This setup uses iOS Focus Mode and the Shortcuts app to help you turn your phone into a "Dumb Phone" or "Minimal Phone" with help from Roots. It only takes a few minutes and once enabled, you can easily toggle to grayscale and block distracting apps with a single tap.
First, the end result:
Once you complete this setup, with one tap you'll be able to:
Make your Lock Screen simple and boring
Simplify your Home Screen view
Block all distracting apps
Turn on grayscale
Step 1: Create a custom Focus
Open your iPhone settings and create a new Focus. Call it something like “Dumb Phone” or “Offline Mode”... anything that reminds you of your goal.
Step 2: Customize notification settings
When setting up the Focus, choose which people and apps are allowed to send notifications while it’s on. Keep it minimal... just what’s essential.
Step 3: Switch up your lock screen
From "Customize Screen" tap on the left option to customize your Lock Screen. Set a different lock screen for this Focus so you can tell when it’s active. A plain black wallpaper works great, but feel free to pick whatever helps reinforce the vibe.
Step 4: Minimize your home screen
From "Customize Screen" tap on the right option to customize your Home Screen. Hide most of your home screen pages or only show one with just the essentials. You can do this in the Focus settings too.
Step 5: Install Roots to block apps
Install Roots from the App Store if you haven’t already. In Roots, you can customize which apps to block by creating "App Groups" which you can select here.
Step 6: Automate it with Shortcuts
When "Dumb Phone" is turned on:
1. Open the Shortcuts app and go to the Automation tab.
2. Tap Create or +, then search "Focus" and choose the one you just made.
3. Select When Turning On and Run Immediately then tap Next
4. Tap New Blank Automation and search for “Set Color Filters”. Set it to turn on grayscale or whatever filter helps reduce screen stimulation (you can set this from iOS Settings > Color Filters".
5. Tap Search and find Roots: Start Block Now session. Choose the app group you want to block.
6. (Optional) Add another action Set Appearance to switch your phone to dark mode for a more calming experience.
7. Tap Done, but make sure Run Immediately is turned on.
When "Dumb Phone" is turned off:
Create another automation for when the Focus is turned off.
Reverse the actions: turn off color filters, stop Roots blocking, and (optionally) change appearance back.
Step 7: Turn it on with one tap
Once your Focus is ready, you can toggle it on and off easily from Control Center. Just swipe down from the top right of your screen and tap the Focus name.
That's it!
Let us know if you have any questions, and enjoy your new Dumb Phone setup!
