1) Try reloading
Tap "Help" on any screen in Roots
Tap the "Reload Blocking" button
This should fix most issues immediately
If you are having to reload constantly please contact us!
2) Is "Share Across Devices" turned "OFF" on ALL iOS devices?
Due to limitations with Apple Screen Time this is required for using Roots
Open your "iOS Settings > Screen Time"
Be sure "Share Across Devices" is turned "OFF"
In some cases, we have seen this needs to be turned off on all devices
Learn more here
3) Remove any blocking you have set up outside of Roots
If you have any blocking active in iOS "Screen Time" or other screen time apps, it can cause issues and make the Roots "Time Limits" kick in too early
Remove any existing blocking you have outside of the Roots app
Remove screen time permissions from other screen time apps
4) Some popular websites can cause related apps to be blocked
Apps from the same company may also be blocked when you choose a website that is related to the company who owns the app. This is a bug from Apple.
facebook.com can block WhatsApp, Messenger, or other Meta apps
amazon.com can block Audible
In rare cases Facebook app can block other Meta apps (ex: Meta View)
How to fix it:
Right now there is not a good workaround due to Apple limitations. We suggest removing the websites from your blocking to avoid this issue.
Please contact us if you'd like help working around this!
5) Are apps being blocked in multiple places? (i.e. Challenges)
Go to "Roots > Blocking"
Tap on each block you’ve created — for example, "Time Limit", "Time of Day", or "All Day (Limited Unblocks)" — to check if the apps are being blocked in multiple places. If so, you’ll need to unblock them from each individual block
Next, go to "Roots > Challenge" — you’ll also need to unblock the apps from here if they’re listed
6) Is Apple incorrectly reporting usage?
Open your iOS "Settings > Screen Time"
See if the app usage report is accurate
In some cases Apple may over or under report screen time leading to blocking issues
Need more help?
Get personal help from one of our founders here. We know this can be frustrating, and we appreciate your patience. We're happy to assist—and we’ll even reward you for your valuable time!