How to block BeReal
on iPhone
Use Screen Time for a basic limit, Downtime for scheduled access, or an iPhone app blocker when BeReal's daily prompt needs to stop pulling you in without deleting your account.
How to block BeReal
Fella, up close.
Fella, up close.
- Built with Apple’s Screen Time controls.
- One 5-minute emergency unlock per session.
- Apps stay blocked by default.
You can block BeReal on iPhone without deleting your account. Use Screen Time App Limits for a daily allowance, Downtime for a scheduled block, or a dedicated blocker when BeReal needs to stay unavailable by default. Each method restricts access differently, so choose the smallest one that closes the loophole you actually have.
BeReal's whole design is built around a single unpredictable daily moment. A notification arrives once a day at a randomized time, and the app frames posting as time-sensitive, which turns opening it into a reflex rather than a decision. Muting that notification reduces the prompt, but it doesn't block the app itself.
Use Screen Time to limit BeReal
1. Open Settings, then tap Screen Time. If needed, turn on App & Website Activity. Tap App Limits, then Add Limit.
2. Select BeReal. Open the Social Networking category, select BeReal, tap Next, choose the daily allowance, then tap Done. Selecting BeReal on its own avoids sharing a limit with other social apps you still need.
3. Know what happens when the limit is reached. iPhone shows a Screen Time limit screen, but an App Limit can be ignored by default. That matters specifically for BeReal, since the app's daily window creates real urgency, exactly the moment an ignorable limit is weakest.
Why a simple limit often isn't enough for BeReal
The daily notification is the real trigger, and Screen Time doesn't control it. An App Limit restricts time spent inside the app after you open it; it doesn't stop the push notification from arriving or stop you from tapping it the moment it does.
Do not confuse an override with a failed limit. If you see an Ignore Limit option, the limit has triggered as designed. It is an expected iPhone override, not proof the app was never restricted. See how to stop ignoring Screen Time limits if that override has become automatic for you.
Check the workaround you are actually using. Muting notifications reduces the prompt but doesn't block the app, and hiding the icon doesn't stop BeReal from opening through Search or the App Library.
Use Downtime to cover the unpredictable window
Downtime blocks most apps during a scheduled period. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Downtime, choose Scheduled, and set the days and hours. Because BeReal's notification time shifts daily, a wide Downtime window, covering your work hours or evening, is often more reliable than trying to predict the exact moment it will arrive.
Turn on Block at Downtime for a real scheduled block. Apple lets Downtime show a reminder by default; with Block at Downtime enabled, restricted apps cannot open during that period. Apps in Always Allowed can remain available, so review that list if BeReal is not behaving as expected.
Focus Mode is not a BeReal blocker. Focus can silence notifications during a scheduled block, but it doesn't stop the app from opening if you check it manually.
| Approach | Good for | Weak point |
|---|---|---|
| Delete BeReal | Removes immediate access on this iPhone. | Loses your streak history and can feel drastic if friends still post daily. |
| Screen Time app limit | Basic limits and awareness. | You can choose Ignore Limit, especially right when the notification lands. |
| Fella | Blocking BeReal by default, regardless of when the notification arrives. | Built for one 5-minute emergency unlock per session, not open-ended access. |
When a dedicated BeReal blocker makes sense
A dedicated blocker is useful when the notification-driven urgency is the actual problem. Because BeReal's timing is unpredictable, a schedule-based approach can miss the moment; a default-off rule doesn't need to predict when the prompt will land. If you are still choosing a tool, see our iPhone app-blocking options.
With Fella, add BeReal to the apps you want blocked. It stays unavailable by default, whether or not you've seen today's notification yet, while the apps you did not select remain accessible.
Use the emergency unlock only for a practical need. Each blocking session includes one 5-minute emergency unlock, enough time to post your actual BeReal if you decide to, then it locks again automatically.
That is the trade-off. Fella is for stronger friction against a reflexive daily habit, not flexible schedules, reporting, or a way to see friends' posts while staying blocked from posting your own.
Who this is for
People who feel obligated to drop what they're doing the moment BeReal notifies them. If the notification consistently interrupts work, class, or focus time, that's the pattern Fella is built to interrupt.
People who still want to see friends' posts occasionally. The emergency unlock gives you a window to check in without leaving BeReal open and reachable all day.
People who've already tried muting notifications without success. If the urge to check BeReal survives even without the alert, a harder default is the next step.
Block BeReal FAQ
Use Screen Time App Limits for a daily allowance, Downtime for scheduled hours, or a focused app blocker like Fella to keep BeReal blocked by default with one 5-minute emergency unlock per session.
No. Fella blocks access to the app on your iPhone. Your account, friends, and BeReal history are untouched, and you can still reach them during your one 5-minute emergency unlock per session.
No. A blocker restricts opening the app; it doesn't control whether the notification itself arrives. If notifications are the trigger, muting or disabling them separately in iOS Settings addresses that specifically.
Yes. Use App Limits for a daily allowance, or Downtime for scheduled hours. A reached App Limit can be ignored by default. Fella is a narrower blocker with one 5-minute emergency unlock per session.
Yes. You choose which apps Fella blocks. BeReal can be on your list while other apps you rely on stay fully accessible.
No. Hiding an app changes where its icon appears, and muting notifications removes alerts. You can still open BeReal from Search or the App Library unless you use an App Limit, Downtime, or an app blocker.
Delete the app, then go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases > Installing Apps and set it to Don't Allow. This blocks new App Store installs system-wide, including BeReal, until you turn it back on with your Screen Time passcode.
