App blocker for iPhone
A stricter app blocker when Screen Time is too easy to bypass.
Mote is built for the self-control moment: the second you open the app you already meant not to open.
Free to start. Premium price is shown in the App Store before purchase.
Short answer
Mote blocks distracting apps with a harder rule layer than the built-in ignore button.
Apple Screen Time is useful, but for many self-control cases the bypass is part of the habit loop. Mote adds stricter app blocking, scheduled protection, category guards, Strict Mode, and a 60-second redirect before you go back in.
What it blocks
Apps, categories, and the reflex to reopen.
Block individual apps
Guard the specific apps you reach for without thinking, such as social, short video, games, shopping, news, or dating.
Block whole categories
Use category guards for social, video, or games when choosing one app at a time is too fragile.
Keep essentials allowed
Leave maps, banking, health, work, or other essential apps open so the blocker fits real life.
How Mote works
A harder block, then a small reset.
Pick the apps or category
Choose the distractions you want guarded. Premium can guard unlimited apps and full categories.
Set the rule
Use daily limits, schedules, protection time, or Strict Mode when you want the choice off the table.
Meet the block
When you hit the guard, Mote gives you a 60-second redirect and then lets you return if your rule allows it.
| Need | Built-in Screen Time | Mote |
|---|---|---|
| Basic app limit | Available in iPhone Settings. | Uses app blocking as the base, then adds a stricter self-control flow. |
| Harder commitment | Useful, but easy to loosen when you are blocking yourself. | Strict Mode is designed for times you do not want a quick escape. |
| Social media blocking | Can limit apps and categories. | Built around blocking social, video, games, and other high-reflex apps. |
| What happens after the block | A wall or limit prompt. | A 60-second redirect before you decide what to do next. |
Frequently asked questions
Is Mote an app blocker?
Yes. Mote blocks selected distracting apps and categories on iPhone, including social, video, and games, using Apple's Screen Time controls plus stricter self-control rules inside Mote.
Is Mote stricter than Apple Screen Time?
Mote is built for people who find built-in Screen Time too easy to bypass. It adds Strict Mode, scheduled protection, category guards, and a 60-second redirect before you return to an app.
Can Mote block social media apps?
Yes. Mote can guard individual apps or whole categories such as social, video, and games.
Can a determined person bypass Mote?
A determined person can always change device settings. Mote is a harder self-blocking layer, not an impossible lock.