My cute, minimal NookPhone

Animal Crossing New Horizons came out at the perfect moment for me. Lockdown had just been imposed in SF and life had become uncertain. When I was feeling particularly overwhelmed, I could turn to the simplicity and slow pace of the game to escape.

isabelle-news

Meanwhile, time spent on my phone had the opposite effect on me. I've been hearing for a while that spending time on social media leads us to make comparisons that bring us down^[1] and bottomless feeds of content and news leave us anxious and distractible^[2] but it’s never felt more true than now.

So in the hopes of making my real life more like my virtual island life, I decided to make my phone more basic, like my cute, minimal in-game NookPhone. After some research I found a method on iOS to block specific content or to remove built in apps like the web browser and the App Store altogether. The method I used is a little technical but it’s free and better than the alternatives. I hadn't seen it documented like this elsewhere so I'm sharing my notes in case they’re helpful to others trying to develop a healthier relationship with technology.

nookphone-1

To follow along you'll need

An iOS device
A Mac computer

Background

I know I could try to cut back on my phone usage through a tool like Screen Time^[3] or exerting self control but both of those approaches are frustrating and unsatisfying. Brand new minimal phones like the $160 Jelly Phone, the $280 Palm Phone, and the $300 Light Phone are gimmicky—either they’re too permissive or overly restrictive. The thing is, I like the iPhone SE that I've been using (it even looks like the phone in the game). It feels stupid to buy a new phone that is in some ways less useful. I rely on apps like books, maps, music & messaging. I just want to offload the functionality that doesn't serve me like news, Facebook, Instagram and even the web browser. It isn’t really advertised but Apple actually allows you to block pretty much any functionality you don’t want from your phone.

You can be a psycho like me and remove the web browser and the App Store or place restrictions on specific apps and websites and rely on Screen Time. The point is this is a highly customizable approach that will allow you to take control over what your phone can do. There are many restrictions^[4] but to make things less overwhelming, I've put together a list of relevant examples and put them in the appendix.

Notes

To get started we'll need to install a free Apple program called Apple Configurator 2. Configurator will allow us to pare down our iOS device without jailbreaking or installing sketchy third-party software. First we'll supervise our device, then we'll be able to customize its functionality with a configuration profile.

Device Supervision

I think the ability to lock down iOS devices was created for schools or companies that wanted to keep special tabs or controls over their devices but there's nothing stopping us from reaching the same level of customization over our personal devices. Before we make some of the more dramatic modifications to our phone, we have to "supervise" it.

Unfortunately this step requires that you erase everything on your phone. I recommend making a backup before this step. I'm unsure if you can apply the backup once the device is supervised. Restoring from a backup may remove the supervision. Since the goal is to pare down, hopefully this isn’t a big issue.

After you've installed and opened Configurator, we'll create an organization and supervise our device.

Plug in the device, select it and click prepare
Select prepare with Manual Confuguration and select Supervise devices and click next
Select do not enroll in MDM and click next
Select New Organization...
Skip the sign in
Create an organization. We can call ourselves 🌱 Nook Industries LLC
Select Generate a new supervision identity
Select the steps you'd like to show when you set up your supervised device
Click next and wait for your phone to restart

Profile Creation

Once our device is supervised, we can start customizing. This part is totally up to personal preference. What works for me is taking my phone as is but restricting the App Store and Safari^[5]. Anything else I don't want I can just remove with jiggle mode. This setup blocks distractions like news, search and social media and doesn't leave room for temptation. I still have access to all of my utility apps like camera, maps and messaging. I even keep around Facebook Messenger and Instagram Threads since I like to be accessible.

Open Configurator back up and we can create our first configuration profile.

Go to the file menu and click new profile
Name and describe your profile
- Be sure to pick a security option that works for you. Select Always if you want to be able to remove the configuration profile easily.
Select the Restrictions tab and click Configure
Pick your desired functionality
Move over to the Apps tab and make any adjustments you'd like
Go to the file menu and click Save...
- Name your file

Profile Installation

The configuration profile we just created is actually a simple text file. You can install it a bunch of ways including email and AirDrop but I'll show you how using Configurator.

Double click the image of your phone
Click the Profiles tab on the left
Click Add in the top menu
Select your profile and click Add

At this point you should notice your changes take effect 😎

Finishing Touches

Once your profile is installed, you can move on to customization. I recommened updating your icons and sounds^[6]. Finally keep everything safe in a fun case^[7].

