Buzz
Apple's Screen Time feature within Family Sharing allows you to set limits and monitor your child's screen usage. However, if the correct settings aren't enabled or a software issue arises, the screen time report may not appear on the device. This article is helpful even if the Screen Time button turns gray or Screen Time isn't functioning across all family devices. Refer to the content below for common issues and troubleshooting steps to help you view your child's screen time report.
Steps
Ensure you are in the parent/guardian role.
Use this method when Screen Time turns gray or becomes unavailable. This issue occurs when you are in the Adult role instead of Parent/Guardian. To check, open Settings on your Apple device. Tap your name at the top of the page. Next, select Family Sharing. If you see Adult under your name, the Organizer can follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Tap your personal information at the top, then select Family Sharing.
- Tap the name of the person you want to switch to the Parent/Guardian role.
- Under 'family role,' select Parent/Guardian.
Ensure the child is added to Family Sharing.
Follow these steps if the child has not been added to the Family Sharing group. If the child is under 13, open Settings and tap on your Apple ID. Tap Family Sharing and select Add Member. Enter the child's email address and their actual date of birth (this cannot be changed later). If the child is over 13 and already has an Apple ID, invite them to the group:
- Open Settings.
- Tap your personal information at the top, then select Family Sharing.
- Tap Add Member.
- Enter the family member's name or email address.
- Send an invitation via message if they are not nearby. If they are close, you can invite them directly.
- If you choose to invite directly, they will enter their Apple ID and password on your device.
Check if Family Sharing members have accepted the invitation.
Members must join Family Sharing for the Screen Time report to display. Open Family Sharing settings to check the invitation status if you are the Organizer. Under each parent or child's name, you can verify if they have accepted the invitation. Ask family members to check their iMessage if they haven't accepted the invitation.
- To resend the invitation, tap on the person's name and select Resend Invitation.
- For children under 13, you will need to add them directly on the device instead of sending an invitation.
Enable sharing across devices.
Try this feature if none of your child's devices are recording screen time. Open Settings on your child's device. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time. Enable Share Across Devices at the bottom of the page. This setting syncs Screen Time with iCloud, allowing you to view Screen Time across all devices logged into your child's Apple ID.
- The toggle will turn green when sharing is enabled.
Turn off Screen Time and turn it back on.
Restart Screen Time on your device and your child's device. Open Settings. Next, scroll down and tap on Screen Time. At the bottom of the Screen Time page, tap the red Turn Off Screen Time option. Power off the Apple device. Wait 30 seconds, then turn the device back on. Follow these steps to re-enable Screen Time:
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
- Tap Turn On Screen Time and select 'Continue.'
- You will be asked if this is your device or your child's. Choose the correct option!
Ensure all devices in Family Sharing are running the same iOS version.
Software glitches can affect Screen Time reports. Open Settings on all devices, select General, then choose Software Update. If a new update is available, it will appear on the Software Update page. Tap Download and Install to update the software.
- Update third-party apps to their latest versions if you're experiencing issues with Screen Time and apps.
Remove old Apple devices from your child's Apple ID.
Set the child's new device as the default. If you recently replaced the child's device, Screen Time settings may not have transferred to the new device. To resolve this, remove the old device from the child's Apple ID. Here's how:
- Open Settings on the child's device.
- Tap on the Apple ID at the top of the page.
- Select the old device listed at the bottom.
- To remove the device, choose Remove from Account.
Enable automatic date and time settings.
Prevent the child from changing the date and time to bypass Screen Time. To stop this, open Settings on the child's device. Tap on Screen Time. Next, select Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle the switch to On. You will need to enter the Screen Time password. Then, adjust the following settings:
- Tap on Location Services.
- Scroll down and choose System Services.
- Disable Setting Time Zone.
- Now, the device will automatically set the time zone, and the child cannot alter the time settings.
Enable 'Block at End of Limit.'
Try this method if your child bypasses screen time limits. Open Settings on your child's device, then select Screen Time. If you don't have a Screen Time password, use Use Screen Time Password, then create one by entering your Apple ID and password. Next, go to App Limits. Enable Block at End of Limit. When your child reaches the maximum screen time for an app, the device will block it.
- If this feature is not enabled, your child will only receive a reminder when screen time ends. They can still choose to ignore the limit and continue using the app.
Enable 'Block at Downtime.'
Turn on Block at Downtime to enforce Screen Time limits during the hours you set. Open Settings, select Screen Time, and choose Use Screen Time passcode on your child's device. Select Downtime, then enable Block at Downtime to turn the toggle green.
- You can adjust downtime limits for specific periods of the day when you want your child to stop using the device.
Reset all settings on the device.
Choose Reset All Settings if you've tried everything else. Open Settings, select General, then choose Transfer or Reset. Tap Reset. Select Reset All Settings to restore default settings for all apps (including Screen Time). Finally, open Settings, select Screen Time, and enable Screen Time with your chosen limits.
- Reset All Settings will not delete data or files.
- Do not select Erase All Content, or you will lose all data on the phone.
