Install On Guard · iPhone & iPad

Steps checked August 17, 2026

Install On Guard on iPhone or iPad

Install from the App Store, approve Apple's Screen Time sheet, pick the apps On Guard stands in front of, and sign in. On iPhone the guard is built on Apple's Screen Time controls — Apple's sheet, your approval, and On Guard never sees your passcode.

Time
About 2 minutes
You need
  • An iPhone or iPad running iOS 16 / iPadOS 16 or later.
  • An Apple Account for the App Store (On Guard itself accepts Apple, Google, or email).
Download on the App Store
On this page

Step 1

Get the app

  1. Open On Guard on the App Store and tap Get. Opens in a new tab

  2. Open the app.

    Three swipeable intro panes explain the shield; "Skip intro" is on every pane. Tap "Start setup".

Step 2

Run the setup checklist

The checklist completes itself top to bottom. Three rows need you.

Enable Defense — Screen Time

Required

"On Guard uses Apple's Screen Time controls. Apple's sheet, your approval. We never see your passcode."

  1. Tap "Enable".

    The row reads "Waiting for Apple's approval sheet…"

  2. On Apple's sheet, allow On Guard to use Screen Time (Family Controls) for this device.

    iOS may ask for your device passcode — that is Apple confirming it is you, not On Guard.

  3. The row completes: "Screen Time authorization approved."

If you skip this: "Approval not granted. Without it Apple gives On Guard no way to stand between you and the feed. Try again, or enable it in Settings → Screen Time."

Raise the Shield — choose your apps

Required

"Pick the apps On Guard stands in front of: block them, or get a nudge when you linger. Safari's adult-content filter is on either way."

  1. Tap "Choose apps to shield" and pick apps in Apple's "Shield apps" picker, then Next.

  2. On "Block or nudge?", set each app to Block or Nudge, then Done.

    "Block puts the On Guard shield in front of it — it won't open while your shield is up. Nudge lets it open, then reminds you to move on when you've been in it a while."

  3. Tap "Raise Shield".

    The row confirms, e.g. "Web filter on. 2 blocked · 1 nudge-only." "Change apps" lets you revise before raising.

If you skip this: Picking no apps is allowed — the app asks "Continue with web filtering only?" — and you can add blocked or nudge-only apps any time later.

Sign in to On Guard

Required

"Sign in or sign up to finish setup. Your account is what backs your allies."

  1. Tap "Sign In".

  2. Choose "Continue with Apple", "Continue with Google", or use email: enter an address and password and tap "Create account" (or "Sign in").

  3. "All Set!" — "You are on guard and ready to go."

Step 3

What iOS asks for

On iPhone and iPad, On Guard runs no screen detection of its own — the shield is Apple's Screen Time. There is one required approval and one optional prompt.

Screen Time (Family Controls)

Required

  1. If you ever revoke it, the dashboard reads "Guard down" — "Screen Time access is off. Turn it back on to stay defended."

    Re-approve from Settings → Screen Time, or open On Guard and tap "Turn defense back on".

Notifications

Optional

  1. Allow notifications when iOS asks after sign-in.

    They carry the nudges and the ally-related alerts. Change later in Settings → Notifications → On Guard.

If you skip this: The shield still works; you just will not see nudges.

Step 4

Invite an ally

The shield is up. One thing makes it count: someone in your corner.

  1. On the "You're on guard." screen, tap "Invite an ally".

    "Go to dashboard" skips it. You can invite allies any time later from Allies in the app.

  2. In "Invite your allies", tap Share or Copy link and text it to the people you want in your corner.

    One link works for all of them and stays valid for 7 days. "New link" makes a fresh one and retires the old.

  3. Your ally opens the link, and that's it — they get the check-in texts, never the details.

Step 5

Take the walkthrough and start your trial

On your first dashboard visit, "See how it works first." offers a quick walkthrough of the shield — "See how it works" or "Maybe later". Then the trial card.

  1. Read the "Your guard is up. Keep it up." card and pick Yearly or Monthly.

    The card appears over the dashboard on your first visit, after the walkthrough offer.

  2. Tap "Start 30-day free trial".

    You are not charged during the trial. Cancel any time from your store or billing account.

  3. Or skip for now — defense keeps running while you decide.

    The dashboard then reads "Not activated": "You skipped activation. Defense is still running while you decide. Start your trial to keep it."

Step 6

Confirm it is working

  1. The dashboard header should read "On guard" — "Your Screen Time shield is up on this device."

    "Guard down" means the shield is off or Screen Time access was revoked; the header says which. Other tabs show a small "Powered by Apple Screen Time" pill.

  2. Open a blocked app: Apple's shield screen appears instead of the app.

  3. Settings → Defense lists the shield status and "Change shielded apps" for later.

Step 7

Updates and uninstall

  • Updates come from the App Store like any other app; On Guard restarts its protection after an update.
  • Uninstall from inside the app: Settings → Danger zone → "Uninstall On Guard" → "Send & uninstall". Your allies are told first, then the shield is lowered and the app tells you: "To finish: touch and hold the On Guard icon on your Home Screen, then choose Remove App." (iOS refuses to delete an app while its shield is up.)

iPhone & iPad questions

Does On Guard watch my screen on iPhone?

No. iOS does not let apps do that. On iPhone and iPad the guard is Apple's Screen Time: the apps you chose are blocked or nudged, and Safari's adult-content filter is on. Your allies hear if the shield ever comes down.

Which apps should I shield?

Block the ones you would rather not be alone with; nudge the ones you use for good reasons but sink into. You can change the list any time from Settings → Defense → "Change shielded apps".

Can I lower the shield myself?

Yes — it is your device. Lowering it is visible: your allies get a check-in when the guard comes down. That is the accountability working.

Steps checked August 17, 2026 against the shipping app. If a screen no longer matches, email team@stayonguard.app.