Parent Control- Screen time not working for tiktok and Episode APP

I have had this incredibly frustrating problem twice now -- I've actually had two problems: 1) not all apps are blocked at downtime, and 2) apps aren't blocked after the time limit is reached. Finally, after HOURS of time trying to fix the problem, I finally figured out something that worked! In the hopes that this might help others, I wanted to post my solution.

Step 1: from the parent's phone, turn off screen time for the child's account. Settings->Screen Time->Child's name->Turn Off Screen Time (scroll to the very bottom to find this)

Step 2: from the child's phone, go into settings and sign out of the phone. Settings->Child's name (at the very top)->Sign Out (at the very bottom). This didn't change any of the contents of the phone (at least it didn't for me), it just removes your child's apple ID from the phone.

Step 3: (this one might not be needed, but I did this part too, so just in case) power down the child's phone and keep it off for one or two minutes.

Step 4: power the child's phone back up, and sign back in using the child's apple ID. Settings->Sign in to your iPhone (at the top).

This completely cleared all the Screen Time settings from the phone and reset it back to what it looked like when everything was new. From there, I just went through the normal steps for setting up Screen Time for the first time. When it was set back up, the problem with screen time not blocking apps was gone ... at least for now.

My child only has one Apple device (the phone), so I don't know if it would be more complicated with more devices. Maybe you have to do it for all of them simultaneously?

At any rate, good luck -- I hope this helps!

Had the same problem and was able to solve it by

1: tuning off screen time on my child's phone

2: powered down her phone

3: signed her out of family sharing from my phone

4: powered her phone back up and set screen time and family sharing back on her phone

Hope this helps :)

I found a fix!! Well at least a hack that I stumbled on that is working.

I was having the same issue as others, when applying a time limit of 1 hour of TikTok on my kids phone and seeing them log 2-6 hours a day.

FIX: On my iPhone, under the settings for screen time app limit under your child’s name, I simply changed the App Limit for TikTok by clicking “Edit List”, the click “Add” and adding a second app to the limit. Mine now shows “TikTok & Instagram = 1.5 hrs”.

For the last week I’ve noticed that it’s been working with my kid logging exactly some split of 1.5 hrs between the 2 apps.

I tested it by one day removing the Instagram app from the grouped time limit and sure enough my kid logged 4+ hours on TikTok that day.

Hope this works for you!

Well, I think I figured out the TikTok issue. Go into your child’s TikTok account and change it to a “private account”. As soon as I did that, it recognized the time limit. I changed the TikTok account back to “public” and it was still blocked by screen time.

I am not familiar with the different account types for TikTok, but when I first attempted to change it to a private account, I got a pop up that said it had to be changed to a “personal” account first. I selected ok—it was at that point it immediately gave me the time limit reached message from screen time. My guess…our children have figured out a way to change their account types in TikTok to something that isn’t recognized by screen time…an organizational account or some type of business account?.?.. All I know is whatever my son did cost me two hours of my life that I will never get back! Hope this helps someone!!!

Had the same problem and heres what did work for me.

Turn off all parental controls and remove passwords.

Turn phone off.

Turn back on

Re-setup Parental controls.

Tiktock was immediately blocked.

This trick of turning off shared across devices worked for me.

I had the same issue with Tiktok not blocking at downtime. Played with the settings around, setting time limit for the app, etc. and managed to get it to block after setting up Content & Privacy Restriction. Maybe a coincidence but it’s worth trying.

Heres the link to explain how to link Tiktok to Parents account and control/restrict use. Will be trying this tonight :)

https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/151141-tiktok-family-safety-mode-how-the-app-s-parental-controls-work

i had the same issue before, I hope this works for you guys. When you first setup screen time it will ask if this is your phone or your kids phone, instead of selecting your kids phone select your phone and then screen time should work on all the app. For me tiktok and Roblox wasn’t getting limited with screen time and app limit. By doing this it’s now greyout for downtime and screen time.

All Tik Tok version have Digital Wellbeing. It should be a personal account so just like an usual one. Go to Setting and there should be the option "Digital Wellbeing" which will lock the app after the time expires and will let you add a passcode. Maybe google will tell you better where that option is or YT tutorials. Go to the Tik Tok profile. Select the 3 dots up in the right corner. Go to Content & Activity section and see "Digital Wellbeing" as being the 5th option. If this does not work or you dont have it, maybe you should change the account from Personal to creator. You can change it back anytime you want

Hello katharine257,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

I understand that Tiktok and Episode remain running after time limit has expired. I would review the following support article to ensure that the settings are made correctly.

Use parental controls on your child's iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Are these two apps the only ones that continue to run after the limits expire?

Best regards.

We had set a 1hr limit for TikTok and Snapchat. However usage (mainly TikTok) was between 2 and 4 hours. TikTok and Snapchat were not 'allowed apps' either. Screen time is running on our daughter's phone and the usage reported there matches our parental phone. We have followed a post which advised disabling screen time, restarting the phone, and reenabling screen time. We will see tomorrow if it has worked. However, judging by the number of parents with this problem we are not too hopeful. Will post what happens.

The best I’ve been able to do is limit them through the Tik tok app.

I have the same issue with Tiktok and Snapchat, being the only two where screentime is not blocking access. The provided link above is not providing the necessary information to solve. Problem is persistent.

I am also having this problem. My son and I decided on a specific amount of time for all of the apps he uses. We set the AppLimit and downtime. I was curious about the settings, so I checked the next day and those two specific apps disappeared from the AppLimit area. I did set a password that he DOES NOT know. I cant figure this out and I have been an IT professional since 1996.