Use Schooltime on Apple Watch

Set schedule-based limits on a family member's Apple Watch with Schooltime, or use it on your own watch whenever you want to focus.

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What you need

To use Schooltime schedules on a family member's Apple Watch, first set up the Apple Watch with Family Setup. This requires one of these Apple Watch models with watchOS 7 or later:

  • Apple Watch Series 4 or later with cellular*

  • Apple Watch SE (1st generation) or later with cellular

  • Apple Watch Ultra or later

You also need an iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14 or later for the initial watch setup.

To use Schooltime on your own Apple Watch, you need watchOS 7 or later.

* A cellular plan isn't required to set up an Apple Watch for a family member, but is necessary for some features.

How to set a Schooltime schedule

  1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone. Tap All Watches, then tap your family member's watch.

  2. Tap Done, then tap Schooltime.

  3. Turn on Schooltime, then tap Edit Schedule.

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  4. Choose the days and times when you want Schooltime to be active.

  5. Tap Add TimeAdd Time if you want to set up more than one schedule in a day. For example, you can set up one schedule for morning classes and another for after lunch.

To change the Schooltime schedule, open the Watch app on your iPhone, then tap the information buttoninformation button next to the managed watch. Tap Schooltime, then tap Edit Schedule.

Exit Schooltime temporarily

Your family member can exit Schooltime temporarily to do things like check messages. To exit Schooltime, press and hold the Digital Crown, then tap Exit to confirm.

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If a Schooltime schedule is active, Schooltime mode resumes automatically.

See Schooltime reports

The starting and ending times of all temporary Schooltime exits are reported in the Watch app on your iPhone. To see when Schooltime was exited, open the Watch app, tap All Watches, tap your family member's Apple Watch, then tap Schooltime.

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The report also appears on your family member's Apple Watch. To see it, open the Settings app on their watch, then tap Schooltime.

Focus with Schooltime on your Apple Watch

You can use Schooltime on your own watch any time you want to focus. You might use Schooltime as an alternative to Do Not Disturb or Theater Mode when you want to silence notifications and check the time easily with fewer visual distractions.

First, add the Schooltime button to Control Center:

  1. To open Control Center, press the side button (for watchOS 9 or earlier, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up).

  2. Scroll to the bottom, then tap Edit.

  3. Tap the add buttonadd button on the Schooltime buttonSchooltime button, then tap Done.

In Control Center, tap the Schooltime button to turn it on. To exit, press and hold the Digital Crown, then tap Exit to confirm.

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