What do the Grey Bars in Screen Time mean? I think it’s time spent on no app but idle or something, is that true?
iPhone 6s
It’s an other-others category. When viewing screen time, click “show categories”. Here you’ll see the few color coded categories, for example as in the original post: creativity, social networking, reading & reference. The rest of the categories listed under “show categories” are the groups that will show in the bar graph as grey.
Furthermore, if you delete an app after using it for some time- such as Instagram. Say you have it downloaded for the day, and use it 2 hours, but decide to delete it.... instagram will not show as an app in screen time, nor will it show under social networking. Instead, the time spent on Instagram will show as a grey bar, but with no data in “show categories” or in “show apps & websites”. If you re-install Instagram, it will then show as normal in screen time.
I think the restrictions that are set on the iPhone will carry over to any other device they try to log into using their AppleID. The restrictions are set to their AppleID, not the device. I only know, because Ive tested this ;)
Yes! Where are you Apple?!! This makes no sense at all! My son has many hours of grey on his phone that don’t add up with game usage at all. You need to explain this properly as it could be a great option for us parents with troublesome teenagers and their device usage but if we are reading it incorrectly, it’s a total waste of time! Why aren’t you talking???? I’m wondering if it’s time listening to music???
Having the same exact problem with both of my daughters iPads /iPhones. Have
screen time set up along with restrictions and downtime and every day they get the grey bars indicating they’ve been on for a significantly longer time than can be substantiated by the usage (e.g. color bars). Very frustrated and looking for answers.
In addition to the above, because I have screen time limits, and the apps shut off at downtime, all apps are terminating earlier than they should due to faulty reporting by this screen time function. This screen time function was the answer to my prayers but is now a nightmare!!
The point is that Apple seems not be aware about the situations which can happen, if parents decide to control the use of digital devices. It is a very sensitive topic and it makes no sense at all if parents have to defend against their children a tool which is supposed to work and help to harmonize family life. I say that on purpose, because I guess it is much more than a simple control. We as parents have decided to install it too, just to be transparent and give a good example. I would suggest Apple to investigate use cases and re-think the whole thing. The tool as it is would be useful if it was transparent in their measurements and functions. Like it is now, it causes a lot of family problems, a nightmare, like jmalcolm5 said.
Other is already accounted for in light blue. If grey is other what is the light blue other.
These are the categories in grey.
It also includes other things not shown that cannot be put in to those categories
Ahh, that makes sense. Thank you.
You uninstall that many apps? Also if they are uninstalled why would they appear on your current screen time? And how have you used them if they are not there?
Have the same problem with my kids. They told me that after a short break screen time for those apps was available again. Did not expect such a crappy product from Apple.
This is exactly my same case! I don’t know if the gray bars are within the iPhone or maybe is the use of an Apple computer?
like for mine my time doesn’t add up at all but I did have Instagram installed and was on it for quite some time but when I uninstalled the app the data still remains but appears gray.
What’s the Grey Bars in Screen Time?
