Install On Guard on iPhone or iPad

"Approval required to stop explicit sites. Nothing else changes on your phone."

1. 1

   Tap "Enable".

   A sheet explains it first: "Connect On Guard to Apple Screen Time". Tap "Allow access". "On the next screen, tap Continue."

2. 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. 3

   The row completes and a toast reads "Screen Time 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."

"Select the apps that steal your attention. The guard nudges you when you linger." Every app you pick still opens; past a daily threshold, a reminder tells you to move on.

1. 1

   Tap "Choose apps to nudge", pick apps in Apple's "Apps to nudge" picker, then Done.

2. 2

   Tap "Raise the shield".

   "Change apps" lets you revise first. A toast reads "Shield up".

If you skip this: Picking no apps is allowed. The app asks "Continue without app nudges?"; "No app nudges" carries on, and you can add apps to nudge any time in Settings.

"So your guard can reach you when it matters." Nudges and block alerts arrive as notifications.

1. 1

   Tap "Allow notifications", then Allow on the iOS prompt.

   A toast reads "Notifications on".

If you skip this: "Skip for now" asks "Continue without notifications?": "Nudges and blocks stay silent until you turn them on in Settings."

"This switch covers every app and every browser." One tap saves the setting in On Guard; then you flip the switch yourself in Settings, because only you can.

1. 1

   Tap "Guard every app".

   The row reads "Setting up the every-app guard…", then shows the steps under "Tap Open Settings, then:".

2. 2

   Tap "Open Settings", then go to Settings → General → VPN, DNS & Device Management → DNS and choose "On Guard".

   Settings opens on On Guard's own page. On iOS 18 and later, tap the back arrow twice (Apps, then Settings) to get to the list; on iOS 16 and 17, tap Settings at the top left. Some versions name the row "VPN & Device Management". A banner over Settings repeats the path.

3. 3

   Come back to On Guard: "Come back here. We check for you."

   The row completes and a toast reads "Every-app guard on".

If you skip this: "Skip for now" asks "Continue without the every-app guard?": "Apple's filter still covers Safari and in-app web views. Every other app stays uncovered, and no check-in can fire for them. You can turn this on any time in Settings."

1. 1

   If you ever revoke it, the dashboard reads "Guard down" and, under it, "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".

1. 1

   If it is off, the dashboard reads "Partly guarded" and "Every-app guard is off. Porn sites can load outside Safari."

   Settings → Defense → Every-app guard → "Turn on" shows the same Settings steps.

1. 1

   If they are off, the dashboard reads "Partly guarded" and "Notifications are off. Nudges and blocks stay silent."

   Turn them on from Settings → Defense → Notifications → "Turn on", or in Settings → Notifications → On Guard.

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