YouTube can be a tutorial, a podcast player, and an endless feed on the same screen. The useful videos make it easy to overlook the hour that disappears into recommendations and Shorts.
A useful block should leave room for videos you chose while protecting the hours when autoplay chooses for you. Your iPhone can limit or schedule the app; Aura can require a completed habit before it opens.
Set a daily YouTube limit
An App Limit covers the entire YouTube app: videos, Shorts, comments, subscriptions, and search. YouTube Music and YouTube Kids are separate apps and need separate limits.
- 1
Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
- 2
Turn on App & Website Activity if needed.
- 3
Tap App Limits, then Add Limit.
- 4
Open Entertainment and select YouTube.
- 5
Choose a daily allowance and adjust individual days if needed.
- 6
Tap Add.
Keep YouTube out of work and bedtime
Downtime blocks YouTube during the hours you choose. It is a better fit than a daily cap when late-night videos or background watching during work are the main problem.
- 1
Go to Settings, Screen Time, then Downtime.
- 2
Turn on Scheduled and set the protected hours.
- 3
Turn on Block at Downtime.
- 4
Open Always Allowed and make sure YouTube is not included.
- 5
Keep calls, messages, maps, and any tools you need available.
Block youtube.com as well
An App Limit does not always stop the web version. Add youtube.com and youtu.be to Screen Time's Never Allow list if Safari becomes the workaround. This also blocks direct video links in a browser.
- 1
Open Settings, Screen Time, then Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- 2
Tap App Store, Media, Web & Games, then Web Content.
- 3
Choose Limit Adult Websites.
- 4
Add youtube.com and youtu.be under Never Allow.
Earn YouTube time with Aura
Aura blocks YouTube until you complete a healthy habit and earn coins. One coin buys one minute, so a twenty-minute video has a visible cost before you open it.
When the earned time ends, YouTube locks again. The app can still be part of the day without leaving Home and Shorts available every time you feel bored.
- Select YouTube as a blocked app.
- Complete a habit before watching.
- Spend enough coins for the video you chose.
- Let YouTube lock when the session ends.
Open the video, not the feed
Save the exact video you intend to watch before opening YouTube, or enter through a direct link instead of the Home tab. Turn off autoplay so the video has an ending.
If Shorts are the problem, remove YouTube from the Home Screen and keep a browser bookmark for subscriptions or a specific playlist. That makes the useful route easier to find than the feed.
Common questions
Can I block Shorts but keep regular YouTube videos?
No. Screen Time limits the whole YouTube app and cannot separate Shorts from long videos inside it.
Can I keep YouTube Music available?
Yes. YouTube and YouTube Music are separate iPhone apps. Limit only the one you want blocked.
Does deleting YouTube remove my subscriptions?
No. Removing the app does not delete your Google account, subscriptions, playlists, or uploaded videos.
Can Aura block YouTube but leave YouTube Music open?
Yes. Aura blocks only the apps you select, so YouTube Music can remain available.
Apple changes Screen Time labels from time to time. If a menu looks different on your iPhone, see Apple's current Screen Time guide and content restriction guide.
