Screen Time not working on Tiktok, Snapchat, Instagram?

Screen Time not working on Tiktok, Snapchat, Instagram. I've been trying to block these apps for months. I've tried everything from factory resetting the phone to getting a new phone and still those app will continue to work after the downtime and app limit. Ive seen other questions about the issue and it seem that Apple doesn't have a fix nor are they trying to fix a common issue. So what other option for controlling those apps on ios devices?

Posted on Feb 23, 2022 8:24 PM

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Posted on Apr 18, 2022 10:11 PM

I figured it out. I had the same situation with my child's phone (iphone 11 ios 15.4): instagram, tiktok, twitter, pinterest.. all these apps where not blocked. Removing screentime, rebooting, changing time limits didn't work. Try the following:

  1. Go to Screen time on your child's device.
  2. Click on Always Allowed.
  3. Approve all the apps that you want to block (in my case I added all social media apps)
  4. Once you add all the apps go back to the previous setting screen and then close the window (swipe up)
  5. Open again screen time and now go to the Always approve and remove the apps from the always allowed list.
  6. Go back to the previous setting screen and close the settings app (swipe up).


This should fix the issue. Hope this helps. This worked for me :)

169 replies

Oct 18, 2022 1:32 PM in response to Missycarrico88

Same issue here with TikTok, insta & Snapchat. I am beyond frustrated with this. Our sons iPhone 7, no problem - screen time works. Our daughters iPhone 11, locks everything EXCEPT the apps we actually want to lock. I have been through this conversation & tried everything. Reset screen time, added to allowed, exited the menu, back in, removed from allowed. Rebooted the phone, deleted the apps & reinstalled, nothing - apps still accessible during downtime/after app limit expired. After discussion with my wife, we think we have 3 options 1, delete the apps & police the phone strictly each day 2, allow the apps but strictly control access out of school 3, downgrade her phone to an older model where screen time actually works!

Come on Apple , acknowledge there’s an error, provide an update that fixes this issue please!

May 8, 2023 1:23 PM in response to DeadlySin29

I found a video on youtube that helped me fix this issue on the first try. I'll post a link to it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80SMt-EKEWY&ab_channel=FollowThatFixes


If the link isn't allowed here he basically tells you to 1. remove the screentime 2. restart your device 3. turn on the device and turn on screentime again and just follow the steps and add whatever restrictions you want. It worked for me and I hope it keeps the apps locked this time.

May 31, 2022 6:00 PM in response to DeadlySin29

I am noticing the same issue as well. & I’m an apple employee in tech support. so I’m very familiar with technical side of things. I have disabled downtime, power cycled the phone, enabled downtime, I have deleted the app and reinstalled it. Ensured the device IOS was updated. I have erased iPhone and set the device up as new in case there was a back issue (issue still occuring).


Nothing I do resolves this issue. This wasn’t always the case with screentime. It use to block tik tok out after the app limit is reached but now it never blocks out.



Mar 23, 2023 12:50 PM in response to DeadlySin29

I have a similar problem with managing App limits on iPhones for my kids. I believe I figured out what's happening by going on Youtube and searching 'How can I get around Screentime app limits?'. All your kid has to do is delete the app they want to use, re-download it and now it's back on their phone and disconnected from Screentime time limits. I believe it's a major flaw in Apple's software. See example below. I've set an app limit for 15mins for 'Brawl Stars' but somehow my child is still able to spend 2hrs 11mins in this app. Apple, please provide a solution for this!

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Screen Time not working on Tiktok, Snapchat, Instagram?

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