How to use Screen Time on Mac to manage your child’s device
With Screen Time, you can see how much time your child spends on their device, including which apps and websites they use the most. You can also schedule daily app limits, block content that isn't age appropriate, and more.
How Screen Time set up works
There are a few ways you can set up Screen Time to manage your child's device depending on whether you have Family Sharing set up.
If you have Family Sharing set up and your child's Apple Account is part of the Family Sharing group, you can set up and manage Screen Time from your own Mac, iPhone, or iPad. To make sure that your Screen Time settings sync across all the devices in your Family Sharing group, update all the devices to the latest software version before turning on or changing your Screen Time settings.
If you're new to Family Sharing, you need to set up a Family Sharing on your device, then add your child's Apple Account to the family group.
If you don't have Family Sharing set up, or your own Apple device, but your child has their own Mac and they're between 13-17*, they can create an Apple Account. Then you can set up and manage Screen Time and parental controls using their device.
* Age varies by country or region. Learn more about how settings and features for kids vary by country or region.
Use your child’s Mac to turn on Screen Time
If you don't have a Mac, but your child does and they're between the ages of 13-17*, you can use their Mac to set and manage their Screen Time settings and parental controls.
Choose the Apple menu , then click System Settings.
Click Screen Time in the sidebar.
Under Limit Usage, click App & Website Activity.
Click Turn on App & Website Activity.
Scroll down, then enable Lock Screen Time Settings.
Click Continue, then enter a 4-digit passcode and re-enter the passcode to confirm.
Any settings that you turn on for your child's Mac will also apply to an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch if they have one.
Use your Mac to turn on Screen Time for your child's device
Choose the Apple menu , then click System Settings.
Click Screen Time in the sidebar.
Under Family, select your child’s name.
Under Limit Usage, click App & Website Activity.
Click Turn on App & Website Activity.
Scroll down, then enable Lock Screen Time Settings.
Click Continue, then enter a 4-digit passcode and re-enter the passcode to confirm.
Manage Screen Time features and parental controls
After you turn on Screen Time and create a passcode to keep the settings in place, you can add parental controls to manage your child's device. Any settings that you turn on for your child's Mac will also apply to an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch if they have one.
Activity
After you turn on Screen Time, you can view a summary of your child's activity. The report includes how much time your child spends using apps and websites, which apps send the most notifications, how often they pick up their devices, and more. Screen Time needs to be enabled and your child needs to use their device for enough time for you to see Activity report.
Limit Usage
You can schedule specific times they're allowed to use their device, set limits for apps, and specify which apps and contacts they’re allowed to communicate with.
Downtime: Block apps and notifications for specific periods. When you schedule downtime, only phone calls and apps that you choose to allow are available.
App Limits: Set a time limit for a category of apps (like games or social networking) and for individual apps.
Always Allowed: Choose who your child can communicate with during downtime. These limits apply to Phone, FaceTime, Messages, Maps, and iCloud contacts. You need to have your iCloud contacts enabled to use this feature.
Screen Distance: Enable prompts to encourage your child to move their iPhone or iPad further away from their face if they’ve held it too close for extended period. Learn more about Screen Distance.
Communication
Communication Limits: Choose who your child can communicate with via Phone, FaceTime, Messages, iCloud contacts, and other supported apps during allowed screen time and during downtime. Learn how to set limits on how and who your child can communicate with.
Communication Safety: Help protect your child from sharing or receiving sensitive photos and videos. This feature provides on-device guidance and age-appropriate resources to help your child make safe choices. Apple doesn't have access to the photos or videos. Learn more about Communication Safety.
No matter the limits you choose, your child is always allowed to communicate with known emergency numbers identified by your cellular carrier.
Restrictions
Content & Privacy Restrictions: Manage content, apps, and settings for your child's device, including blocking inappropriate content and preventing changes to privacy settings like Share My Location.
Learn how to set parental controls with Content & Privacy restrictions