How to choose an app to hide Reels
When Reels and Shorts take too much of your time, there are two main ways to deal with it on iPhone: hide only part of an app, or stop the whole app. Here is how they differ and who each one suits.
Updated September 27, 2026
| Approach | What it does | DMs and posting | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hide only part | Hides Reels, Shorts and suggested posts only | Keep working | minulo, SocialLite, UNDOOMED, ScrollGuard (Safari extension) |
| Stop or delay the whole app | Blocks official apps by schedule or usage, or makes you wait before opening | Unavailable while blocked | Opal, one sec, ScreenZen, iPhone Screen Time |
What is the difference between hiding Reels and blocking the app?
Apps that hide only part open social media in an in-app browser or a Safari extension and hide Reels, Shorts and suggested posts. DMs and posting keep working. Apps that block use Screen Time to stop the official app from opening, so DMs are unavailable while it is blocked.
Can iPhone Screen Time alone hide Reels?
iPhone Screen Time puts a time limit on a whole app. It cannot stop only the Reels tab inside Instagram. If you want to hide Reels and keep your DMs, use an app that hides only part of the service.
Which approach suits people who use social media for work?
If you need social media for messages or posting at work, an app that hides only part suits you better. DMs and posting keep working while the time-consuming parts, such as Reels and suggested posts, are hidden. Blocking the whole app suits hours when you do not need social media at all.
Which type is minulo?
minulo combines both. Social media opens inside minulo with only Reels, Shorts and suggested posts hidden. minulo also uses iPhone Screen Time to stop the official apps and sends you to minulo when you try to open them. Both features are free.
How is minulo different from SocialLite?
Both hide Reels and Shorts, keep your DMs, and can lock the official apps with iPhone Screen Time and send you to their own view. SocialLite has far more ratings (8,648 in the US as of October 13, 2026). minulo also covers TikTok, Threads, Pinterest and LinkedIn, which SocialLite's App Store page does not mention, and has a Chrome extension. Hiding Reels, Shorts and suggested posts in minulo is free. minulo launched in September 2026 and is still new.
Statements about apps other than minulo are based on each app's App Store description and rating count (US App Store, September 27, 2026).
FAQ → How to hide feeds on each service →
