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Apple Screen Time app limits not working

I’ve used screen time for my kids to limit time on certain apps. It worked well for years, but now I will set the limits and then they will suddenly disappear after a day or even less. Other settings also get erased including downtime and content restrictions. I have changed the passcode and the kids swear they have not tried to change any settings. This issue started about two months ago. I have updated iOS on all the devices. I have turned screen time off and set up settings again. I have tried setting the limits from my device as well as the individual devices. My kids will spend too much time on their phones without limitations in place and creates repeated bouts of anger for my wife. Please help!


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 14

Posted on Dec 19, 2022 6:41 PM

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Posted on Jun 8, 2023 6:25 AM

Apple - You HAVE to fix this!!! This is a safety issue for children. I am pretty close to swapping my whole family to Android because I can't worry that my kids are getting into stuff online that they shouldn't. I know they are accessing things they shouldn't and I have no way of keeping them safe online unless this gets fixed or I just take away their phones. DO BETTER!!!

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368 replies

Jan 13, 2023 5:44 AM in response to AndiWhitts

Have you tested this and waited for a few days to see if the problem returns?


I'm very hesitant to do this, because ...... well, do I really need to explain this? Erasing all settings means ALL SETTINGS will be set to default as far as I know. So that means you'll lose screen settings, sounds settings, focus settings, privacy settings, etc... So many things on my phone are not default anymore. I really don't want to go through all settings again to fix one problem.


This is just another way of Apple ignoring the bug. They simply say "start from scratch".

Mar 29, 2023 11:21 AM in response to JBRJBR33

For the freaking love of all things good, I could just scream. I’ve been updating devices today bc I hadn’t seen any naysayers yet. How on earth is this not public knowledge at this point? It’s like they have given up and don’t care. IT HAS BEEN 6 MONTHS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! Clearly it’s not an important fix for them. I hate it. We’ve used Screen Time for Parental Controls for years with success. Such a shame.


Thanks for updating us though. At least I won’t keep my hopes up. Wasn’t yelling at you obviously. But super frustrating. Good luck!

May 30, 2023 4:57 AM in response to Drmorin

Well, same here.


I thought I've set up everything properly but it just doesn't work.


The app limits are there, yes. But they don't work. For example I have YouTube app on my kid's phone limited to 30 min a day. And recently I found out that she spent more than 2 hours a day on it last week!


And if this wasn't strange enough, she uses the app mostly at night, after 8PM when all these apps should be blocked by DownTime which is set from 8pm till 7am!


So what is going on here?

Jul 17, 2023 11:38 AM in response to Drmorin

Apple, this is beyond ridiculous. After only using android phones, I finally made the switch because my daughter got a phone, and being able to manage her screen time override my dislike for iphones. Since the end of 2022 screentime has been useless, as everyone on this forum has attested to. Limits either disappear, or have no effect. I see my daughters limit for a particular app at 30 minutes, and on the same page I see that she used it for 2 hours. It is pathetic you haven't fixed this yet. Luckily, my daughter's iphone is paid off, and when my second child gets her first phone in a few weeks, we'll all be buying Androids. Thanks for nothing.

Mar 3, 2024 11:34 PM in response to Drmorin

I have been trying for the last two weeks to get Screen Time to apply the limits I set within it on my daughter's iPad. Nothing works, I have even tried applying an app limit across 'all categories', with 30 minutes for each week day, and 2 hours for Saturdays and Sundays, with the 'Block at End of Limit' option enabled. This morning (Monday) she was still watching YouTube Kids after 34 minutes, and other apps were still unlocked and ready to be opened.

Apple, you NEED to fix this! My only other option will be to apply limits using the clunky parental controls settings in my home router's interface. What happened to your 'It just works' ethos Apple? Please don't tell us Screen Time is going to be another Siri, another neglected Apple code base which does anything BUT work.

Mar 5, 2024 2:35 PM in response to Drmorin

I resolved the issue of Downtime failing to work which gave my daughter uncontrolled, unmonitored access 24x7 to social media and messaging. It was quite simple. I bought her a new Android phone and activated Family Link which has proven to be rock solid reliable in controlling her access. Now I feel relieved that my daughter can't use her phone behind my back at night and potentially get herself into trouble with all the dangers that exist online. Every parent needs to up their game to protect their kids from online abuse, cults and predators. If it means switching phone brands then so be it. Child safety must be every parent's priority.

Mar 17, 2024 7:43 AM in response to Drmorin

I found a fix (for me at least). Had struggled for months and months and tried lots of solutions and multiple calls with Apple.


The solution that has worked for the last few weeks is the following (prior to this, limits disappeared every 1-2 days).


Upgrade ALL DEVICES for ALL Apple FAMILY MEMBERS to the current operating systems.


I had done this before for my devices and for the kids devices…but did not ask my Mom to upgrade her devices and she was one of the Apple Family Members. I feel that was the difference this time. It didn’t occur to me that her IOS would affect App Limits, but I think that was the difference.






Mar 22, 2024 7:41 PM in response to Drmorin

I am so frustrated that I keep setting app limits for my 11 year old middle schoolers phone for social media. This is the first year she is using all these stupid apps because of her friends. I set limits of 30 min and keep seeing my child using it for hours. Why is this stupid downtime and app limits not working properly. It works a day then all the rest of the week it doesn’t. We pay so much money for these devices.Your job is making these promises about parental control work!!!!

Apr 3, 2024 7:37 PM in response to Drmorin

Apple you need to fix this issue with screen time. My kids limits keep erasing and I keep reseting them and they do not get updated in their phones. I have tried doing them on my account and on their individual phones. I have tried several times and this keeps happening.

PLEASE FIX THE SCREEN TIME GLITCH!!!

Parents all over the world need to control their kids time on screen and apps! Please!!!!

Apple Screen Time app limits not working

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