How do we prevent turning off 'Screen Time Access' in Settings? {SOLVED}

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#165

In settings there is a way to disable opal without it impacting streaks and allowing you to access apps that should be locked. I am unsure if there would be a way to remove this but just putting it out there anyways

#166

Hey @Sparkly,

This is already possible! Here’s how to lock your access to Screen Time to prevent yourself from toggling off that button:

There are several other ways to make Opal harder to bypass also featured here:

I’ve also merged your comment into the existing thread on the topic.

All the best,
Team Opal

#167

All you have to do is restart your phone and access settings as the shortcut won’t start straight away

#168

Hey @Peds ,

We have some good news! We’ve tested and recreated an advanced-level Shortcut & Automation to prevent you from toggling off access to Screen Time. Before you implement it, please ensure you’ve set up our existing system:

If you’ve already done so and want something more foolproof, please follow these steps:

  1. Open the “Shortcuts” app
  2. Tap “Shortcuts” or “Library” if using the iOS 26 interface
  3. Tap the “＋” button in the top-right
  4. Tap “Search Actions”
  5. In the field, type “Lock Screen,” then tap to add
  6. Tap “Search Actions” again, type “Go to Home Screen”, then tap to add
  7. Tap “Search Actions” once more, type “Opal,” then tap “Start Session”
  8. Tap “App List” and choose the block list you want to activate
  9. Tap the toggle beside the shortcut name and rename it to “Settings Workaround”
  10. Tap “Done" or the "<“ toggle if using the iOS 26 interface

Once the Shortcut is made, you must also create the “Automation” within the same “Shortcuts” app to trigger the Shortcut. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Tap the “Automation” tab
  2. Tap “+” or “New Automation”
  3. Scroll down and tap “App”
  4. Tap “Choose”
  5. Type “Settings” in the "Search Apps” bar, tap “Settings,” then tap “Done” or “:heavy_check_mark:”
  6. Tap on “Is Opened”
  7. Tap “Next”
  8. Tap on the “Settings Workaround” shortcut you just made
  9. Tap on the Automation you just made
  10. Tap on “Run Immediately”
  11. Ensure “Notify When Run” is toggled off
  12. Tap “Done”

When finished, this advanced level Automation and Shortcut combination will automatically lock your screen, return you to the Home Screen, and start an Opal block Session whenever you try to open your phone’s “Settings”.

All the best,
Team Opal

#169

Hi, Sarah,

Thanks for this. I’m a new Opal subscriber and have successfully done all of the above. Do you guys have any advice for a workaround on the issue of the Control Center access to Settings? Everything else is working great, but I can still access Settings completely from within the Control Center.

Thanks for any input you may have!

#170

Is there a way to do some sort of shortcut where we can still access the rest of the settings app? I have opal blocks running pretty much all the time but I’m still going to need to be able to access settings so this shortcut is very inconvenient for me

#171

Any update on the control center workaround, where we can just disable screentime permissions

#172

Exactly!! I still need to have acess to my settings app!!

#173

As someone struggling with porn and etc,strong text opal is barely useful.
Here’s why :

Being able to unblock the block once a week that stop all the access from porn is useless. Opal should have the option in the block itself to not be able to unblock at all or can be unblock once every 2weeks/1month/3month or Customiseable to the user preferences.

I can literally stop my deep focus block by simply creating another block that stop a bit later than my deep focus block then boom now my deep focus session is stopped.

Being able to block settings since i can literally disable pin lock simply by unabling it in the settings which literally make it useless.

Yes i tried all the “foolproof” suggested by opal.