By Badger / Oasiz, Inc. · Published · Sources checked · Based on linked product documentation.
If an app blocker is not working on your iPhone, start by checking permission, the apps you selected, and whether a block should be active right now. Then open a selected app on the same iPhone to check the result. A message saying a request was received does not establish that the phone applied it.
This guide covers Badger's app-group workflow. Apple Screen Time, another blocker, or a managed device may have different settings. The steps below describe checks you can make; they are not a claim that we reproduced every possible device issue.
1. Check Screen Time authorization
Badger uses Apple's Screen Time and Family Controls frameworks to block selected apps. If you declined or later removed authorization, the agent's conversation cannot replace that permission. Open Badger and review its Screen Time permission state. If it asks you to authorize access, read the prompt and confirm the choice you intend.
Also check the version of iOS and Badger on your device. The current App Store listing specifies iOS 18.0 or later. For Apple's own limits, consult the Screen Time guide for your iOS version rather than assuming every settings menu is identical.
2. Confirm the intended apps are in the group
Open Settings → App groups inside Badger and inspect the group used by your plan. Check the actual app selection on the iPhone. A group name such as “Social” is your label; it does not automatically include every social app. If you created several groups, make sure the plan refers to the intended one.
Keep essential apps outside your blocked group. After changing a selection, return to Badger, review the plan, and test one of the selected apps directly. Do not infer a result from a different app, a similar name, or a browser page unless that exact target was included in your setup.
3. Check whether the plan should be blocking now
A schedule, a completed action, an agreed change, or an emergency unblock can change access. Read the current plan in Badger and compare it with the situation you are testing. If you earned access by walking, for example, being able to open the app may be the intended result.
Tell Badger what you expected and what actually happened. Include the group name and the action you completed. Ask it to explain the current plan before making a new commitment. Avoid repeatedly requesting conflicting plans while you are trying to identify one result.
4. Separate assistant acceptance from phone enforcement
If you sent the request from an external assistant, check that the connection is active and authorized for the correct group. Review it at Manage connections. A paused or disconnected connection cannot issue a new authorized request.
Even an accepted request is only a receipt. Open Badger on the intended phone and then test the selected app. Existing commitments can prevent a requested change. See the assistant connection guide for this distinction and the permissions involved. You do not need an external assistant to use Badger's own agent.
5. Use the recovery option when you need access
Emergency unblock in Badger removes Badger's locks without its AI's approval. It does not depend on the weekly AI allowance. The current terms provide five standard emergency unblocks per calendar month in UTC; after those are used, a longer emergency option remains. Review pricing and usage limits and the full terms.
You can also remove Badger's Screen Time access in iOS Settings. That changes its ability to enforce your plan, so do it deliberately. Account deletion is not a troubleshooting step: it permanently removes account data. If you want to keep using Badger, seek help before deleting your account or repeatedly reinstalling the app.
6. Send enough detail for support to investigate
If the result still does not match the plan, contact Badger Support. Include your iPhone model, iOS version, Badger version, the time of the issue, the group involved, what you expected, and what appeared when you opened the selected app. Mention whether the request came from Badger or an external assistant.
Do not send passwords, verification codes, private conversation transcripts, or sensitive screenshots unless support specifically explains why they are needed. For a fresh setup, start with how to block apps on iPhone.
Questions or corrections? Use Badger Support. Explore all guides or the comparisons.