Preventing app from being disabled via Settings

[gfp-5020]

As has been mentioned in other posts and on the Foqos website, there is a way to disable the app on iOS via Settings. Although there is a workaround using the Shortcuts app, this itself isn't foolproof either.

I wondered if any consideration had been taken to how the developer of ScreenZen has managed to address this issue? I have tested both apps, and on ScreenZen there is no way to disable the app via Settings without it bringing up the ScreenTime code screen. When the user navigates to Settings and then Apps and ScreenZen, they see the same slider to revoke access to ScreenTime but if they click on it then it brings up the ScreenTime dialogue asking for the ScreenTime passcode. If no passcode is entered, the slide reverts to "on" again. I don't know how the developer has managed to do this - it may be a setting in the app which is not enabled by default. I think I selected to prevent uninstalling the app in ScreenZen. Could you look at doing something similar with Foqos whilst a profile is active, as this would prevent the need for the Shortcuts workaround?

[awaseem]

But isn't it the same passcode as your phones? I don't understand how this makes it hard to revoke?

[gfp-5020]

The ScreenTime passcode is different from the iPhone passcode. For users who have ScreenTime enabled with a different passcode they may not know this as it could be held by someone else (a friend or parent) or it could just be that they have set the ScreenTime code and written it down elsewhere rather than committed it to memory as they don’t use it often, unlike the main iPhone passcode.

I have checked again and the ScreenZen app doesn’t allow the user to toggle the access to ScreenTime off in the App area of Settings at all - although the toggle button is there, it can’t be switched off. If the user goes to ScreenTime settings then it appears as one of the apps with access and the toggle can be clicked there, but it does then require the user to input the ScreenTime passcode. If they don’t put the ScreenTime passcode in it reverts to staying enabled

[awaseem]

This is super fascinating, lets create an issue for this so I can track it!

[awaseem]

I figured this out, I don't know how screenzen can programmatically update this. In your settings you can now set a seperate screentime code. So when you disable foqos it asks for that instead. Like you said you can give this to a partner for them to only know how to unlock. Stops you from disabling it yourself

[awaseem]

I might create an article on this, just tested it with my wife and it works