Unhook: Block Reels & Shorts

Block Reels and Shorts without deleting Instagram or YouTube.

Unhook is a Reels blocker and Shorts blocker that only stops the endless short-video feed. DMs, search, stories and regular videos keep working exactly as before. When you open Reels, Shorts or TikTok, Unhook counts the videos and kicks you out when you hit your limit — then blocks the feed instantly for a while so you can't jump straight back in.

WHY IT WORKS
• Blocks only the infinite scroll, not the whole app — "Instagram without Reels", "YouTube without Shorts"
• Every mode is free. No subscription, no paywall, no "watch an ad to pause"
• No internet permission, no account, no data collection. Everything stays on your phone
• Shows "Detection active" on the home screen so you always know it's working

CHOOSE YOUR STRENGTH
• Light — 10 videos, then a 5-minute instant block
• Normal — 3 videos, then a 15-minute instant block
• Strict — kicks you out the moment a short-video feed opens
• Off — pause blocking anytime (optional 30-second wait so it's harder to turn off)

SUPPORTED APPS
Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Facebook Reels, X videos, Snapchat Spotlight, Reddit Watch. Turn each app on or off individually.

SEE YOUR PROGRESS
• Today's blocked count and estimated time saved
• Weekly chart, per-app breakdown and streak
• Home screen widget: blocked count plus one-tap strength switch
• Share your weekly result with friends

STAYS ON
• Optional morning summary and evening nudge (local notifications, twice a day)
• If the accessibility permission gets turned off, Unhook tells you instead of silently failing
• Battery-optimization guidance for Samsung, Xiaomi and other phones that kill background services

LIGHT AND PRIVATE
Unhook is a small, local-only app. It does not read your messages, passwords or the content of videos. It only reads the screen layout of the apps you selected to recognize a short-video feed, and nothing is stored or sent anywhere.

ACCESSIBILITY SERVICE
Unhook uses Android's AccessibilityService API to recognize short-video screens (Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok and similar) in the apps you choose and navigate you away when your limit is reached. This is used only for the blocking feature. No screen content is collected, stored or shared.

Stop the doom scroll. Keep the apps. Get your time back.