TikTok is the king of discovery, with over [1 billion active users worldwide](https://backlinko.com/tiktok-users#key-tik-tok-statistics) - and 170 million in the United States alone! In addition to these sheer numbers, people are [spending over 95 minutes on TikTok every day](https://backlinko.com/tiktok-users#average-time-spent-on-tik-tok), which goes without saying how addictive and a time sink it is. Here are some ways that can help you reduce TikTok addiction by learning how to block it on your iPhone, and leverage TikTok's built-in features to reduce time spent in the app. ## Block TikTok with Screen Time 1. Open the Settings app 2. Select [Screen Time](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iphbfa595995/ios) → App Limits 3. Tap Add Limit 4. Expand “Social", select TikTok, then Next 5. Set the maximum time before TikTok is blocked. One minute is the minimum allowed. 6. Tap Add in the corner to save this limit for TikTok. ### Block the TikTok Website Be sure to also block the TikTok website so you can't alternatively access it through a web browser while the TikTok app is blocked. 1. Open the Settings app 2. Select Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions 3. Enable Content & Privacy Restrictions 4. Tap "App Store, Media, Web & Games" → "Web Content" 6. Select "Limit Adult Websites" 7. Tap "Add Website" and enter "tiktok.com" 9. Tap Done on the keyboard to block the website ## Block TikTok with Dumb Phone 1. [Download Dumb Phone](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6504743503?pt=118633132&ct=website_cta&mt=8) from the App Store 2. Tap the Launcher name at the bottom of the screen 3. Tap Blocked Apps → Select Apps to Block 4. Select TikTok from the list, then Save 5. Tap Start Detox to immediately block TikTok With TikTok now blocked on your iPhone, you can always return to this screen to turn off Detox Mode or block even more apps. ## Leverage TikTok's Screen Time features The TikTok app comes with some features to help you reduce your usage, which is handy if blocking is not a suitable option. Here's how you can access these features; 1. Tap the Profile tab along the bottom, in the TikTok app 2. Tap the menu button in the top right corner 3. Select "Settings and privacy" → "Screen time" ### Turn on Daily screen time Daily screen time lets you know when you reach your configured "total screen time". Once you've reached it, it will block you from using the app until you enter a particular passcode. You can turn this on by; 1. Tap "Daily screen time" → "Set daily screen time" 2. Choose "Set the same limit every day", set a limit of 40 minutes (or pick your own), and tap Next. Turning this on via the app will also apply it to the TikTok website, if you try to use it through a web browser. ### Turn on Screen time breaks Screen time breaks lets you know when you've been mindlessly scrolling TikTok for a set period of time, a.k.a doom scrolling, and then shows a pop up asking you to take a break from the app. You can turn this on by; 1. Tap "Screen time breaks" → "Schedule break" 2. Set a limit of 10-minutes Again, turning this on via the app will also apply it to the TikTok website, if you try to use it through a web browser. ## Adjust iOS Settings for TikTok Consider adjusting the following TikTok settings as you see fit. ### Turn off Notifications Stop receiving alerts on viral videos, messages, and other similar content at random times by turning off notifications for TikTok. 1. Open the Settings app 2. Select Apps → TikTok 3. Select Notifications and turn Allow Notifications to OFF ### Turn off Background App Refresh Prevent TikTok from automatically loading content in the background, designed to capture your attention the next time you open the app. 1. Turn off Background App Refresh in TikTok settings ## FAQs ## Summary Thankfully we have a few different ways to approach TikTok's overwhelming dopamine hits. Although we can simply block the app and call it a day, it's great to enable these other deterrents to help you stay mindful of your usage. You can alternatively uninstall the TikTok app and solely access it through a web browser, if necessary for work purposes, and which doubles as an effective deterrent by adding friction to the user experience, since these kinds of websites aren't as smooth to navigate within a web browser. It is also recommended to turn off notifications for TikTok to avoid it from suddenly pulling you back in at random times. export const imageDir = '/static/images/blog/block-tiktok-iphone/' export const faqItems = [ { question: 'Can TikTok be blocked on iPhone?', answer: 'Yes, you can block TikTok on an iPhone by using the Dumb Phone app, or by using Screen Time to limit the amount of time you can use the app.', }, { question: 'How do I permanently block TikTok on my iPhone?', answer: 'You can use Detox Mode in Dumb Phone to permanently block it, by simply selecting the TikTok app and then turning on Detox Mode. You can choose to either block the app or hide it altogether.', }, { question: 'How can I block TikTok on an iPhone browser like Safari?', answer: 'You can block the TikTok website on Safari by turning on Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time settings, and adding "tiktok.com" as a restricted website under the Web Content section.', }, { question: 'How do I block TikTok on iPad?', answer: 'You can follow the same steps to block TikTok on an iPad, like you would on an iPhone. Configuring Screen Time on either device is almost identical, and is quite straightforward to select the TikTok app and set a limit.', } ] export const screenTimeImages = [ { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentime-1.webp', alt: 'iPhone settings menu with Screen Time highlighted to block TikTok.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentime-2.webp', alt: 'Screen Time settings with an arrow pointing to App Limits option.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentime-3.webp', alt: 'App Limits screen with an arrow indicating the Add Limit button.