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Why are apps blocked when they should NOT be?

Why do apps block before "Time Limit"? Why don’t apps unblock after "Downtime" session is over? Why don’t "Time Limits" reset daily?

Updated over a week ago

We're here to help.

First off, we know this can be frustrating. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and will make sure you're well taken care of.
If you have ongoing issues, we'll even offer you a free subscription.

  • If you need to unblock in an emergency, click here.

  • Want hands on support? Click here to troubleshoot with one of our founders.


Steps to troubleshoot:


1) Reload blocking

Tap "Help (top of screen) > Reload Blocking"

This should fix the issue in most cases. If you have to reload constantly please contact us: tap the chat bubble below.
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2) Turn off "Share Across Devices" on ALL iOS devices

  • Open your "iOS Settings > Screen Time"

  • Turn off "Share Across Devices"

  • Do this on all devices, not just your phone

Due to limitations with Apple Screen Time this is required for using Roots. Learn how to turn off "Share Across Devices" here.


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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 blocks to not work properly

  • 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)

Here is one thing to try:

  • Go to "iOS Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed"

  • Then, add the app you want to access as "Always Allowed"

  • Save, and see if that allows you to access the app



5) Check if apps are being blocked in multiple places

  • Go to "Roots > Blocking"

  • Tap on each block you’ve created 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) Check if Apple is reporting usage correctly

  • 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​​


7) Force quit apps running in background

A lot of issues are related to memory issues on the Apple side. Swipe up and hold, and then close as many apps as possible. This will make the blocking run more smoothly.
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8) Restart your phone

  • Restart your phone

  • Click here if you don't know how to do that



9) Reset "Screen Time" permissions

  • Go to "Settings > Screen Time"

  • Scroll down and find "Roots"

  • Remove access, then re-open the Roots app

  • Give access to screen time permissions when prompted

  • Note: Reconnecting "Screen Time" access may lead to the loss of historical screen time data within the app.
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10) Turn off "Low Power Mode"

Turn off "Low Power Mode" for better performance.


11) Try re-adding the apps

Try removing the apps from your blocking list and saving the changes. Then, re-select the apps and save again to refresh the settings.


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12) Make a slight edit and re-save

  • Tap the edit icon on your "Time of Day" block

  • Make a slight edit to the time

  • Open the app selector, remove one, then save

  • Open the app selector, add it back, and save​


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13) One more thing to try...

If none of the suggested troubleshooting works, please try giving screen time permissions to a different app. In some cases the screen time API can get hung up on the Apple side, and doing this can force things to reset:

  • Keep Roots open but in the background

  • Download another screen time app, such as this one

  • Go through onboarding until you give screen time permissions

  • Once approved, re-open Roots

14) Update Roots app and iOS

  • Update to the latest version of Roots

  • Update to the latest iOS version


Have an emergency?

If you need to unblock in an emergency, click here.
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If the problem persists:

Please send us:

  • A screenshot of your "Roots > Blocking" page

  • A quick note on which steps of this guide you’ve already tried

  • Please contact us by tapping the chat bubble below

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