Can I block YouTube Shorts on iPhone?

Not separately with Screen Time, which locks whole apps. YouTube’s own Shorts timer can remind you after a daily limit, or you can lock the YouTube app completely.

Does blocking the YouTube app block the website?

No. Block youtube.com separately in Screen Time’s Web Content settings, or add the website in Screenwage’s picker.

Guide

How to block YouTube on iPhone

To block YouTube on iPhone, add a Screen Time App Limit for YouTube with Block at End of Limit and a passcode, and block youtube.com in Safari too. YouTube’s own take-a-break reminder and Shorts timer only remind you. To keep YouTube locked until you have earned time on it, use an app blocker such as Screenwage.

Updated 16 October 2026

YouTube’s built-in reminders

In YouTube’s settings, Remind me to take a break interrupts you after 15, 30, 60, 90 or 180 minutes of watching, and a newer Shorts timer sets a daily limit for the Shorts feed. Both show a reminder you can dismiss; they do not lock anything.

In-app settings move between versions; if a menu is not where we say, search the app’s settings for “time”.

Way 1: a Screen Time App Limit (free)

Open Settings → Screen Time and set a passcode with Lock Screen Time Settings.
Tap App Limits → Add Limit, find YouTube (usually under Entertainment, or use the search field), select it, and tap Next.
Choose the daily time, turn on Block at End of Limit, and tap Add.

Way 2: block YouTube in Safari

Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → App Store, Media, Web & Games → Web Content, choose Limit Adult Websites, and add youtube.com under Never Allow (add m.youtube.com too if it still opens).

Menu names can differ slightly between iOS versions; these steps follow iOS 17 and later.

Way 3: lock YouTube until you earn it (Screenwage)

Pick YouTube (and the website) in Screenwage. It stays locked until you spend grains earned by focusing, one grain per minute, so a long video costs a long focus session first. During school or work hours, Lock hours keeps it asleep instead.

Can you block only YouTube Shorts?

Not with Screen Time: iOS locks whole apps, not parts of them. YouTube’s own Shorts timer, set to a low daily limit, is the closest built-in option. If Shorts are the whole problem, locking the app and watching longer videos on a computer is another way round it.

Questions

Can I block YouTube Shorts on iPhone?: Not separately with Screen Time, which locks whole apps. YouTube’s own Shorts timer can remind you after a daily limit, or you can lock the YouTube app completely.
Does blocking the YouTube app block the website?: No. Block youtube.com separately in Screen Time’s Web Content settings, or add the website in Screenwage’s picker.