Use Screen Time on your iPhone and iPad
With Screen Time, you can see how much time you spend on your devices — including which apps and websites you use the most. You can also schedule time away from the screen and set limits for yourself or a child in your Family Sharing group.
Set up Screen Time
When you turn on App & Website Activity, you can start using and managing Screen Time settings and parental controls, view Screen Time reports, and more.
Turn on Screen Time for your device
If you didn't turn on Screen Time while setting up your device for the first time, you can turn it on later in Settings.
Open the Settings app, scroll down, then tap Screen Time.
Tap App & Website Activity, then tap Turn On App & Website Activity.
Turn on Screen Time for your child's device
Open the Settings app, scroll down, then tap Screen Time.
Under Family, tap your child's name.
Follow the onscreen instructions to add age-appropriate settings, get Screen Time reports, and lock Screen Time settings and parental controls.
Use parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad
Lock Screen Time settings
You can create a Screen Time passcode to make sure the Screen Time settings you've set for yourself or a child's device stay in place. Once you set a passcode for your device or a child's device, you can change or remove it later.
Open the Settings app, scroll down, then tap Screen Time.
To lock your Screen Time settings:
Set a passcode for your device: Tap Screen Time, then scroll down and tap Lock Screen Time Settings.
Reset a passcode for a child's device if it was turned off: Tap Family, choose the child, then tap Lock Screen Time Settings.
When prompted, enter a passcode, then re-enter it to confirm.
Sign in to your Apple Account.
In iOS 18.5 and later, if you set a Screen Time passcode for your child's device, you can check when your child last used the passcode. Learn more about creating, managing, and keeping track of a Screen Time passcode.
Learn what to do if you forgot your Screen Time passcode
Set and manage Screen Time settings
You can set limits for your own device, or manage a child's device to keep it safe, private, and age appropriate.
Manage your own Screen Time settings
Open the Settings app, scroll down, then tap Screen Time.
Select a category to set limits and restrictions.
Manage Screen Time settings for your child's device
Open the Settings app, scroll down, then tap Screen Time.
Select your child's name. If asked, enter your Screen Time passcode.
Select a category to set limits and restrictions.
Manage Screen Time settings with Family Sharing
You can also manage Screen Time settings for a child or family member's device with Family Sharing.
Open the Settings app, tap Family, then select your child's name.
Tap Screen Time. If asked, enter your Screen Time passcode.
Select a category to set limits and restrictions.
To make sure that your Screen Time settings sync across all the devices in your Family Sharing group, update all of the devices in your Family Sharing group to the latest software version before turning on or changing your Screen Time settings.
View Screen Time reports
After you set up Screen Time, you can view a report of device usage for you or a child's device. The report includes how much time you or your child spend using apps and websites, how often you pick up your devices, what apps send you the most notifications, and more.
Open the Settings app, scroll down, then tap Screen Time.
To see your Screen Time report, tap See All App & Website Activity. To see your child's Screen Time report, scroll down, tap their name, then tap See All App & Website Activity.
Tap Week or Day to view a summary of your device usage.
Under Most Used, select an app or website to find more details, or add and edit limits.
If you have Share Across Devices turned on, you can view overall usage across all of the devices that are signed in to your Apple Account. If you don't see a Screen Time report, you might need to use the device longer in order for Screen Time to capture enough activity for a report.
Respond to a child's exception request
When you set up parental controls with Screen Time or enable Ask to Buy, your child can make an exception request when they've reached a limit you set for their device. As the parent or guardian, you can respond to a child's exception request right from their device or on your own device. With app exceptions in Ask to Buy specifically, you can view the apps you granted permission for and remove access at any time using Screen Time. Make sure that both devices have iOS 26 or iPadOS 26.
Here are some of the exception requests your child can make:
They can ask you to allow more time after they reach a time limit that you set with Downtime.
They can ask to download or purchase an item from the App Store, iTunes Store, or Apple Books if you have Ask to Buy enabled.
They can ask to download an app that’s intended for an older age range than the one you set.
They can ask to add a new phone number to the list of approved contacts that you set with Communication Limits.
Learn how to respond to a child's Screen Time request
Learn more about Screen Time features
Learn more about Screen Time features that are designed to keep device usage safe and private — on your device and your child's device.
Downtime
With Downtime, you can block apps and notifications for specific periods when you want time away from your devices, or when you want to schedule time away for your child. When you schedule downtime, 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.
If you set a Screen Time passcode, Downtime includes an additional setting, Block At Downtime. When you choose this setting and you select Ask For More Time when Downtime starts, entering the passcode allows you to approve the app for 15 minutes, an hour, or all day. For child accounts, your child can select One More Minute once, or click Ask For More Time to send their request to the parent or guardian account for approval.
Learn how to use Downtime to schedule time away from the screen
App Limits
With App Limits, you can set a time limit for a category of apps (for example, Games or Social Networking) and for individual apps. For instance, you might want to allow more time for using productivity apps that help you complete your work or homework, while balancing the amount of time you spend on social media or playing games.
Always Allowed
Choose who you or your child can communicate with during downtime. These limits apply to Phone, FaceTime, Messages, Maps, and iCloud contacts. No matter the limits you choose, you or your child are always allowed to communicate with known emergency numbers identified by your iPhone or Apple Watch cellular carrier. You need to have your iCloud contacts enabled to use this feature. You can also choose which apps are allowed during downtime.
Screen Distance
Screen Time encourages younger users to engage in healthy viewing habits that can lower their risk of myopia, and it can help reduce eye strain for users of all ages. Screen Distance detects when a device is being held too close for an extended period, and gives prompts when it's recommended that you move your iPhone or iPad further away from your face.
Communication Limits
Choose who you or your child can communicate with via Phone, FaceTime, Messages, iCloud contacts, and other supported apps during allowed screen time and during downtime. No matter the limits you choose, you or your child are always allowed to communicate with known emergency numbers identified by your iPhone or Apple Watch cellular carrier. You can also manage your child’s iCloud contacts and, if you want, prevent them from editing their contacts.
Communication Safety
The Communication Safety feature helps protect kids from sharing or receiving sensitive photos and videos, and provides guidance and age-appropriate resources to help them make safe choices. Apple doesn't have access to the photos or videos.
Learn more about Communication Safety on your Child's Apple device
Content & Privacy Restrictions
Manage content, apps, and settings on your device or your child's device, including blocking inappropriate content and preventing changes to privacy settings like Share My Location.
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