Screen Time App Limits Not Working in Catalina

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Screen Time App Limits Not Working in Catalina

My son has a 2012 MacBook Pro running macOS 10.15.3. I recently upgraded the HDD to an SSD, and the app limits were working prior to that. But, I don't know exactly when they stopped working...because he didn't tell me. So I don't know if it's some account transfer issue with the cloned drive, or if something broke in a Catalina update somewhere along the line.

The problem: The app limits simply do not work on his MBP. Downtime, though, is still functional. Screen Time is also functioning perfectly well on his other devices (iPad and iPhone). So, his Apple ID and our family sharing account is set up correctly.

The machine has been rebooted several times with no effect. I've tried editing the existing limits and adding new limits with no effect. I do need to try signing him out and back in, but I don't have his phone right now to verify the sign in. Should that fail to fix the problem, what else can I try?

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Feb 21, 2020 8:19 PM

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Answer 1

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wyldoxz Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 24, 2020 7:43 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thank you. I tried all of the resets and the safe boot, but to no effect. I tried also to log my son out of his iCloud account, but the sign out button was grey and un-clickable.

I did check if his screen time activity for his MBP was accessible on my iPhone, and it was. From there, I was able to add time limits to the specific problem apps via the most used list. I tested them immediately on his MBP, and the limits were actively working. I have submitted the bug report Apple.

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Answer 2

Feb 22, 2020 7:05 AM in response to wyldoxz

You can try

resetting NVRAM/PRAM http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

and

Try resetting the SMC https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

Try a SafeBoot to clear system caches and try again https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

Takes noticeable longer to get to the login screen, does a 5-15 minute disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, including dynamic loader cache, etc. Reboot and test

If no resolve—

Apple Feedback http://www.apple.com/feedback

Feedback assistant to file bug reports: https://feedbackassistant.apple.com/welcome

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Screen Time App Limits Not Working in Catalina

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