Enjoy your boring but super cute new NookPhone ✨

icons

Appendix

Relevant Restrictions

As mentioned before, there are a lot of available restrictions. Here's a list of restrictions that I think are interesting for making my phone more minimal.

Setting	Function
Use Safari	The Safari web browser app is disabled and its icon is removed from the Home screen. This setting also prevents users from opening Web Clips.
iTunes Store	The iTunes Store is disabled and its icon is removed from the Home screen. Users can’t preview, purchase, or download content.
Install apps using App Store	App Store is disabled and its icon is removed from the Home screen. Users can’t install or update apps from the App Store using iTunes, or the Finder.
Add VPN configurations	Users can’t create and add VPN configurations.
Restrict app usage	Allows any apps other than Settings or Phone (iPhone) to be placed in an approved list or in a disapproved list.
News	Users can’t use the News app.

Workarounds

If you decided to pick the "Never" security option because you don't want to rely on self-control, consider also restricting a few more settings since they're potential workarounds.

Setting	Function
Modify restrictions or Screen Time settings	Users can’t set their own restrictions or Screen Time settings on their device.
Erase All Content and Settings	Users can’t erase their device and reset it to factory defaults.
Modify account settings	Users can’t create new accounts or change their user name, password, or other settings associated with their account.
Install configuration profiles	Configuration profiles can’t be manually installed by users.
Pair with non-Apple Configurator 2 hosts	Users can’t pair their iPhone or iPad device with anything but the Mac with Apple Configurator 2 installed, where the device was first supervised.

Be sure that your device is supervised if you use the "Pair with non-Apple Configurator 2 hosts" option. If it isn't supervised, you won't be able to remove installed profiles and you'll have to put your phone into recovery mode and start from scratch. If you don't use this option, be aware that you could potentially replace a profile is by creating a new profile with the same Payload Identifier as the original. The default identifier has a nearly impossible to remember hash so that shouldn't be a problem.

Profile Removal

Removing a profile is easy. You can remove it from your device settings (Settings > General > Profiles > [Profile Name] > Remove Profile) or, if you opted to pick the "Never" security option, you can use configurator.

Double click the device
Select the Profiles tab on the left
Select the profile to be removed and press delete on your keyboard

Example Profile

Here's an example profile with the App Store, Safari and potential workarounds removed.

