I manage time and access to various apps such as TikTok and Roblox on my my children’s devices. I mostly depend on downtime and app limits. Both these settings disappear every few days and I have to reset them from scratch. It is exceedingly frustrating when I find my children watching TikTok for hours because the parental controls once again failed.
iPhone 14 Pro Max, iOS 16
Same issues. The settings/limits just don’t hold.
Some of this is related to a race condition. If the current limits don’t FULLY load before modifying, the save does a partial overwrite and will randomly remove settings. If I select a child then wait 1/2 hour before making mods—or I do the change ONLY on the child’s device, it works. Edits to the child profile from the parent phone is the main issue.
The complexity and number of settings also appear to influence reliability. For example, when first selecting a child profile (from parent phone) limits are shown to be non-existent. But wait some time and the profile fully loads and limits are there.
If the problem can’t be fixed or addressed by the engineering team, could they create a template functionality with a set restore time—say the middle of the night?
Or is there an API for this functionality to read/write child profile screen time parameters?
I’ve had this same issue for years, and it’s so frustrating when I set the app limits on my son’s phone and then I see in screentime that he’s been allowed an unlimited amount of time for games.
Seriously Apple, we pay good money and this is what we get?!?!
When can we expect a real fix? One that sticks.
I have been having the same problem. Parental controls just keep turning off, disappearing etc... This has been an ongoing battle for over a year. I can't believe Apple doesn't take this more seriously. There is not even any 3rd party product that works effectively on the Apple phone for Parental controls. Why hasn't Apple made this a priority with so many that attest to the failure of the product?!
The parental controls on my 11 year old’s iPad keeps changing. I set up screen time and limit certain websites, also do not allow her to purchase apps but I have to keep on checking to see if the restrictions have disappeared. Yesterday she was able to purchase/subscribe to an app without me having to approve it. And when I requested Apple to refund, they declined my request. I do believe the parental controls are a weakness when it comes to Apple products.
I too have had this problem and my son can switch off time limits and even bypassed asking for parental permissions. Having been to the Apple shop twice to have help with the setup and making not a jot of difference I am not going to allow my son an iPhone. Totally ridiculous situation
Bump
clearly this is not a prioritá for Apple. Maybe they dont mine children beino hooked to their devices
Same issue and same frustration here. Apple is a big delusion because of this reason. It causes issues in the family.
I’m very upset and will change all apple devices with other brands
I'm so frustrated with the parental controls on Family Sharing. Among other things...Allowing Specific Contacts During Downtime does not work.
You have no idea this isn’t working. Just fix it
This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. I have had to completely reset ours 3 times in the last month! It is getting out of hand.
This continues to happen every few days. Please fix it Apple!
H
Why is this not a priority for Apple?
Same here. It was working initially but last year(2023) it starts disappearing for last month and is still happening.
Family parental control settings keep disappearing
