Find Phone Freedom: Block Websites & Apps With Ironclad Settings for iPhone

We all know our phones help improve our lives in so many ways but we also must ask, is it helping us improve as people? Or is it leading to life sucking habits, mind numbing scrolling and/or destructive content consumption? Many are being crushed by the addictive content on our phones whether it be social media scrolling or sex content addiction. Or falling victim to serious attacks of cyber bullying or sexual exploitation. It's time to put all that to an end. These malicious people and evil content should not be given access into our homes, our bedrooms and our pockets 24/7. It must be removed completely and permanently so we can finally find freedom again to be the best version of ourselves.

Below is a 4 step process to make your iPhone into a healthy device with ironclad settings to block out everything you don't want in your life.

Step 1: Pick An Accountability Partner The best way to achieve ironclad settings is by first finding an accountability partner (AP). Your AP will need to make a password on your phone's Screen Time settings that you don't know. Plus, it's good to have someone who you can talk to about this for support. This could be a friend, a parent or family member. Or if you are struggling to find someone, this is something that we actually provide for people living in the Greater Toronto Area. You can contact us today to receive an Accountability Partner (AP) or Mentorship at info@livinglightministry.ca.

Step 2: Adjust Your Screen Time Settings

The Screen Time settings are a great tool to customize your phone and remove all the stuff off your screen that is destructive, time wasting and life sucking. Firstly, turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions. Under "Store, Web, Siri & Game Center Content" you can restrict adult websites, block specific websites you don't want to have access to, and allow apps only rated 12+ or younger. Under "App Limits" you can limit some apps to as little as 1 minute per day or whatever amount of time you want to choose.

Step 3: Setup New Apple ID with Your Accountability Partner (AP)

It used to be that all you needed to do was have your AP make the Screen Time passcode for you and these settings would be locked and not bipassable. Unfortunately in the new iOS updates, Apple allows you to bipass the Screen Time passcode pretty easily by sending verification codes to your Apple ID email or your phone #. So to make these settings ironclad, you will have to create a new Apple ID with an email you can't access and a phone # you can't access, with a password you don't know. Yes, much more complicated than before!!! A big pain to many who were doing very well with the old system. So this process has a series of steps that may sound quite extensive but it truly does not take that much time and when it's done it works perfectly and is well worth it!

1. Either make a new email with iCloud or Gmail. Or use your AP's email if they are okay with it. Either way, by the end of the process it's important that you do not know the login to this email. This will be your recovery email for your new iCloud Apple ID account.

2. Pick a recovery phone number that is not your own phone number. Ideally choose your AP's phone number but if their phone number is already associated to an iPhone then there is a chance you may need to find someone else (preferrably an Android user). Still, give it a try with your AP's phone number and it might work! If you can't find a phone number that will work, then this is where we can come in and help. We can provide the phone number needed for your Apple ID verification through our free Accountability Partner Service. You can contact us today to receive an Accountability Partner (AP) or Mentorship at info@livinglightministry.ca.

3. With your new email and phone number, you can now make your new Apple ID iCloud account. For this iCloud account you will need your AP to set the password so you do not know it.

4. If you already have an iCloud account, you will need to download all your photos, contacts and notes. This can be done through an iCloud backup and then logging into icloud.com (or the iTunes app) to download it to your computer. Sometimes if you have lots of photos, it is better to connect your phone to your computer with a USB cord and transfer your photos to your computer.

5. Lastly, with the help of your AP, login to your iPhone with your new iCloud account.

Step 4: Setup your phone the way you want it

With the Screen Time restrictions turned off, set up the phone the way you want. Download apps you will need. Delete apps you don't want access to. After this, double check that your Screen Time settings are setup the way you like as well (follow Step 2). When you are happy with all your phone settings, have your AP put in their passcode and turn on your Screen Time restrictions.

And it is finished! Your settings are now ironclad and irreversable without the help from your AP. From here on out, everything you want blocked is gone for good! No turning back! Phone Freedom is Finally Here. Now you can get back to enjoying your life with less distractions and destructive content!

If you need to change something, just go to your AP for assistance. Your AP will have the password for the Apple ID, and the passcode (4 digits) for the Screen Time settings. Below is a list of things you may want to edit on your phone at different times that you will now need your AP to assist you with, in order to do it.

• Download apps (needs AP Apple ID password)

• Add websites to blocked list (needs AP Screen Time Passcode)

• Adjust App Limits settings (needs AP Screen Time Passcode)

Easiest way to do it, is have your AP temporarily turn off the screen time restrictions so you can download multiple apps and make any number of edits. Then when you are done, the AP can turn on the screen time restrictions again. To avoid temptation, make these edits in front of your AP rather than going to another room alone.

We hope this helps you find phone freedom! Let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments below.

Remember, if you need any help whatsoever with this process, we offer a free Accountability Partner Service that you can certainly take advantage of. If interested, please email info@livinglightministry.ca.