No new apps

Delete an app and it stays deleted

iPhone · Free · built in

What it does

Stops the App Store installing anything, so an app you delete can't come back on a bad day. The apps you already have keep working.

Cost

Free, built in.

How to set it up

Settings › Screen Time › Content & Privacy Restrictions, turn it on › iTunes & App Store Purchases › Installing Apps › Don't Allow. Then lock it: Settings › Screen Time › Passcode & Management › Lock Screen Time Settings (on iOS 26, Settings › Screen Time › Lock Screen Time Settings), and let someone else type the code.

How easy to get around

Without a passcode, seconds. A code you set yourself can be reset with your Apple Account. Firm only when someone else holds it.

What people say

The firm step that comes up most. People like that they keep banking, maps and Uber, but can't reinstall Instagram.

Checked October 2026 · Source