App Blocking Guide
How to Block Twitch on iPhone
Block Twitch without deleting it. PageLock gates Twitch behind reading a real book page so you scroll less and read more.
95 minutes
avg daily use
578h
per year
115
books instead
Why Is Twitch So Addictive?
Twitch is known for live streams, chat, and background viewing.
Twitch streams are live, which creates urgency to watch now or miss it forever. Chat interaction makes passive viewing feel social. Many users leave streams running in the background for hours, consuming massive amounts of time without realizing it.
How to Block Twitch with PageLock
PageLock blocks Twitch 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 Twitch from your app list
- Choose your unlock method: scan a book page or start a reading session
- Set your daily reading goal
- Twitch will require reading before every open
That's it. Every time you try to open Twitch, you'll read a real page first. Your reading time counts toward your daily goal automatically.
Why Twitch Is Hard to Quit
Live content creates manufactured urgency. If you don't watch now, it's gone. PageLock breaks this urgency by adding a reading pause. After reading a page, the live stream is still there, but the compulsive need to watch it has usually faded.
How PageLock Helps with Twitch
Twitch users average 95 minutes per session. That's enough to read 30-40 pages of a book. PageLock doesn't stop you from watching your favorite streamer, but the reading step ensures you're choosing to watch, not defaulting to it out of boredom.
Most people who use Twitch 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 Twitch. You gain a reading habit.
What You Could Read Instead
The average Twitch user spends 95 minutes per day on the app. That's 578 hours per year, enough time to read roughly 115 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 Twitch
Besides PageLock, you can reduce your Twitch 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.