User profile for user: creating_boundaries
creating_boundaries Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

downtime specific contacts

Hello. When my kids phones go into downtime, I have specific contacts set to be allowed. Mainly mine, so that we can still communicate. However, I get placed on downtime too and they cannot. I have tried restarting both phones. Disabling all downtime settings and starting over. Removing messages/phone from allowed apps and replacing them. Nothing seems to be working. My only option at this point, so that they can contact me during the daytime, is to reenable their downtime so that texts/calls go through again. Which gives them access to ALL contacts during school hours etc. I toggle these settings based on behavior and performance at home/school, and it has worked in the past. However, now it is not. It almost seems like a glitch. I'm not sure what to do at this point. I'd like to be able to toggle on/off downtime settings without blocking myself. Sometimes when I push buttons on the screen, it won't even take my selection like I never even pressed the button. Or I will change the downtime hours and hit back, only to go back in and the hours have reverted back to the previous settings. I'll have to do this several times before it actually takes and keeps the new input. I got apple devices for the parental controls, but now am really struggling to get them to work/sync correctly.

iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 16

Posted on Apr 27, 2023 3:35 AM

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User profile for user: WinsC1
WinsC1
User level: Community Specialist

Posted on Apr 29, 2023 8:50 AM

Hey creating_boundaries,


We'd recommend reviewing this article as it provides options for limiting communications with Screen Time: Set up Screen Time for yourself on iPhone - Apple Support


"Set communication limits

In Screen Time, you can either allow or block communication—including incoming and outgoing phone calls, FaceTime calls, and messages—from certain contacts in iCloud, either at all times or during certain periods.

  1. If you haven’t already turned on Contacts in iCloud, go to Settings  > [your name] > iCloud, then turn on Contacts.
  2. Go to Settings  > Screen Time, then turn on Screen Time if you haven’t already.
  3. Tap Communication Limits, tap During Screen Time, then select one of the following for communication at all times (other than downtime):
    • Contacts Only: To allow communication only with your contacts.
    • Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact: To allow one-on-one conversations only with people in your contacts and group conversations that include at least one person in your contacts.
    • Everyone: To allow conversations with anyone, including unknown numbers.
  1. Tap Back at the top left, then tap During Downtime.
  2. The option you selected for During Screen Time is already set here. You can change this setting to Specific Contacts, then choose one of the following:
    • Choose From My Contacts: To select contacts to allow communication with during Downtime.
    • Add New Contact: To add a person to your contacts and allow communication with that person during downtime.

If someone who’s currently blocked by your Communication Limit settings tries to call you or send you a message, their communication won’t go through.

If you try to call or send a message to someone who’s currently blocked by your Communication Limit settings, their name or number appears in red in your list of recent calls or messages, and your communication won’t go through. You can communicate with them when the communication limit is changed. If the limit applies only to downtime, you receive a Time Limit message. You can resume communication with them when downtime is over.

To resume communication with contacts who are blocked by your Communication Limit settings, change the settings by following the steps above."


If that's not working as expected, we'd recommend contacting Apple Support for assistance here: Get Support


Thanks!


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: WinsC1
WinsC1
User level: Community Specialist

Apr 29, 2023 8:50 AM in response to creating_boundaries

Hey creating_boundaries,


We'd recommend reviewing this article as it provides options for limiting communications with Screen Time: Set up Screen Time for yourself on iPhone - Apple Support


"Set communication limits

In Screen Time, you can either allow or block communication—including incoming and outgoing phone calls, FaceTime calls, and messages—from certain contacts in iCloud, either at all times or during certain periods.

  1. If you haven’t already turned on Contacts in iCloud, go to Settings  > [your name] > iCloud, then turn on Contacts.
  2. Go to Settings  > Screen Time, then turn on Screen Time if you haven’t already.
  3. Tap Communication Limits, tap During Screen Time, then select one of the following for communication at all times (other than downtime):
    • Contacts Only: To allow communication only with your contacts.
    • Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact: To allow one-on-one conversations only with people in your contacts and group conversations that include at least one person in your contacts.
    • Everyone: To allow conversations with anyone, including unknown numbers.
  1. Tap Back at the top left, then tap During Downtime.
  2. The option you selected for During Screen Time is already set here. You can change this setting to Specific Contacts, then choose one of the following:
    • Choose From My Contacts: To select contacts to allow communication with during Downtime.
    • Add New Contact: To add a person to your contacts and allow communication with that person during downtime.

If someone who’s currently blocked by your Communication Limit settings tries to call you or send you a message, their communication won’t go through.

If you try to call or send a message to someone who’s currently blocked by your Communication Limit settings, their name or number appears in red in your list of recent calls or messages, and your communication won’t go through. You can communicate with them when the communication limit is changed. If the limit applies only to downtime, you receive a Time Limit message. You can resume communication with them when downtime is over.

To resume communication with contacts who are blocked by your Communication Limit settings, change the settings by following the steps above."


If that's not working as expected, we'd recommend contacting Apple Support for assistance here: Get Support


Thanks!


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downtime specific contacts

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