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentime-4.webp', alt: 'Choose Apps screen, highlighting TikTok under Social category with steps to select and proceed.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentime-5.webp', alt: 'Set time limit for TikTok to 1 minute with arrows indicating the time selection and Add button.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentime-6.webp', alt: 'App Limits screen showing TikTok set for 1 minute every day.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentime-7.webp', alt: 'Time Limit notification on iPhone indicating TikTok usage limit reached.' }, ] export const blockWebsiteImages = [ { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-website-1.webp', alt: 'iPhone Settings menu with Screen Time option highlighted.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-website-2.webp', alt: 'Screen Time settings with arrow pointing to Content & Privacy Restrictions option.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-website-3.webp', alt: 'Content & Privacy Restrictions menu with toggle enabled and arrow pointing to App Store, Media, Web & Games.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-website-4.webp', alt: 'App Store, Media, Web & Games settings with arrow pointing to Web Content option.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-website-5.webp', alt: 'Web Content settings with Limit Adult Websites option selected.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-website-6.webp', alt: 'Add Website screen with tiktok.com typed in URL field and highlighted.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-website-7.webp', alt: 'Restriction message indicating that tiktok.com is blocked, with option to allow the website.' }, ] export const dumbPhoneImages = [ { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dumbphone-1.webp', alt: 'App Store page for Dumb Phone app with arrow pointing to download button.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dumbphone-2.webp', alt: 'Dumb Phone app interface highlighting \'Personal\' mode selection.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dumbphone-3.webp', alt: 'Dumb Phone app showing Detox Mode with arrow pointing to Blocked Apps section.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dumbphone-4.webp', alt: 'Dumb Phone Detox Mode screen with arrow indicating option to select apps to block.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dumbphone-5.webp', alt: 'Search for TikTok in Screen Time list with arrow pointing to Save button after selection.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dumbphone-6.webp', alt: 'Dumb Phone Detox Mode screen showing TikTok listed under Blocked Apps with Start Detox button highlighted.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dumbphone-7.webp', alt: 'Dumb Phone app displaying Detox Mode Active message, indicating app access is blocked.' }, ] export const tiktokSettingsImages = [ { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-tiktoksettings-1.webp', alt: 'TikTok app showing profile page, with arrows pointing to Profile icon and menu button.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-tiktoksettings-2.webp', alt: 'TikTok profile screen with arrow pointing to Settings and Privacy option.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-tiktoksettings-3.webp', alt: 'TikTok Settings and Privacy menu with arrow pointing to Screen Time option.' }, ] export const tiktokDailyScreenTimeImages = [ { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dailyscreentime-1.webp', alt: 'TikTok Screen Time settings with arrow pointing to Daily screen time option.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dailyscreentime-2.webp', alt: 'Daily screen time setup page with arrow pointing to Set daily screen time button.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dailyscreentime-3.webp', alt: 'Set your daily time screen with options to set the same limit every day, and arrow pointing to Next button.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dailyscreentime-4.webp', alt: 'Set your daily time screen with 40 minutes selected as the time limit.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-dailyscreentime-5.webp', alt: 'Daily screen time notification asking if ready to close TikTok, showing time spent and passcode entry option.' }, ] export const tiktokScreenTimeBreaksImages = [ { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentimebreaks-1.webp', alt: 'TikTok Screen Time settings with arrow pointing to Screen time breaks option.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentimebreaks-2.webp', alt: 'Screen time breaks setup page with arrow pointing to Schedule break button.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentimebreaks-3.webp', alt: 'Schedule break screen with 10 minutes selected for screen time breaks.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-screentimebreaks-4.webp', alt: 'TikTok app showing a pop-up notification suggesting a break after 5 minutes of uninterrupted screen time, with options to snooze or accept' }, ] export const turnOffNotificationsImages = [ { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-settings-1.webp', alt: 'iPhone Settings menu with arrow pointing to Apps option.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-settings-2.webp', alt: 'Apps settings screen with arrow pointing to TikTok option.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-settings-3.webp', alt: 'TikTok settings with arrow pointing to Notifications option, showing notifications turned off.' }, { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-settings-4.webp', alt: 'TikTok Notifications settings with arrow pointing to Allow Notifications toggle switched off.' }, ] export const turnOffBackgroundAppRefreshImages = [ { src: imageDir + 'block-tiktok-settings-5.webp', alt: 'TikTok settings with arrow pointing to Background App Refresh option, showing it turned off..' }, ]

TikTok

How to Block TikTok on iPhone in 2025