SCREENWORTH
Guide · iPhone

How to Block YouTube on iPhone (App, Safari and Shorts) in 2026

By The ScreenWorth team · · 7 min read

Short answer

To block the YouTube app on iPhone, set a Screen Time limit on it: in iOS 27, go to Settings → Screen Time → Time Allowances → Manage Categories, add a Custom category with YouTube, and give it the smallest allowance. On iOS 18 and earlier, use Settings → Screen Time → App Limits → Add Limit and turn on Block at End of Limit. To block the website, add youtube.com to Never Allow under Content & Privacy Restrictions → Web Content. To get rid of Shorts only, open YouTube → your profile → Settings → Time management and set the Shorts feed limit to 0 minutes. A full block is easy to undo if you set it yourself. If you’d rather keep YouTube but stop the endless scroll, ScreenWorth gives you a daily allowance, then lets you walk away for free or pay a small price you set in advance for 15 more minutes.

Method 1: Limit the YouTube app with Screen Time (iOS 27)

In iOS 27, Apple renamed App Limits to Time Allowances. Allowances are set by category, so create a Custom category that holds only YouTube.

  1. Open Time Allowances. Open Settings → Screen Time → Time Allowances. If asked, tap Turn on App and Website Activity.
  2. Add a Custom category. Tap Manage Categories, tap the + button and choose Custom.
  3. Pick YouTube. Select the YouTube app. If you’re asked which schedule the allowance applies to, pick one, then tap Continue.
  4. Set the allowance. Use the slider or the − button to set the smallest amount of time, then tap Done.
  5. Lock it. Set a Screen Time passcode under Manage Screen Time → Lock Screen Time Settings, so going past the limit needs the code.

When the allowance runs out, iOS shows “You’ve used all your available time allowance.” You can still tap Ignore Limit; with a passcode set, it asks for the code first.

Method 1 on iOS 18 and earlier: App Limits

  1. Open App Limits. Open Settings → Screen Time → App Limits, and turn on App Limits if it’s off.
  2. Add YouTube. Tap Add Limit, expand the category list and select YouTube, then tap Next.
  3. Set the time. Choose 1 minute (or any amount you want).
  4. Block at the end. Turn on Block at End of Limit (it appears once a Screen Time passcode is set), then tap Add.

Method 2: Block youtube.com in Safari

Blocking the app doesn’t block the website. Do this too, or YouTube is one Safari tab away.

  1. Open restrictions. Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn it on.
  2. Open web content. Tap App Store, Media, Web & Games (called Store, Web, Siri & Game Center Content on some older iOS versions), then Web Content.
  3. Limit websites. Choose Limit Adult Websites.
  4. Add YouTube. Under Never Allow, tap Add Website and enter youtube.com. Add m.youtube.com too.

This applies to Safari. If you use another browser, test that YouTube is actually blocked there as well.

Method 3: Turn off YouTube Shorts

Since April 2026, the YouTube app has its own Shorts limit, and you can set it to zero.

  1. Open YouTube settings. In the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, then the gear icon.
  2. Time management. Tap Time management.
  3. Set the Shorts limit. Under Daily limits, turn on Shorts feed limit and choose 0 minutes.

YouTube says “Scrolling is paused but you may still see individual Shorts,” so single Shorts can still appear in search or recommendations. The setting rolled out gradually; update the app if you don’t see it.

Method 4: Lock or hide the app with Face ID

  1. Touch and hold YouTube. On the Home Screen, touch and hold the YouTube icon.
  2. Require Face ID. Choose Require Face ID (or Touch ID). To take it off your Home Screen too, choose Hide and Require Face ID.

This is a speed bump, not a block: your own face opens it. It’s available on iOS 18 and later.

Why YouTube blocks don’t last

Every method above is easy to undo if you’re the one who set it. You know your Screen Time passcode, Ignore Limit is right there on the limit screen, and Face ID is your own face. A full block also fails the first time you genuinely need YouTube, for a recipe, a repair video or a work tutorial. At that point most people turn the block off and don’t turn it back on.

Limit YouTube without blocking it: ScreenWorth

ScreenWorth takes a different approach. It uses Apple’s Screen Time technology to give YouTube (and any other apps you pick) a daily allowance, such as 60 minutes on the Reset plan. When the allowance runs out, YouTube locks and you choose:

  • Walk away for free. One tap.
  • Unlock 15 more minutes for a price you picked in advance. On the default setting it’s $0.49, then $0.99, $1.49, $1.99 and $2.99, resetting at midnight.

So you can still watch the repair video, but the 11 PM autoplay spiral costs something. Free to download. Free to walk away. You only pay if you decide extra time is worth it. ScreenWorth never charges automatically: every unlock is a purchase you confirm with Face ID or Touch ID.

Tip: combine methods. Set YouTube’s Shorts feed limit to 0 and let ScreenWorth cap the rest of your YouTube time.

FAQ

How do I block YouTube on my iPhone?

Set a Screen Time limit on the YouTube app (Time Allowances in iOS 27, or App Limits with Block at End of Limit on iOS 18 and earlier), and add youtube.com to Never Allow under Content & Privacy Restrictions → Web Content so it’s blocked in Safari too.

How do I block YouTube Shorts on iPhone?

In the YouTube app, tap your profile → Settings → Time management, turn on Shorts feed limit and set it to 0 minutes. YouTube notes you may still see individual Shorts in search or recommendations.

Can I block YouTube in Safari but keep the app?

Yes. Add youtube.com and m.youtube.com under Content & Privacy Restrictions → Web Content → Never Allow. That blocks the website without touching the app.

Where did App Limits go in iOS 27?

Apple renamed App Limits to Time Allowances and Downtime to Screen Time Schedule. To limit a single app like YouTube, create a Custom category under Time Allowances → Manage Categories.

How can I limit YouTube without blocking it completely?

Use ScreenWorth. It gives YouTube a daily allowance, then lets you walk away for free or pay a small price you set in advance for 15 more minutes. The Free plan is free forever.

Sources

  1. Tom’s Guide: YouTube now lets you hide Shorts completely (Apr 17, 2026)
  2. iGeeksBlog: The new Screen Time in iOS 27 (Sep 2026)
  3. Warden: Where App Limits and Downtime went in iOS 27 (Oct 2026)
  4. TechLockdown: How iOS 27 changes Screen Time (Oct 2026)
  5. Guiding Tech: How to block YouTube with Screen Time (2024)

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