Screen time communication limits and downtime contacts

The new update on December 10, 2019 is to now enable parents to allow certain contacts during “downtime”. I’ve allowed myself as her mom, but when she tried to text or FaceTime me, she still isn’t able to do so and has to request more time as if I’m any other person in her contacts. I’ve set it to allow 4 people to be contacted during downtime but it doesn’t work. It shows my phone number and says it’s not an allowed contact. But it IS. This is a great feature I was super excited about but it doesn’t work. APPLE PLEASE FIX THIS! It was advertised even on tv that this feature was coming. It came but it just doesn’t work. Help!!!

iPhone XS, 13

Posted on Dec 11, 2019 7:12 PM

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libbyfrommurfreesboro

Level 1

15 points

Posted on Feb 24, 2020 8:01 PM

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.

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63 replies

Mar 11, 2020 5:25 AM in response to TDSN2014

I, unfortunately, am having this same issue and more. I have my TWO teenagers phones on my family sharing account and have set communication limits through screen time. Downtime is from 10PM-630AM and I have it set on both my phone and each of their phones to allow communication with certain contacts (each other and both my husband and I). Messages, phone and FaceTime are all enabled as allowed downtime apps on all of our phones. They still can’t utilize this feature. If I call them, straight to voicemail. If they try to call me it pops up and says they’re restricted or whatever. It also won’t allow them to message any of us. The only difference for me, that I’m not seeing anyone else having an issue with is, they can’t even request more screen time for the messaging and calling features. ALL other apps are given the option to request more screen time. It’s been so frustrating. SO, with all of that being said, if anyone out there has figured out a solution, please pass it my way!! I’ve been Googling and reading all the forums and comments and am still stuck!

Thank you all so much!!

Apr 30, 2020 11:25 AM in response to TDSN2014

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)

Follas

Level 1

4 points

Jul 3, 2020 6:27 AM in response to hnstepp

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Screen time communication limits and downtime contacts