How to use Apple Screen Time (Parents)

Turn on Screen Time

Go to Settings > Screen Time.
Tap Turn On Screen Time.
Tap Continue.
Select This is My [device] or This is My Child's [device].

You can now get a report about how you use your device, apps and websites, any time you want.

If it's your child's device, you can set up Screen Time and create settings right on their device or you can use Family Sharing to configure your child’s device from your own device. After you set up your child’s device, you can also use Family Sharing to view reports and adjust settings right from your own device.

With Screen Time you can also create a dedicated passcode to secure settings, so only you can extend time or make changes. Make sure to choose a passcode that's different from the passcode you use to unlock your device. To change or turn off the passcode on your child's device, go to Settings > Screen Time, and tap [your child's name]. Then tap Change Screen Time Passcode or Turn Off Screen Time Passcode, and authenticate the change with Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode.

If you’ve forgotten your Screen Time passcode, update your device to the latest iOS or iPadOS then reset your passcode. If you can’t update your device, delete it and set it up as new to remove the passcode and choose a new one. Restoring your device from a backup won't remove your passcode.

Set a Screen Time passcode

Set a passcode so that only you can change Screen Time settings and allow more time when app limits expire. If you're a parent, use this feature to set up enforceable content and privacy limitations for your child.

If you're using Family Sharing to manage a child account, follow these steps:

Tap Settings > Screen Time.
Scroll down and choose your child's name under Family.
Tap Turn on Screen Time, then tap Continue.
Set up Downtime, App Limits and Content & Privacy with all of the limitations that you want for your child, or tap Not Now.
Tap Use Screen Time Passcode, then enter a passcode when prompted. Re-enter the passcode to confirm.
Enter your Apple ID and password. This can be used to reset your Screen Time passcode if you forget it.

If you're not using Family Sharing to manage a child account, follow these steps:

Make sure that you're on the device used by the child.
Tap Settings > Screen Time.
Tap Turn on Screen Time, then tap Continue.
Select This is My Child's [device].
Set up Downtime, App Limits and Content & Privacy with all of the limitations that you want for your child, or tap Not Now.
Tap Use Screen Time Passcode, then enter a passcode when prompted. Re-enter the passcode to confirm.
Enter your Apple ID and password. This can be used to reset your Screen Time passcode if you forget it.

View your report and set limits

Screen Time gives you a detailed report about how your device is used, apps you've opened and websites you've visited, any time that you want to see it. Just go to Settings > Screen Time and tap See All Activity under the graph. From there, you can see your usage, set limits for your most used apps, and see how many times a device was picked up or received a notification.

If you turned on Share Across Devices, you can view overall usage across devices that are signed in with your Apple ID and password.

Here are the settings that you can manage:

Downtime
Think of this as a nap for your screen time. When you schedule downtime in Settings, only phone calls and apps that you choose to allow are available. Downtime applies to all of your Screen Time-enabled devices, and you get a reminder five minutes before it starts.

App Limits
You can set daily limits for app categories with App Limits. For example, you might want to see productivity apps while you're at work, but not social networking or games. App Limits refresh every day at midnight, and you can delete them any time.

Communication Limits
Control who your children can communicate with — throughout the day and during downtime. These limits apply to Phone, FaceTime, Messages and iCloud contacts. This is also where you can decide and manage which contacts are available on an Apple Watch paired through Family Setup. Communication to known emergency numbers identified by your iPhone or Apple Watch service provider is always allowed. You need to have your iCloud contacts enabled to use this feature.

Always Allowed
You might want to access certain apps, even if it's downtime or if you set the All Apps & Categories app limit. Phone, Messages, FaceTime and Maps are always allowed by default, but you can remove them if you want.

Content & Privacy Restrictions
You decide the type of content that appears on your device. Block inappropriate content, purchases and downloads, and set your privacy settings with Content & Privacy Restrictions.

Use Screen Time with your family

With Family Sharing, you can share music, films, apps and more with family — and it now works with Screen Time. You can view reports and adjust settings for children in your family any time, right from your device.

If you're already in a family group, go to Settings > Screen Time, and tap your child's name. If you need to create an Apple ID for your child, go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing > Screen Time.

Or if you're new to Family Sharing, tap Set up Screen Time for Family and follow the instructions to add a child and set up your family. You can add family members at any time from Family Sharing settings.

To use Screen Time with Family Sharing, you need to be the family organiser or parent/guardian in your family group, on iOS 12 and later, or iPadOS. Your child must be under age 18, in your family group with their own Apple ID and on iOS 12 and later or iPadOS.

Still Haven't Found Your Answer?

Please contact our ICT Helpdesk by emailing helpdesk@corpus.wa.edu.au or by calling us on (08) 6332 2574