Screen time communication limits and downtime contacts

The downtime-identified contacts is not working in my set up as well. In addition, even when I designate the same contacts (parent names) as emergency contacts, the text, phone and face time feature still doesn't let my child to call out to these designates in downtime or after screen time has expired before the downtime period ends. These issues are both serious bugs and should be addressed with highest priority.

I SOLVED IT! I was having this issue too. I was an allowable contact during downtime but my sister wasn't able to message me. How I fixed it is the following:

1. Make sure you/your contact info is an allowable contact under "During Down Time" in the "Communications Limit" section. (Go to Settings > Screen Time > Communications Limit > During Down Time)
2. Then make sure you/your contact info is listed as an allowed contact under the "Allowed Contacts" in the "Always Allowed" section. (This was my issue because my contact wasn't listed here). (Go to Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed > the top of the page let's you pick if the phone can contact "everyone" or "specific contacts")

This worked for me, I hope it works for you all as well. Cheers.

Fixed mine. I’ve had the same problem even though I had already complied with all of the suggestions on this post. Then I discovered that the communication limits worked on one child’s phone but not the other. I think the change that finally made it work was this. Go into the Apple ID settings and then the iCloud settings. Under “Apps using iCloud” make sure the Contacts switch is turned ON. It asked me to merge the contacts, and I did. Now both phones can text only the contacts I select during downtime.

Probably wasn’t clear, my apologies. I meant do that in addition to the downtime contacts. My point was to make sure that the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps are allowed during downtime. Otherswise it won’t let your child call/text at all. I have this setup and it works exactly the way it’s meant to. During downtime, my son can only call or text my wife or myself. All other contacts are blocked.

This is driving me crazy. I have tried everything for months. My daughter is traveling alone and can not contact me unless I remove all restrictions. I have checked everything at least 20 times. I have deleted my contact from her phone and re added it. Help!

New to screen time and this is very frustrating. I am an allowed contact and neither after downtime or after her daily time limit she cannot text me and I cannot text her. Very frustrating. An allowed contact should be allowed for phone and text all the time.

I’m having this issue as well. Contacts will not sync to my son’s iPhone when I add them. In addition, despite his mother and I being listed as approved contacts during Downtime, it will not allow him to call us. Last night he attempted to call for a ride home from a friend’s house, but couldn’t.

Not only could this bug have ended up causing a very serious incident (he was safe, and we coincidentally came for him at about the same time he called), but it defeats the purpose of having the feature or a phone at all if you can use it this way. I agree with the others, this fix deserves very high priority.

I found out how to fix this. My son’s always allowed apps did not include texting. Once I added it he was able to see mine and my wife’s messages. Try adding phone and messages to the always allowed list. Also make sure the time limit hasn’t been reached for that app.

I was having the same problem and followed all the suggestions, but I was still unable for my son to send me a text / facetime / call during Downtime. However, I think what fixed it for me was:

• Turning on contacts for iCloud
• Setting contacts default to iCloud
• Deleting my existing contact
• Recreating my contact as an allowed Downtime Contact
• But this was the one step that really solved it for me: DELETING ALL OLD TEXT MESSAGES (because my contact was STILL in several old threads of group texts... it wasn't until after I did this did it finally work)

I had the issue where my some of my daughters contacts worked and some didn’t.

The fix was:

1. Make sure Contacts is synced with iCloud
2. Make sure iCloud is the default in Contacts App -> Settings
3. Move ALL contacts from the local device to iCloud contacts (THis is the critical point).

Screen time contact allow/limits ONLY work for iCloud contacts, not contacts on the local device.

I was running into this problem with my daughter’s phone. She couldn’t text my husband or I, but she could text my oldest daughter. I tried creating a new downtime contact and changed my name to match her contact (Mom) previously it was my name, and it suddenly worked. Give this a try. I also have text messages on always allow and she can only text me and her older sister.

The screen time for my girl, is right on her phone, so I did that.

Still not working!

Thinking about taking it to the carrier after work and maybe they can help me.

In frustrated trying to make it work, I give up.

Adding the contacts directly on her phone helped but didn’t solve. Group texts with family members who are also on her allowed list still don’t come through. I’m glad she can get and send to her Dad and I. That is essential for emergency purposes if nothing else. But the feature needs to work. It is powerful and good IF it works. Apple DEFINITELY needs to FIX this!

Our teens downtime contacts worked fine until after the last update. Now the allowed contacts are blocked. We search and tried everything solution we could find, but nothing worked. The only way around it has been to take off the downtime restriction. This does not work for us. I have been in contact with apple support and have a case number (Apple case 101021038261) We have been communicating for about 2-3 weeks. We have sent screen recording of the issues and they know what is happening. The engineers are supposed to be working to find a solution. In the meantime, our consequences are useless. I didn't want to take the phone away completely because I need to be able to monitor life 360 when my daughter is driving. It also makes it more difficult for us to communicate during busy schedules. Apple PLEASE FIX THIS!

I ended up saying screw it. I upgraded and gave her my old phone. Now it works fine. A factory reset and her logging in pre much worked, I guess.

upside; I got a new phone.

Her phone/downtime now works.

downside; I wasn’t ready for an upgrade so I spent more money Than I should have. I wouldn’t of had too if apple just fixed this, been over 2 months since it stopped working.