🏝 Tropical Island.mobileconfig

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
	<key>HasRemovalPasscode</key>
	<false/>
	<key>PayloadContent</key>
	<array>
		<dict>
			<key>PayloadDescription</key>
			<string>Configures restrictions</string>
			<key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
			<string>Restrictions</string>
			<key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
			<string>com.apple.applicationaccess.3C65520D-967F-4DC3-8C4F-EA10FD802CDA</string>
			<key>PayloadType</key>
			<string>com.apple.applicationaccess</string>
			<key>PayloadUUID</key>
			<string>3C65520D-967F-4DC3-8C4F-EA10FD802CDA</string>
			<key>PayloadVersion</key>
			<integer>1</integer>
			<key>allowAccountModification</key>
			<false/>
			<key>allowActivityContinuation</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAddingGameCenterFriends</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAirPlayIncomingRequests</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAirPrint</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAirPrintCredentialsStorage</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAirPrintiBeaconDiscovery</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAppCellularDataModification</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAppInstallation</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAppRemoval</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAssistant</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAssistantWhileLocked</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAutoCorrection</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowAutomaticAppDownloads</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowBluetoothModification</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowBookstore</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowBookstoreErotica</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowCamera</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowCellularPlanModification</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowChat</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowCloudBackup</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowCloudDocumentSync</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowCloudPhotoLibrary</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowContinuousPathKeyboard</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowDefinitionLookup</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowDeviceNameModification</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowDeviceSleep</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowDictation</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowESIMModification</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowEnablingRestrictions</key>
			<false/>
			<key>allowEnterpriseAppTrust</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowEnterpriseBookBackup</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowEnterpriseBookMetadataSync</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowEraseContentAndSettings</key>
			<false/>
			<key>allowExplicitContent</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowFilesNetworkDriveAccess</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowFilesUSBDriveAccess</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowFindMyDevice</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowFindMyFriends</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowFingerprintForUnlock</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowFingerprintModification</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowGameCenter</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowGlobalBackgroundFetchWhenRoaming</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowHostPairing</key>
			<false/>
			<key>allowInAppPurchases</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowKeyboardShortcuts</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowManagedAppsCloudSync</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowMultiplayerGaming</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowMusicService</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowNews</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowNotificationsModification</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowOpenFromManagedToUnmanaged</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowOpenFromUnmanagedToManaged</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowPairedWatch</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowPassbookWhileLocked</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowPasscodeModification</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowPasswordAutoFill</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowPasswordProximityRequests</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowPasswordSharing</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowPersonalHotspotModification</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowPhotoStream</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowPredictiveKeyboard</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowProximitySetupToNewDevice</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowRadioService</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowRemoteAppPairing</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowRemoteScreenObservation</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowSafari</key>
			<false/>
			<key>allowScreenShot</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowSharedStream</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowSpellCheck</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowSpotlightInternetResults</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowSystemAppRemoval</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowUIAppInstallation</key>
			<false/>
			<key>allowUIConfigurationProfileInstallation</key>
			<false/>
			<key>allowUSBRestrictedMode</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowUntrustedTLSPrompt</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowVPNCreation</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowVideoConferencing</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowVoiceDialing</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowWallpaperModification</key>
			<true/>
			<key>allowiTunes</key>
			<true/>
			<key>forceAirDropUnmanaged</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceAirPrintTrustedTLSRequirement</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceAssistantProfanityFilter</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceAuthenticationBeforeAutoFill</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceAutomaticDateAndTime</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceClassroomAutomaticallyJoinClasses</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceClassroomRequestPermissionToLeaveClasses</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceClassroomUnpromptedAppAndDeviceLock</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceClassroomUnpromptedScreenObservation</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceDelayedSoftwareUpdates</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceEncryptedBackup</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceITunesStorePasswordEntry</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceWatchWristDetection</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceWiFiPowerOn</key>
			<false/>
			<key>forceWiFiWhitelisting</key>
			<false/>
			<key>ratingApps</key>
			<integer>1000</integer>
			<key>ratingMovies</key>
			<integer>1000</integer>
			<key>ratingRegion</key>
			<string>us</string>
			<key>ratingTVShows</key>
			<integer>1000</integer>
			<key>safariAcceptCookies</key>
			<integer>2</integer>
			<key>safariAllowAutoFill</key>
			<true/>
			<key>safariAllowJavaScript</key>
			<true/>
			<key>safariAllowPopups</key>
			<true/>
			<key>safariForceFraudWarning</key>
			<false/>
		</dict>
	</array>
	<key>PayloadDescription</key>
	<string>🦝 This profile removes the App Store and Safari</string>
	<key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
	<string>🏝 Tropical Island</string>
	<key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
	<string>Aarons-Mac-mini.488A960A-89EF-4319-B9E4-2D34EA7BFDF8</string>
	<key>PayloadOrganization</key>
	<string>🌱 Nook Industries LLC</string>
	<key>PayloadRemovalDisallowed</key>
	<false/>
	<key>PayloadType</key>
	<string>Configuration</string>
	<key>PayloadUUID</key>
	<string>71FB41C8-C1F1-4C83-9C32-F1343EF7F691</string>
	<key>PayloadVersion</key>
	<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
</plist>

This free well-being course, recommeneded to me by a friend, helped me to understand the ways that social media makes us unhappy. ↩︎
This article features many experts weighing in on the effects of technology on our health. ↩︎
Screen Time is Apple’s parental control and digital well-being app. It allows you to put time limits on app access. I find it frustrating to use, and it treats technology usage like a vice. ↩︎
For a complete list of restrictions reference the official documentaion. In addtion to iOS devices, restrictions can also be applied to an Apple TV, Apple Watch or Mac if you have any of those. ↩︎
You can install multiple configuration profiles to the same device. I actually create two, one for restricting the App Store and another for restricting Safari. This way things are a little more modular. ↩︎
In order for the sound files to show up in your ringtone settings, you'll have to convert the MP3s to M4R files. I found some free conversion tools online by searching on Google. ↩︎
I really hate to link to amazon but this is the one I have. Etsy seems to have even better options. ↩︎