Parental controls - lack of control...

I've reviewed the various questions about bugs in Apple's Parental Controls and can see numerous other people are having the same issues I am having - but none of the queries ends with a resolution. Have Apple fixed the bugs with their Parental Controls or given anyone a reasonable answer to explain what issues remain and whether they are looking to fix them? I have followed all of the advice given to everyone who has raised similar issues and the problems still persist. These being: Block at Downtime doesn't, App specific limits don't, some apps ignore Downtime altogether and this seems to change on a day to day basis. My kids may be figuring out some workarounds (like guessing the screen time passcode!) but I know that the issues listed above are not their doing because I've seen it happen whilst they haven't had access to their devices (as noted by several other users in these Communities). I've reset numerous times and it sometimes fixes some of the issues for a while, but they all come back - I've got better things to do with my time than reset these things over and over again for a few days 'Parental Control'. I'd spend less time physically checking their phone use directly. If these don't get fixed then the next phones my kids get won't be Apple ones. :(

iPhone 5s, iOS 12

Posted on Feb 2, 2020 1:56 AM

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6 replies

Feb 2, 2020 2:05 AM in response to JanieMcM

I feel you are missing a point here.


This is Apple Support Community forum, for user to user interaction for information & idea sharing between users, if need be, extend support on technical knowhow in handling Apple products from more experienced fellow users. If you express your anguish over certain features of an iPhone to fellow users is not going to help you in any way.


Your feedback on the "Parental Controls" goes here --> Product Feedback - Apple

Feb 2, 2020 3:13 AM in response to JanieMcM

I am sorry to say but the issues being addressed by you are still very broad.

  1. Block at Downtime doesn't block
  2. App Specific Controls do not switch off
  3. can't see Screen Time data for one of the controlled devices


There are basically 4 sections of Screen time on iOS 12.

Downtime, App Limits, Always Allowed and Content & Privacy Restrictions


Let us narrow down the problem one by one.

  1. Do you mean to say "Always Allowed and Content & Privacy Restrictions" do work to your satisfaction?
  2. Are you setting the limits on your child's device directly?
  3. Is your child listed under Screen Time as Family?





Feb 2, 2020 2:58 AM in response to SravanKrA

Having followed the Apple guidance to set up Parental Controls, I've found that they may work for a while but then stop working. I've switched them off and on, wiped them and set them up again, etc. but still the same issues keep happening namely: Block at Downtime doesn't block, App Specific Controls do not switch off the apps (or sometimes switch of some of them but not all) and I currently can't see Screen Time data for one of the controlled devices despite resetting both the controls and the two devices. Thanks for your time

Feb 2, 2020 4:00 AM in response to SravanKrA

  1. As far as I'm aware, Always Allowed and Content & Privacy Restrictions do work - but it is difficult to know, for example, whether it is Block at Downtime that is not working causing apps to be available....or Always Allowed that is not working meaning that apps that shouldn't be 'always allowed' are...
  2. I have set limits in both ways on occasion - both on the childs' devices and via my phone
  3. yes - the children are 'family'

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Parental controls - lack of control...

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