How to install NoScroll on Android using a Windows PC

NoScroll does what SocialLite does, and SocialLite costs $3.99/mo. This guide gets you the free one.

What you end up with

NoScroll running on your Android. It is free, and it stays free — there is no account, no trial and no subscription at the end of this.

Time
About 35 minutes
Steps
16
Cost
Free

Before you start

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

  1. Install Git

    Run the installer, then reopen PowerShell.

    Open installer

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

  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. Open PowerShell

    Keep it open beside this page.

    You know this worked when: PowerShell is open

  2. Check Git and Node

    Git and the current Node LTS are required.

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    git --version
    node --version

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

  3. Install pnpm

    The blocking engine is built with pnpm.

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    npm.cmd install -g pnpm

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

  4. Copy NoScroll to this PC

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    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. Open the noscroll folder

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    cd noscroll

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

  6. Use the reviewed version

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    git checkout 7d1c27ae8e11c551c1c11f82125a29b3f9bbf505

    You know this worked when: Git reports the reviewed commit

  7. Install the engine's dependencies

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    pnpm.cmd install --dir engine

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

  8. 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, then press Enter.

    pnpm.cmd --dir engine test

    You know this worked when: All 42 tests pass

  9. Build the engine into both apps

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

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    node tools/sync-engine.mjs

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

  10. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Have a different setup?