Set up Nudge in 2 minutes
Short answer
Install Nudge, allow Screen Time access, pick the apps you want locked, and turn on notifications. Your picked apps lock right away. Next time you open one, you'll see Nudge's screen instead of the feed.
What you need
- An iPhone with iOS 17.6 or later. Nudge isn't on iPad or Android yet.
Steps
- Get Nudge from the App Store and open it. Answer a few quick questions so the app can show you your own numbers.
- Allow Screen Time access. Nudge locks apps with Apple's Screen Time tools, so iOS asks for permission. Nudge only gets coded app tokens from Apple, not a readable list of your apps.
- Pick the apps to lock. Start with the two or three that eat your day. You can lock websites too, and change your picks any time. Pick individual apps; Nudge doesn't lock whole categories.
- Turn on notifications. Unlocking an app uses a notification from Nudge, so this one matters. Without it, a locked app can't hand you back to Nudge.
- Choose a plan. Timer Mode is free. Nudge Pro adds waiting rooms, Task Mode, schedules, check-ins and custom block screens, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. What's the difference?
Your first unlock
Open one of your locked apps. Instead of the feed, you'll see Nudge's block screen: "Set time limit for [the app]." Tap through, tap the notification, choose how long you want, and Nudge sends you back to the app. When your time is up, it locks again, even if Nudge is closed. Full walkthrough.
Tip: Leave messaging, maps and work apps unlocked. Nudge works best on a short list of apps you actually want less of.