How to install NoScroll on Android using a Windows PC

Before you start

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

1. 1

   Install Git

   Run the installer, then reopen PowerShell.

   Open installer ↗

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

2. 2

   Install Node LTS

   Run the LTS installer, then reopen PowerShell.

   Open download ↗

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

Install NoScroll

1. 3

   Open PowerShell

   Keep it open beside this page.

   You know this worked when: PowerShell is open

2. 4

   Check Git and Node

   Git and the current Node LTS are required.

   Type this into PowerShell (not Command Prompt), then press Enter.

   Copy the command for step 4

   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 PowerShell (not Command Prompt), then press Enter.

   Copy the command for step 5

   npm.cmd install -g pnpm

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

4. 6

   Copy NoScroll to this PC

   Type this into PowerShell (not Command Prompt), then press Enter. The first line moves you into the folder this step runs in, so it works in a window you have just opened.

   Copy the command for step 6

   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 PowerShell (not Command Prompt), then press Enter. The first line moves you into the folder this step runs in, so it works in a window you have just opened.

   Copy the command for step 7

   cd ~
   cd noscroll

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

6. 8

   Use the reviewed version

   Type this into PowerShell (not Command Prompt), then press Enter. The first line moves you into the folder this step runs in, so it works in a window you have just opened.

   Copy the command for step 8

   cd ~/noscroll
   $origin = git config --get remote.origin.url 2>$null
   if ($origin) { $origin = $origin -replace '^git@github\.com:', 'https://github.com/' -replace '\.git$', '' }
   $dirty = git status --porcelain 2>$null
   if ($origin -ne "https://github.com/Blueturboguy07/noscroll" -or $dirty) {
     Write-Host "~/noscroll already exists and is not a clean copy of this app's source. Move or rename that folder, then press Try again."
     exit 1
   }
   git checkout 7d1c27ae8e11c551c1c11f82125a29b3f9bbf505

   You know this worked when: Git reports the reviewed commit

7. 9

   Install the engine's dependencies

   Type this into PowerShell (not Command Prompt), then press Enter. The first line moves you into the folder this step runs in, so it works in a window you have just opened.

   Copy the command for step 9

   cd ~/noscroll
   pnpm.cmd 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 PowerShell (not Command Prompt), then press Enter. The first line moves you into the folder this step runs in, so it works in a window you have just opened.

   Copy the command for step 10

   cd ~/noscroll
   pnpm.cmd --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 PowerShell (not Command Prompt), then press Enter. The first line moves you into the folder this step runs in, so it works in a window you have just opened.

   Copy the command for step 11

   cd ~/noscroll
   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

    Turn on NoScroll's Accessibility Service

    Open NoScroll, tap Status, then tap Open Accessibility Settings. Find NoScroll and turn it on.

    You know this worked when: NoScroll's Status screen says Blocking is ON

15. 17

    Check that it works

    Open Instagram or another shielded app. NoScroll's shield screen should cover it instead.

    You know this worked when: NoScroll's shield screen covers the blocked app

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.