Turn your old iPhone into a dumb phone

Tired of endless phone scrolling? Many share this struggle. While breaking free from phone addiction is tough (apps are designed to be addictive!), a simple solution exists: simplified phones. I found switching to one significantly reduced my scrolling. If you want to try this without buying a new device, iOS 17's Assistive Access is your answer.

This iPhone feature transforms your existing (or a spare) iPhone into a basic phone, limiting access to essentials: calls, texts, music, photos, and any other apps you specifically allow. It supports iPhones from late 2017 (Xr/Xs and later). Perfect for simplifying your own phone use or providing a child with a less distracting device.

Enabling Assistive Access:

1. Open your iPhone's Settings, then go to Accessibility > Assistive Access. (Ensure you're running iOS 17; update if needed).

2. Tap Set Up Assistive Access. Follow the on-screen prompts to customize the grid layout, select allowed apps, and understand the feature's functionality. These steps are crucial!

3. Choose which apps to include (Calls, Camera, Messages, Music, Photos are pre-configured). You can also control individual app features (e.g., enabling video recording in the Camera app). Additional apps can be added.

4. Important: You'll be asked to set a numeric access code to switch back to regular iPhone mode. To truly limit your phone use, consider having someone else set this code to prevent easy access to the full phone functionality.

Once complete, you'll see a simplified home screen with only your selected apps, offering a significantly streamlined experience.

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