iPhone Screen Time

After my post about Online and Distance Learning, I’ve had a few questions about how to set parental controls on the iPhone. There are a couple of different options, which can be found in Screen Time.

We will look at setting Downtime, useful if you want your children to have access to their phones for an emergency or so they can use it as an alarm, but not be able to communicate with friends, access apps, mail and other features of your choosing, during certain times. Setting the amount of time your child is allowed to spend on each app using App Limits. Screen Time also allows you to set Content & Privacy Restrictions, allowing you to block the use of Private Browsing in Safari.

You can set this up on the child’s phone directly or from a parent’s phone if you have Family Sharing.

Turn on Screen Time

• To access Screen Time click on Settings – Screen Time
• Turn on Screen Time
• Press Continue
• Select if the phone is yours or your Child’s

Screen Time Passcode

• From the list select Use Screen Time Passcode
• Enter the passcode twice when prompted (I would suggest making this the same as your own iPhone unlock passcode as it is difficult to reset this passcode)
• To ensure the Screen Time settings monitor all devices (iPhone, iPad etc) Set the slider for Share Across Devices
• Re-enter the passcode when prompted

Downtime

Setting Downtime allows your child to keep their phone physically but set communication limits, block access to apps, mail, etc.

• If you have Family Sharing and are editing on the Parent’s phone select the FAMILY member from the list before starting, you will be prompted at times to re-enter the passcode

• In the Screen Time Menu select Downtime
• Turn on Downtime using the slider
• Select Every Day or Customize Days
• Set the From and To times for each day (or once for Every Day)
• Use the slider to Block at Downtime (more time can be added if they ask when blocked)
• Click on < Back to exit

App Limits

• In the Screen Time Menu select App Limits
• Press Add Limit
• Use the menu of installed apps to tick categories or individual apps to limit

• Press Next
• Select the amount of allowed time using the sliders
• To allow more or less time on certain days, select Customize Days and do the same

• Press Add

Communication Limits

• In the Screen Time Menu select Communication Limits
• Select Limits at all times During Screen Time and/or only During Downtime
• During Screen Time you can choose
  • Contacts Only
  • Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact
  • Everyone

• Press < Back when done
• During Downtime you can choose
  • Specific Contacts
    • Choose From My Contacts
      • Select the allowed contacts (if setting on a Parent’s phone using Family Sharing ensure child has the exact same contacts setup)
      • Press Done when complete
    • Add New Contact (For Child’s Name)

• Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact
  • Press < Back when done
• If setting on Parent’s phone you will also have the option to Manage (Child’s) Contacts and Allow Contact Editing (to allow them to add and edit their own contacts)

Always Allowed

• In the Screen Time Menu select Always Allowed
• Select Specific Contacts to set contacts allowed at all times, even during Downtime (useful for parents, grandparents, etc)
  • Set Allowed Communication to Specific Contacts or Everyone
  • Add Contacts
    • Choose From My Contacts
      • Select the allowed contacts (if setting on a Parent’s phone using Family Sharing ensure child has the exact same contacts setup)
      • Press Done when complete
  • Add New Contact (For Child’s Name)
  • Press < Back when done
• Select Allowed Apps by clicking on the + in the list next to the App name

• Press < Back when done

Content & Privacy Restrictions

In here we set whether the Child will have access to install or delete Apps, we can also set the phone to always require a password so they are unable to accidentally purchase anything within apps using in-app purchases. We can also stop access to Private / Incognito Browsing.

• In the Screen Time Menu select Content & Privacy Restrictions
• Use the slider to turn on restrictions

• Select one of the following to edit
  • iTunes & App Store Purchases
    • If you don’t want to Allow press to change this to Don’t Allow for:
      • Installing Apps
      • Deleting Apps
      • In-app Purchases
    • Tick Always Require or Don’t Require a Password for the above
  • Allowed Apps
    • Use the sliders to select which Apps the Child is allowed to access
    • Press < Back when done
  • Content Restrictions
    • Edit the age ratings and restrictions for all Store Content, Web Content, Siri and Game Center
    • Set Web Content to Limit Adult Websites if you want to block the use of Private Browsing in Safari ***
    • Press < Back when done
  • Share my Location
    • If you don’t want to Allow press to change this to Don’t Allow (NB. this is a really useful tool when turned on for checking on your kids if they are out, using Find My Friend)
  • Decide next whether to Allow Changes by your child for:
    • Passcode Changes
    • Account Changes
    • Mobile Data Changes
    • Do Not Disturb While Driving
    • TV Provider
    • Background App Activities

• Use the slider to turn on and off Include Website Data, will display info on sites the child has accessed when turned on
• If you no longer want to have Screen Time turned on, select Turn Off Screen Time, NB. this will wipe and reset ALL settings

Viewing Screen Time Activity

Once Screen Time has been turned on, you will see Activity data at the top of the Screen for each Family Member.

• Select the FAMILY member from the list
• A Daily Average time spent using their screens will now be displayed at the top
• Select See All Activity to look at their activity in more detail
• Use this screen to look at data by Week, Day, Limits set, Apps and amount used, Pickups and Notifications