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Disallowed app still showing on home screen

I am trying to disallow Safari on my child’s device. I have my child in my “Family”, so I can setup screen time for him on my phone. When go to Content Restrictions > Allowed Apps and deselect Safari, it still appears on his Home Screen. I can even look at Allowed Apps on his phone and see that it is disabled, but it still shows up on his Home Screen? This seems like a bug. Help!

iPhone 13 mini, iOS 17

Posted on Oct 4, 2023 8:20 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 5, 2023 8:02 AM

Thanks for responding. I already have screen time turned on for my son’s device, that’s where I am accessing the “Content and Privacy Restrictions.”

I am going to Settings >> Family >> (my child) >> Screen Time >> (enter passcode) >> Content and Privacy Restrictions >> Allowed Apps >> Disable Safari


When I log in to my son’s phone and look at his Content and Privacy Restrictions, I can see that Safari is disallowed. But it still shows up on his home screen and he can use it. I thought it was supposed to disappear if it was disallowed?

11 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 5, 2023 8:02 AM in response to TheLittles

Thanks for responding. I already have screen time turned on for my son’s device, that’s where I am accessing the “Content and Privacy Restrictions.”

I am going to Settings >> Family >> (my child) >> Screen Time >> (enter passcode) >> Content and Privacy Restrictions >> Allowed Apps >> Disable Safari


When I log in to my son’s phone and look at his Content and Privacy Restrictions, I can see that Safari is disallowed. But it still shows up on his home screen and he can use it. I thought it was supposed to disappear if it was disallowed?

Feb 11, 2024 1:29 PM in response to Archangel269

Just wanted to comment here in case people come across this problem again.


of course I had already verified software was updated and I had turned the phone off and restarted several times.


I was still having the same issue. It’s not a matter of making safari unavailable during downtime . In screen time, content and restrictions, allowed apps ,you can toggle safari off so the app is no longer on the phone.


I had done all of this but safari was still showing up on the phone. I called Apple to trouble shoot and they had to connect me with a supervisor because they also couldn’t figure it out. Then while I was on hold…i figured it out. In screen time, I clicked on content and restrictions and toggled content and restrictions off and then back on and it worked! I think maybe after software updates i will have to go in and do this each time.



Oct 7, 2023 9:14 AM in response to TheLittles

Thank you for your help with this issue. Safari has disappeared from my son’s Home Screen but it still shows up in the Search options. So if he does any random search on his phone, one of the results/options is to look it up online using Safari. This will open Safari right up, even though it is not an allowed app. What am I doing wrong? Why does Safari continue to be available even though I have disabled it?

Oct 8, 2023 4:49 PM in response to TheLittles

I WANT the app gone from the Home Screen. I’m not trying to get it back. But I also want it gone from search options. I don’t want Safari to be able to be opened on the phone at all. Even though I’ve taken the steps i mentioned previously, I can still open Safari just by searching for something on the phone. How can I make it so Safari won’t even open at all, and won’t show as an option in the search?

Oct 5, 2023 6:03 PM in response to Archangel269

Archangel269 Said:

"When I log in to my son’s phone and look at his Content and Privacy Restrictions, I can see that Safari is disallowed. But it still shows up on his home screen and he can use it. I thought it was supposed to disappear if it was disallowed?"

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Reset the Home Screen Layout:

If the Safari widget is still showing, somehow, then try reseting the Home Screen Layout...


Go Here: Move and organize apps on iPhone - Apple Support

Note: You'd have to add back all the widgets that you can recall being back on there. So, make note of them, or take a screenshot of what is on each home screen.

Scroll to: Reset the Home Screen and Apps to their Original Layout

  1. Go to: Settings
  2. Tap: General
  3. Tap: Reset
  4. Tap: Reset Home Screen Layout

Oct 4, 2023 8:51 PM in response to Archangel269

Archangel269 Said:

"Disallowed app still showing on home screen: I am trying to disallow Safari on my child’s device. I have my child in my “Family”, so I can setup screen time for him on my phone. When go to Content Restrictions > Allowed Apps and deselect Safari, it still appears on his Home Screen. I can even look at Allowed Apps on his phone and see that it is disabled, but it still shows up on his Home Screen? This seems like a bug. Help!"

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Adding Restrictions:

If you are referring to restrictions on your device, then it seems you need to Screen Time enabled. You'll need a passcode to perform this.  See here: Use Screen Time on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Oct 7, 2023 11:03 AM in response to Archangel269

Archangel269 Said:

"Disallowed app still showing on home screen: Thank you for your help with this issue. Safari has disappeared from my son’s Home Screen but it still shows up in the Search options.[…]

———-


You are welcome.


Troubleshooting Lost Home Screen Apps:

Two methods...


A. Drag it Back:

Swipe your finger in from the right. Then, drag it back over.


No Success?...

B. Reset the Home Screen Layout:

If a widget or app has gone missing somehow, then you need to reset the Home Screen Layout...

Go Here: Move and organize apps on iPhone - Apple Support

You'd have to add back all the widgets that you can recall being back on there.

Scroll to: Reset the Home Screen and Apps to their Original Layout

  1. Go to: Settings
  2. Tap: General
  3. Tap: Reset
  4. Tap: Reset Home Screen Layout
  5. Then... Add the apps back

Oct 7, 2023 9:28 AM in response to Archangel269

I’ve also turned off “quick website search” (settings >> safari >> search) and turned out “Show app in search” (settings >> safari >> allow Safari to access: Siri and search >> while searching: show app in search). I’ve turned off everything under these settings, but i still have the option to search the web with safari when I use search on his phone. Am I missing something?

Disallowed app still showing on home screen

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