How to install NoScroll on Android using a Mac

Before you start

These are one-time installs. If you have used Terminal before, you may have them already — the first step checks.

1. 1

   Install Git

   Apple opens a small installer.

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   xcode-select --install

   You know this worked when: Git responds with a version number

2. 2

   Install Node LTS

   Choose the macOS Installer (.pkg).

   Open download ↗

   You know this worked when: Node responds with a version number

Install NoScroll

1. 3

   Open Terminal

   Keep it open beside this page.

   You know this worked when: Terminal is open

2. 4

   Check Git and Node

   Git and the current Node LTS are required.

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   git --version
   node --version

   You know this worked when: Git and Node respond with version numbers

3. 5

   Install pnpm

   The blocking engine is built with pnpm.

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   npm install -g pnpm

   You know this worked when: pnpm responds with a version number

4. 6

   Copy NoScroll to this Mac

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   cd ~
   if [ ! -d noscroll/.git ]; then
   git clone https://github.com/Blueturboguy07/noscroll.git
   fi

   You know this worked when: A noscroll folder appears

5. 7

   Open the noscroll folder

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   cd noscroll

   You know this worked when: Your terminal prompt is inside the noscroll folder

6. 8

   Use the reviewed version

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   git checkout 7d1c27ae8e11c551c1c11f82125a29b3f9bbf505

   You know this worked when: Git reports the reviewed commit

7. 9

   Install the engine's dependencies

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   pnpm install --dir engine

   You know this worked when: The command finishes without an error

8. 10

   Check the blocking rules still work

   42 tests over saved copies of the sites. Failures mean the rules need a fix.

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   pnpm --dir engine test

   You know this worked when: All 42 tests pass

9. 11

   Build the engine into both apps

   Compiles the engine and copies it, with the rule files, into both phone projects.

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   node tools/sync-engine.mjs

   You know this worked when: It prints "engine + rules synced to both shells"

10. 12

    Install Android Studio

    It brings the Android tools and Java with it. Open it once and let it finish setup.

    Open download ↗

    You know this worked when: Android Studio opens to its welcome screen

11. 13

    Open the android folder in it

    Choose Open, then pick the android folder inside noscroll. Let it finish syncing.

    You know this worked when: Android Studio finishes syncing without an error

12. 14

    Turn on USB debugging

    Settings, About phone, tap Build number 7 times. Then Developer options, USB debugging.

    You know this worked when: USB debugging is switched on

13. 15

    Press Run

    Connect with a USB cable, accept the phone's debugging prompt, pick it in the menu, hit Run.

    You know this worked when: NoScroll appears in your app list

14. 16

    Check that it works

    Open NoScroll — a simple wrapper is correct on Android. Sign in to Instagram: no Reels icon.

    You know this worked when: There is no Reels icon in the row along the bottom

If something goes wrong

Nothing here can damage your computer, and every step can be run again safely. If a command fails, the usual cause is the step before it not having finished.

Still stuck? Tell us what happened and we will fix the guide. Include the step number and we can usually reproduce it.