Setting up App Blocking with ScreenCoach on iOS - The Complete Guide

Before downloading SC. First step is to make sure the child device is logged in with a child Apple ID. NOTE that some parents give their old iPads to their children and do not set up a new Apple ID, this may allow them to bypass ScreenCoach.

If your child device is already set up with a Child Apple ID, you can skip Step 1.

• On your parent device, go to Settings > Tap on your Apple Family on the top and tap on the + icon on the top right
• Tap on Create Child Account
• Enter the child's full name and date of birth.
• It will stay as a child account until the child is 13.
• It will ask you to verify yourself as an adult first with your Apple email.
• And then you can start to create the Apple ID for the child with email, you may need a phone number to verify this child account later.

It is MUCH better to make sure the device is part of an Apple family before downloading the app.

• Log out of the parent Apple ID from the child device.
• Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign Out.
• Log in to the child account.
• Go to Settings > Sign In.
• Enter the child's Apple ID and password

1. On your parent device, Open ScreenCoach > Go to Settings > Device List.
2. Now tap the lightning button in the bottom right and tap Link a device.
3. On the child's phone, download ScreenCoach and tap Login.
4. Scan the QR code on your parent device, or enter the one time alphanumeric code displayed in the child device on your parent device.

• Enable all necessary permissions on your child’s device.
• Notifications permission
• Location permission
• Set to always allow location tracking

To enable App Blocking,

• Switch to a parent user on the child device
• Go to Settings > “App Settings” from the menu
• Enable "Allow App Blocking" and Tap Allow for the prompt that comes up.

1. Open the ScreenCoach App on the Child's Phone
2. Switch user - login as a Parent
3. Go to Settings > App categories.
4. Scroll down and browse through the categories of apps.
5. Select the category under which you want to block an app.
6. Tap on Apps under iOS under the category and select the apps you want to block.

Note: the App category that says “Always Allowed” - this is for the apps which are always allowed for use by the children - for example, Podcasts, Music, Photos, etc.

1. Open the ScreenCoach app on the child's phone.
2. Switch user - login as a Parent
3. Settings > Manage Modes 
4. Choose the mode under which you want to block apps
5. Go to the Apps tab and enable "Restrict some Apps"
6. Turn on the App category you want to block (the one where you added apps in the above step for blocking).

Mode > All Apps Allowed:

This means, there will be no restrictions and all apps will be using during the usage of this Mode.

Mode > Allow Some Apps

You can also whitelist apps and allow just some of the apps to be accessed by your children. This can be done with the following steps:

1. Open the ScreenCoach app on the child's phone.Tap the hamburger menu on the top left Switch user as a Parent
2. Add the Apps to a category (follow Step 3). 
3. Go to Settings> Manage Modes > Apps tab > Allow some apps and choose the category you just added the apps to.

Note: "Allow some apps" option enables the child to use only the apps you have chosen for this mode. All other apps will be blocked.

Note: Apple has stricter limitations than Android in terms of app blocking. With iOS, app blocking can only be configured through the ScreenCoach app installed on the child's device. Conversely, Android allows app blocking to be managed through both the ScreenCoach app and the web portal, offering greater flexibility.

Apple families only support children under the age of 18.

Apple only supports Screen Time options on iOS 15 or later.

Updated on: 30/05/2025