Apple Configurator, a free tool designed for schools and businesses to set up iPhone devices in bulk, offers the ability to remove the App Store from the home screen. This tool requires connecting an iPhone to a Mac via USB and placing the device in a special mode called "supervised mode." Once in this mode, users can create and install a configuration profile that limits app availability and transforms the phone into a "dumbphone"—a basic phone with limited app functionality. This setup can prevent users from installing or updating apps, effectively reducing the phone’s reliance on third-party applications. One key feature of the configuration profile is a checkbox labeled "Allow installation of apps using the App Store," which can be unchecked to remove the App Store icon from the home screen. Once deployed, users can no longer install or update apps. To make the profile more difficult to remove, the "General" tab of the profile can be configured to set the profile deletion option to "Never." However, Apple provides a workaround: if a user wants to remove the profile, they must erase all content and settings on the phone, which also disables supervision mode and removes the profile. This means the profile isn’t permanently locked in place, but it does create a strong barrier to removal, requiring the user to reset the phone. Despite these restrictions, installed apps continue to function normally, including sending notifications and maintaining connected accounts. The profile can only be applied to a new or completely erased iPhone before the setup assistant appears for the first time, which means any existing data or backups must be reset. Once the profile is in place, apps cannot be updated—this includes important security patches. If an app is accidentally deleted, it won’t return until the Mac is reconnected. To prevent accidental uninstallation, users can also disable the option "Allow app deletion (supervised devices)." The idea of using such a profile came from Stepan Parunashvili, who claims he reduced his daily screen time from four to two hours within two months by implementing this setup. His method also includes a content filter to block access to unauthorized websites, preventing users from accessing services that have been restricted. For users interested in this setup, the process requires about two hours of installation, a complete reset of the smartphone, and two weeks to properly configure the list of apps. An alternative method, called "Dumb Phone," uses screen time APIs to achieve a similar result without erasing the device, but it is easier to disable than the Apple Configurator profile.