Schedule downtime in Screen Time on Mac
Set a schedule for time away from the screen for you and your children. For example, you might want to schedule downtime during meals or at bedtime.
During downtime, if you try to use your Mac you get a message informing you that it’s your scheduled downtime. If your child tries to access their device during downtime, they can request more time from you.
Before you can set up downtime, you need to turn on Screen Time. See Set up Screen Time for yourself or Set up Screen Time for a child.
Set up Downtime
On your Mac, do one of the following:
If you’re using Family Sharing: Log in to your Mac user account, then make sure you’re signed in with your Apple ID.
If you aren’t using Family Sharing: Log in to a family member’s Mac user account.
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time .
If you’re using Family Sharing, click the pop-up menu in the sidebar, then choose a family member.
Click Downtime in the sidebar.
If Downtime is off, click Turn On in the upper-right corner.
If the Turn On button is dimmed, you need to turn on Screen Time for the selected family member.
Do one of the following:
Set up the same downtime schedule for every day: Select Every Day, then enter the start and end times.
Set up a different downtime for each day of the week: Select Custom, then enter start and end times for each day.
If you want to block the device during downtime, select the Block At Downtime tick box.
This option is available only when you’re using a Screen Time passcode.
Turn off Downtime
On your Mac, do one of the following:
If you’re using Family Sharing: Log in to your Mac user account, then make sure you’re signed in with your Apple ID.
If you aren’t using Family Sharing: Log in to a family member’s Mac user account.
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time .
If you’re using Family Sharing, click the pop-up menu in the sidebar, then choose a family member.
Click Downtime in the sidebar, then click Turn Off in the upper-right corner.