How to Choose Always-Allowed Apps
Screen Time lets you set apps that are “always allowed,” even during downtime or if you’ve exceeded your app time limits. For example, the Phone, Messages, and FaceTime apps are always allowed by default, ensuring you can still communicate.
To configure this list of apps, tap the “Always Allowed” option on the Screen Time page. You can then add and remove apps from the list. You can remove Messages and FaceTime from your always allowed apps if you like, but the Phone app is essential, and there’s no way to restrict it.
How to Configure Content & Privacy Restrictions
Content & Privacy Restrictions, while available under Screen Time, are more like parental controls. They let you set limits on App Store purchases, restrict certain types of websites, and prevent someone with the iPhone or iPad from changing system settings. Many of these options were previously available elsewhere at Settings > General > Restrictions.
To set content & privacy restrictions, tap “Content & Privacy Restrictions” on the Screen Time page. You’ll be prompted to set a PIN, which prevents people from changing these settings without your permission. This is particularly useful on a shared iPad, for example. You can then enable the “Content & Privacy” option and configure your desired options here.
How to Set a Screen Time Passcode
Parents can use the Screen Time options to lock down a device, too. For example, you can enable downtime on a child’s iPad to prevent them from using most apps during bedtime hours, or configure app limits to prevent them from playing games all day.
To do this, tap “Use Screen TIme Passcode” at the bottom of the Screen Time page and then enter your passcode. No one can get more time when an app’s time limit expires or modify Screen Time settings without that passcode.
How to Use Screen Time With a Child’s Account
Screen Time integrates with Apple Family Sharing. If you have one or more child accounts in your family, you can view those accounts under the “Family” section here. Tap an account to enable Screen Time for it, which will let you view reports about your children’s device usage and set limits if you want.
How to Disable Screen Time
If you don’t like Screen Time and don’t want to use these features, you can disable it. This will stop your iPhone or iPad from keeping track of how you use your device, so you won’t be able to see reports. Your device will immediately delete its collected data, too.
Disabling Screen Time will also stop your device from showing the Weekly Report notification when iOS generates a new Screen Time report.
To disable it, scroll down to the bottom of the Screen Time page and tap the “Disable Screen Time” option. Your iPhone or iPad will delete its collected usage data and stop tracking it. You can return here and re-enable Screen Time in the future if you like.
Apple will probably start tracking more types of data and provide more Screen Time options in a future version of the iOS operating system. For now, Screen Time gives you the essential data you need to understand how you use your device, and it can provide some helpful nudges if you want them. For parents, Screen Time includes more powerful parental controls, too.
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