App Blocking Guide
How to Block BeReal on iPhone
Block BeReal without deleting it. PageLock gates BeReal behind reading a real book page so you scroll less and read more.
9 minutes
avg daily use
55h
per year
11
books instead
Why Is BeReal So Addictive?
BeReal is known for daily notifications, FOMO-driven posting, and the discovery feed.
BeReal uses a daily time-limited notification to create urgency. You have 2 minutes to post or you miss the window. After posting, the discovery feed shows you what everyone else posted, which becomes another scrolling loop. The artificial urgency drives daily engagement even when you have nothing to share.
How to Block BeReal with PageLock
PageLock blocks BeReal by requiring you to read a page from a real book before the app opens. Here's how to set it up:
- Open PageLock and tap the + button to add a new gated app
- Select BeReal from your app list
- Choose your unlock method: scan a book page or start a reading session
- Set your daily reading goal
- BeReal will require reading before every open
That's it. Every time you try to open BeReal, you'll read a real page first. Your reading time counts toward your daily goal automatically.
Why BeReal Is Hard to Quit
The daily notification makes BeReal feel like a social obligation. Missing a day feels like letting your friends down. PageLock adds a reading step that puts this manufactured urgency in perspective.
How PageLock Helps with BeReal
Gating BeReal with PageLock is a gentle way to test whether you actually enjoy the app or just feel obligated to use it. If reading a page feels like a burden before opening BeReal, that tells you something about how much you value the app.
Most people who use BeReal don't want to delete it entirely. They want to use it less and more intentionally. PageLock makes that possible by replacing the automatic habit with a brief reading moment. You keep BeReal. You gain a reading habit.
What You Could Read Instead
The average BeReal user spends 9 minutes per day on the app. That's 55 hours per year, enough time to read roughly 11 books. Use the Scroll vs Books calculator to see your personal number, or check your Digital Detox Score to see where you stand.
Other Ways to Limit BeReal
Besides PageLock, you can reduce your BeReal usage by turning off notifications, moving the app off your home screen, using Apple's Screen Time limits, or setting up Focus modes. For a full comparison of methods, see our guide on how to block apps on iPhone without deleting them.
For a comparison of the best screen time apps, see our Best Screen Time Apps for iPhone roundup.
Ibo Ozcan
Founder of PageLock
Ibo Ozcan is the founder of PageLock, an iOS app that replaces doomscrolling with reading. He researches digital wellbeing, phone addiction, and habit formation to build tools that help people use technology more intentionally.