How to install NoScroll on iPhone 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 Xcode

    Large — start it early. Open it once afterwards so it finishes installing.

    Open the App Store page ↗

    You know this worked when: Xcode opens without asking to finish setup

11. 13

    Open the iPhone project

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    open ios/NoScroll.xcodeproj

    You know this worked when: Xcode opens with the NoScroll project

12. 14

    Sign the app with your Apple ID

    In Xcode open Signing & Capabilities, tick Automatically manage, pick your Apple ID.

    You know this worked when: Signing & Capabilities shows no red errors

13. 15

    Plug your iPhone in

    Connect by cable, unlock it, tap Trust, then pick it from Xcode's device menu.

    You know this worked when: Your iPhone's name appears in the device menu

14. 16

    Build and install it

    Press play in Xcode. The first build takes a few minutes.

    You know this worked when: NoScroll appears on your home screen

15. 17

    Trust the app on your iPhone

    Settings, General, VPN & Device Management, your Apple ID, then Trust.

    You know this worked when: NoScroll opens instead of showing an Untrusted Developer message

16. 18

    Check that it works

    Open NoScroll, continue past setup, tap Instagram, sign in. The Reels icon should be gone.

    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.