websites.
Don't forget to save your blocklist by selecting the Save Blocklist button. You are now ready to add this blocklist to sessions!
Step 5: Add your blocklist to a session
The apps you selected will now be blocked any time you add that blocklist to a session!
For more information on how to set up sessions with your new app blocklist, please see Starting a block session or Start later and recurring sessions.
How to block apps with older versions of Freedom
When using Freedom on earlier versions of iOS (15 and below) you will have to add Freedom's curated website filters to your blocklists and install the Freedom Profile/VPN.
ℹ️ When you add website filters or custom websites to your blocklists, Freedom will block those websites in your mobile browsers, and also block the connection to those URLs in the corresponding apps. The app will still open, but the connection to download new content will be blocked. Please note that due to caching, it can take a few minutes before new content is blocked.
Finding unique URLs for apps
If an app is not included in a Freedom Curated Filter, you'll need to add the URL(s) for the app by selecting the "Add Custom Website" option.
How to find app URLs
If you're having trouble figuring out which URL(s) the app uses, here are some options to try:
Go to the app's page in the App Store, and locate the "Developer Website" - generally the company behind the App's website. Add this website to the blocklist to see if it helps.
Google "How to block [app]" - often times you'll find a discussion of how people have blocked the app on their router. If you find results, you can add the website to the blocklist.
Check out the Netify database here, which lists URLs for many popular apps.
Remove the app and block the App Store. If you are not having any luck, you can always remove the App and use our "iOS App Store" block. This will prevent you from re-downloading the app while Freedom is running.
Ask us! We're happy to search our database to find a hit. Here's how to contact support.
List of commonly-blocked apps
Below you will find a list of the most common apps our users like to block, and the URL/filter you should add for those:
Amazon: use our pre-made Amazon filter. Also contained in the Shopping filter.
BBC: bbc.com, bbc.co.uk. Also contained in the News filter.
CNN: cnn.com, cnn.io, cnn.net. Also contained in the News filter.
Buzzfeed: buzzfeed.com. Also contained in the News filter.
ESPN: espn.go.com, espn.com. Also contained in the Sports filter.
Facebook: use our pre-made Meta filter, which blocks all Meta apps. Also contained in the Social filter. Please also see How to block Facebook and Instagram on iOS.
Gmail: use our pre-made Gmail filter
Guardian: theguardian.com, guardianapis.com. Also contained in the News filter.
Hinge: appboy.com, fastly.net, hingeaws.net, hockeyapp.net, lyr8.net, hinge.co, appsflyer.com, gotinder.com. Also contained in the Dating filter.
Instagram: use our pre-made Meta filter, which blocks all Meta apps. Also contained in the Social filter. Please also see How to block Facebook and Instagram on iOS.
KakaoTalk: kakaocdn.net, kakaotalk.com, kakaocorp.com, kakao.com
LinkedIn: use our pre-made LinkedIn filter.
Netflix: Please use our pre-made Netflix filter. Also contained in the TV/Video filter.
New York Times: use our premade NY Times filter. Also contained in the News filter.
OKCupid: use our pre-made OK Cupid filter. Also contained in the Dating filter.
Pinterest: use our pre-made Pinterest filter. Also contained in the Social filter.
Prime Video: aiv-cdn.net, aiv-delivery.net, amazonvideo.com, primevideo.com, pv-cdn.net. Also contained in the TV/Video filter.
Reddit: use our pre-made Reddit filter. Also contained in Social and Time Wasters.
Snapchat: use our pre-made Snapchat filter. Also contained in the Social filter.
Tinder: use our pre-made Tinder filter. Also contained in the Dating filter.
Tumblr: use our pre-made Tumblr filter. Also contained in Social and Blogs filters.
Twitter: use our pre-made Twitter filter. Also contained in the Social filter.
Wall Street Journal: wsj.com, wsj.net. Also contained in the News filter.
Washington Post: washingtonpost.com. Also contained in News and Politics filters.
WhatsApp: use our pre-made Meta filter, which blocks all Meta apps.
Whisper: whisper.sh, tigertext.me
Yelp: yelp.com, yelpcdn.com
Youtube: use our pre-made YouTube filter. Also contained in the TV/Video filter.
Download Freedom for iOS
Having trouble?
If you're having any difficulty, please feel free to contact us. We're happy to help!