How to disable the App Store on my iPhone

Why would someone want to disable Safari or the App Store on their phone?

Some people might choose to disable the App Store on their phone to minimize distractions, protect their eyes from sexual temptation, enhance focus on their spiritual life, and intentionally set aside time for prayer, Bible study, and other offline activities.

Sometimes you just want to turn off the noise of all the apps and simplify life for a little bit.

This decision aligns with the Bible verse:

Ecclesiastes 4:6, which says, “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.”

Sometimes digital decluttering or digital minimalism can help you focus on the more important things in life.

To disable the App Store on your iPhone, you can use the Screen Time feature

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Screen Time. If you haven’t already set up Screen Time, you’ll need to follow the prompts to enable it.
3. Select Content & Privacy Restrictions. Enter your passcode if prompted. (If you are setting up for the very first time, I recommend getting a trusted friend or family member to set the password.)
4. Tap on iTunes & App Store Purchases.
5. For “Installing Apps”, choose “Don’t Allow” to prevent purchases and downloads from the App Store, which will disable the App Store app on your home screen.

Done! By following these steps, you can effectively disable the App Store on your iPhone.

Note: Remember, this method doesn’t delete the App Store or its data from your device; it merely disables the app.

Also, did you know that you can disable sensitive images on your iPhone from appearing in iMessage?

Need more help creating a less distracting and more meaningful phone experience?