How to block distracting apps on iPhone for free using Shortcuts (no app blocker needed)

You can block distracting apps on your iPhone without paying for an app blocker, using two features already built into iOS: Focus modes and the Shortcuts app. The idea is simple. You create a Focus mode for when you want to concentrate, then set up an automation so that whenever you try to open a distracting app like Instagram or Facebook during that Focus, your phone instantly redirects you somewhere else instead. It is free, it takes about ten minutes to set up, and you can customize it to any apps you want. Here is exactly how to do it.

Why use Shortcuts instead of a paid app blocker

Most app blockers on the App Store are subscriptions, and a lot of them just hide apps or nag you. The Shortcuts method uses tools you already have, costs nothing, and gives you a harder wall: when you tap Instagram during focus time, it simply does not open. It sends you to a focus app instead. The only way past it is to consciously turn off your Focus mode, which is exactly the small moment of friction that breaks the autopilot tap.

I set this up around my own focus app, FlowStack, because I use it to work on one task at a time with a timer. You can point it at any app you like, so if you use something else to focus, just swap the name in the steps below.

What you need

Everything here is built into your iPhone. You do not need to download or pay for anything:

• The Shortcuts app (comes pre-installed on iOS)

• Focus modes (in Settings, also built in)

Step by step

Here is the exact setup I am testing myself right now. Everyone has different needs, so treat this as a starting point and adjust it to your own apps and habits.

1. Create a dedicated Focus mode. Go to Settings, then Focus, and create a new Focus mode. I named mine "FlowStack" so it stays separate from Do Not Disturb and my other focus modes. Giving it its own name keeps things clean and makes the automation easier to set up.

2. Silence everything except your focus app. Inside that Focus mode, set it to allow notifications only from the one app you want open during focus time. For me that is FlowStack, with calls and other notifications turned off. The goal is that nothing pulls your attention while the Focus is on.

3. Make a distraction-free home screen. Set the home screen that shows during this Focus to a page where only your focus app is visible. When the whole screen is empty except the one app you actually want, you are far less likely to reach for anything else out of habit.

4. Add a Shortcuts automation for each app you want to block. This is the part that does the real blocking. In the Shortcuts app, open the Automation tab and create a new automation for each app you want to avoid. For me that is Instagram and Facebook. Set each automation to run when the app opens, and have it run a shortcut that redirects you to your focus app.

I made a shortcut called "Open FlowStack if Focus is FlowStack" that you can grab here: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/e5f8be5a83e04efcae054f6625a0c923

What it does: when you try to open Instagram or Facebook while your FlowStack Focus is on, it reroutes you straight to FlowStack instead, so the distracting app never actually opens. The only way to get in is to take yourself out of the Focus mode on purpose. If your Focus mode has a different name, open the shortcut and change the name inside it to match yours.

Bonus tip

You can also flip it around and have the Focus mode turn on automatically when you open your focus app. I tried this, and the catch is that it switches the Focus off again as soon as you go back to the home screen, so it ends up being a bit on and off depending on how you actually use your phone. Worth trying if you want your focus time to start the moment you open the app, just know it is not perfectly sticky.

FAQ

Is there a free app blocker for iPhone? Yes. Instead of a paid app, you can combine two built-in iOS features, Focus modes and the Shortcuts app, to redirect distracting apps so they will not open during your focus time. It costs nothing and works on any iPhone with the Shortcuts app.

How do I use Shortcuts to block an app? Create an automation in the Shortcuts app that runs when the app you want to block opens, and have it run a shortcut that sends you to a different app instead. During your Focus mode, tapping the blocked app will redirect you rather than open it.

Does this actually stop me from opening the app? It redirects you away from the app the moment you try to open it, so you cannot use it normally. You can still get in if you deliberately turn off your Focus mode, which is intentional. That small pause is usually enough to stop the mindless, automatic tap.

Can I use this with an app other than FlowStack? Yes. The method works with any app you want to focus on. Just name your Focus mode after it and change the app name inside the shortcut so it redirects to the app you actually use.

Which apps can I block this way? Any app you choose. Set up one automation per app you want to avoid, for example Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or email. Each one redirects to your focus app while the Focus is on.