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How to lock apps at night on iPhone (and keep them locked until morning)
iPhone can lock your apps at night without any extra app. Here are the exact steps for iOS 27 and iOS 26, and the one step that makes the lock strong.
Short answer
Use Screen Time. In iOS 27, open Settings › Screen Time › Screen Time Schedule and set the hours when apps are available. In iOS 26, use Settings › Screen Time › Downtime. To make the lock last until morning, add a Screen Time passcode and ask someone you trust to type it, so you cannot open the apps yourself at midnight.
I tried this when I wanted to stop scrolling at night. iPhone's own Screen Time can lock apps at night, and it is free. For me, the problem was that I could always skip it. In this guide I will show you the exact steps, and then how to make the lock strong enough to last until morning.
First, check which version you have
In September 2026, Apple changed Screen Time in iOS 27. The idea is the same, but the names are different.
| What it does | iOS 27 | iOS 26 and earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Choose the hours when apps work | Screen Time Schedule | Downtime |
| Limit how long you use apps | Time Allowances | App Limits |
| Apps that always work | Always Allowed | Always Allowed |
Open Settings › Screen Time. If you see Screen Time Schedule, follow the iOS 27 steps. If you see Downtime, follow the iOS 26 steps. If you use Family Sharing, Apple says every device in the family needs iOS 27 for the new Screen Time. Until then, you may still see the older settings.
How to lock apps at night in iOS 27
In iOS 27, you choose the hours when your apps are available. Outside those hours, the app categories you chose are not available. The apps in Always Allowed still work. So to lock apps at night, you set your day to end at your "phone stop" time.
- Open Settings › Screen Time. If Screen Time is off, turn it on first.
- Tap Screen Time Schedule and turn on Schedule.
- Tap Add Schedule, choose the days, and confirm.
- Tap the Time Window to change its start and stop time. For example, set it from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. After 10:00 PM, those app categories are not available.
- In the same Time Window, choose which app categories are available during the day.
- Go back and tap Always Allowed. Check that the apps you need at night are there, like Phone and Messages.
If you also use Time Allowances, you can turn on Match Screen Time Schedule so your allowances follow the same hours.
How to lock apps at night in iOS 26 (Downtime)
In iOS 26 and earlier, the night lock is called Downtime. During Downtime, only calls, messages and the apps you allow are available.
- Open Settings › Screen Time. Turn on App & Website Activity if it is off.
- Tap Downtime and turn on Scheduled.
- Choose Every Day, or Customize Days if you want different times on weekends.
- Set the start and end time. For example, 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
- Go back and tap Always Allowed to choose the apps that still work during Downtime.
iPhone sends a reminder 5 minutes before Downtime starts. But there is one problem: without a Screen Time passcode, Downtime is only a reminder. When you open a locked app, you can choose to continue. To make it a real lock, you need the next step.
Make the lock last until morning
A lock only works at night if you cannot open it yourself. On iPhone, that means a Screen Time passcode.
- Find the passcode setting. In iOS 27: Settings › Screen Time › Manage Screen Time › Lock Screen Time Settings. In iOS 26: Settings › Screen Time › Lock Screen Time Settings.
- Ask someone you trust, like a partner, friend or family member, to type a 4-digit code that you do not know.
- When iPhone offers Screen Time Passcode Recovery, think about whose Apple Account to use. If it is your own account, you can reset the code yourself. For a stronger lock, your helper can use their own account.
- In iOS 26, go to Downtime and turn on Block at Downtime. This switch only appears after a passcode is set.
In iOS 26, when you open a locked app at night, you now need the passcode to get more time. In iOS 27, early reports say it works the same way, so check it on your own iPhone. Remember: if you want to change your settings later, you will need your helper again.
iPhone features that do not lock apps at night
Some settings sound like they should help, but they do not lock anything:
- Sleep Focus silences notifications and calls, and can dim your Lock Screen. It does not lock apps. I explain the difference in Does Sleep Focus block apps?
- Require Face ID (touch and hold an app icon) asks for your own face or passcode. It protects the app from other people, not from you.
- Hiding Home Screen pages during a Focus only hides icons. The apps still open from search or the App Library.
Why built-in locks often fail at night
The settings above work, but they have one weak point: the person who sets the rule is the same person who wants to break it at midnight. A limit you can skip with one tap is easy to skip when you are tired. If that sounds like you, read my guide on how to stop tapping Ignore Limit.
Questions people ask
Can I lock apps at night on iPhone without downloading an app?
Yes. Use Screen Time Schedule in iOS 27 or Downtime in iOS 26, both in Settings › Screen Time. Add a Screen Time passcode if you want the lock to be strict.
Why can I still open apps during Downtime?
Because without a Screen Time passcode, Downtime is only a reminder, and you can choose to continue. Set a passcode and turn on Block at Downtime to make it a real lock.
Can I lock apps until a certain time in the morning?
Yes. In iOS 26, set the end time of Downtime, for example 8:00 AM. In iOS 27, set your Time Window to start at that time. Apps stay locked until then.
Will my alarm and calls still work?
Yes. Your alarm still rings, and calls and messages still work if Phone and Messages are in Always Allowed. You can also choose specific people who can always reach you.
