The Apple Books app is a pre-installed native application on iOS devices designed for purchasing, downloading, and reading eBooks and audiobooks. While an excellent platform for digital reading, it provides direct access to the Apple Book Store, allowing users to browse and purchase media tied to their Apple ID. In educational environments where iPads are deployed strictly for accessing specific curriculum apps, or on corporate iPhones where digital media consumption is prohibited during working hours, the Books app can be a significant distraction and a vector for unauthorized purchases. Simply asking users not to use it is insufficient, as the app is prominently featured on the device.
This guide explains how to completely disable the Apple Books app system-wide on an iPhone using Screen Time restrictions, hiding the app from the device and preventing access to its storefront.
Disable the Books App via Screen Time
To enforce a strict block that survives device reboots and cannot be bypassed by the end-user, we must leverage Apple’s native Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Unlock your iPhone and open the main Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
- If you haven’t already, tap “Turn On Screen Time”. Ensure you tap Use Screen Time Passcode to establish a secure PIN. This prevents the user from undoing the lockdown.
- Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Toggle the main switch at the top for Content & Privacy Restrictions to the On (green) position.
- Tap on Allowed Apps.
- Locate Books in the list of native applications.
- Toggle the switch next to Books to the Off (grey) position.
Verify the App Lockdown
Toggling this switch instructs the iOS kernel to sandbox the application binary, completely removing it from the user interface and severing its background connection to Apple’s storefront servers.
To verify the change is successful, return to your iPhone’s Home Screen. The orange Books app icon will have disappeared entirely. Swipe down to invoke Spotlight Search and type “Books.” The native app will not appear as a launchable option in the results. Furthermore, tapping on EPUB files or links in Safari that normally redirect to the Books app will fail to open. You have successfully enforced strict media and reading restrictions on the device.