How to block Instagram on a computer or phone

Many Instagram users admit they can spend hours on their phones, scrolling through their feeds and exploring pages. Social media apps, like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, might be fun, but they can easily distract you from your daily tasks and responsibilities.

If you’re looking for a way to block Instagram on your computer or phone, you’ve come to the right place.

How to block Instagram on iPhone

If you’re an iPhone user, these are two common ways to block Instagram on your phone.

Use Downtime Schedule

One of the easiest ways to block Instagram is to use the Downtime Schedule feature on your iPhone. This is how it works:

1. Go to “Settings” on your home screen.
2. Find “Screen Time.”
3. Tap on “Downtime” and enable this option.
4. Proceed to “Scheduled” to choose the start and end of the Downtime Schedule.
5. Tick “Every Day.”

Once you set this up, you won’t be able to use the Instagram app until the Downtime period is over.

Set app limits

Another way to restrict your Instagram account is to set limits on your iOS device. This is what you need to do:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Head over to “Screen Time.”
3. Tap on “App Limits.”
4. Choose the “Add Limit” option.
5. Select the “Social” category.
6. Tap on “Instagram” and go to “Next” in the top-right corner.
7. Set the timer for the app limit.
8. Tap on “Add” in the upper-right corner.

The time limit you choose is the amount of time you have until the app is blocked. If you want to unblock Instagram, you must go back to settings and delete the app limit.

How to block Instagram on Android

If you have an Android device, here are a couple of ways to block the Instagram app.

Use Digital Wellbeing

Digital Wellbeing is an app that lets you block apps. If you want to use this app to block Instagram, this is what you have to do:

1. Download Digital Wellbeing from Google Play.
2. Open the app and go to “Dashboard.”
3. Locate Instagram on the list of apps and tap on it.
4. Choose “Set App Timer.”
5. Set the timer to your preference.
6. Tap on the “OK” option.

The app works by allowing you to use a certain app for a limited time. For example, if you set a 20-minute limit, you won’t be able to use the app once the time is up.

Set Google Play Store restrictions

Another way to block Instagram on your Android is to set Google Play Store Restrictions. This is what you need to do:

1. Run Google Play on your Android device.
2. Tap on your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
3. Proceed to “Settings,” followed by “Family.”
4. Find “Parental Controls” and enable this option.
5. Set a pin for Parental Controls.
6. Locate Instagram on the list of apps.
7. Decide what type of content you want to restrict.

This method can be used for other mobile apps, games, music, and movies.

How to block Instagram on your computer

If you want to block Instagram on your Windows computer, the following methods can help you limit social media screen time.

Use host files

An easy way to block websites like Instagram is by editing your hosts file. A hosts file is a local file on your computer that translates long and complex domain names into computer-readable IP addresses. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Go to the search bar in the bottom-left corner and type in “Notepad.”
2. Choose “Run as administrator” on the pop-up menu.
3. Copy this command “c:windowssystem32drivers” and paste it into the file explorer.
4. Double-click the “hosts” file.
5. Click on “All Files (*.*)” in the bottom-right corner.
6. Scroll to the end of the “hosts” file and type in 127.0.0.1 “www.instagram.com.”
7. Navigate to the “File” tab and choose “Save.”

This is a great method to block sites that distract you, not just Instagram.

Set a Group Policy

Another way to block Instagram on your Windows computer is by configuring the Group Policy settings. Follow this step-by-step plan to see how it’s done:

1. Type in “gpedit” in the search bar.
2. Click on “Edit Group Policy,” which will take you to Control Panel.
3. Proceed to “User Configuration” and then to “Policies.”
4. Go to “Internet Explorer Maintenance” in “Window Settings.”
5. Click on “Security,” followed by “Security Zones and Content Ratings.”
6. Continue to the “Import the current Content Ratings” settings.
7. The next option is “Modify Settings.”
8. Select “Approved Sites” and find Instagram.
9. Right-click on “Allow this website” and select “Never.”

Changing Group Policy settings doesn’t just help you limit social media distractions. You can also use this method to block specific websites you don’t want your children to use.

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FAQ

Can you block on Instagram by device?

If you want to block Instagram on all your devices, you must do it separately for each device. Some app restriction methods only work with apps, while others apply to specific websites.

Can I block Instagram on my child's phone?

You can set up parental controls on your child’s phone to restrict explicit and inappropriate content. You can also install an app blocker on their phone.

Why is Instagram blocked on my computer?

There could be a few reasons why Instagram is blocked on your computer. Your IP address may have been flagged as an open proxy. It’s also possible someone blocked Instagram on your computer using one of the two methods we explained above.