Screen Limits Doesn't Seem to be Working

Question

Level 1

8 points

Screen Limits Doesn't Seem to be Working

Hello,

I'm struggling to get my screen limits to work for my children's accounts. I set them up this weekend. Today they complained that they were unable to access the web as the computer said they had used all their time, but neither had logged in previously today.

While I appreciate the Multiplatform nature of the app, I'm just trying to limit access to a desktop computer to 30 minutes on school days and 1 hour on weekends. Today, according to screen time, one daughter was one for 2h52m? One that's way over the custom limits I set (for all apps and websites) and two, I know it isn't true since she was only home for 45 minutes between school and play practice.

The other daughter said she couldn't access the web when she got home, but when I logged in this evening she still had an hour of time.

Why is this so buggy? Are there settings I should check.

Thanks

-Stuarty

iMac, OS X 10.10

Posted on Jan 6, 2020 4:41 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

brenden dv

Community Specialist

Jan 8, 2020 5:14 PM in response to sstreuli

Hi sstreuli,

It sounds like you're having some issues with Screen Time restrictions, and I want to help.

If you have the option to share across devices enabled, all devices using the Apple ID being limited will count toward the limits. That might explain the issue you're facing.

Since you mentioned primarily trying to limit the Mac, for the relevant child account go to System Preferences > Screen Time > Options, and make sure "Share across devices" is not checked.

Let me know if that helps.

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities.

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Answer 2

sstreuli Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 10, 2020 3:18 PM in response to brenden dv

Brenden,

Thanks for the reply. While disappointing that it's not working as advertised, I'm willing to try anything. Here's the problem now. While there's an option for "share across devices" on my profile, there isn't one on my kids profile. See the attached screen grabs.

Thanks

-Stuart

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Answer 3

sstreuli Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 10, 2020 3:27 PM in response to sstreuli

One additional thought here. My daughters' accounts are new and havent' been used on any other devices. So maybe that's a reason why the option doesn't appear. But then that wouldn't explain why they can blow right through the time limits.

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