Why am I getting this notice: "It is recommended that the current user account be converted into a standard user account."

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Why am I getting this notice: "It is recommended that the current user account be converted into a standard user account."

TLDR, even though I had my daughter selected in the Family Member menu, macOS Screen Time decided it was my account I was setting up Screen Time for and activated it on my account instead of my child's. Something very wrong here.

I am confused by this message when attempting to turn on Screen Time for my child. Who is the "current user"... me? Why can't an admin account manage Screen Time?

I have one account on my iMac which is an admin account. For sharing I have setup sharing only accounts for my other family members. In the past I did have two accounts for myself on this iMac (standard and admin) and it caused issues with iCloud so I removed the standard account. Now it appears Apple is telling me I can't use an admin account to manage my family Screen Time settings.

It is recommended that the current user account be converted into a standard user account.

You will need to create a new administrator user account to be the computer admin.

Select an option

Allow this user to administer this computer

Don't allow this user to administer this computer, and create a new user account to be the administrator

If I choose "Allow this user to administer this computer" I get the same warning without explanation.

"It is not recommended to use a Screen Time passcode with an administrator account."

iMac 27″

Posted on Aug 7, 2023 9:28 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

johnnyjackhammer Author

Level 1

110 points

Aug 7, 2023 4:03 PM in response to johnnyjackhammer

Sorry I lost editing privileges...

Thanks for the response. The issue a bug in macOS. Although I had my daughter selected in the menu macOS was changing Screen Time settings for my account which is an admin account.

When I fiddled with the Menu, selected my daughter, then mine, my daughters again, the view was corrected to Screen Time settings for her account, which is of course not an admin account, and the issue resolved on its own.

I just reproduced this by opening Settings and under my ID selecting "Family".

Then choosing a Family member, my daughter, selecting "Screen Time for x", clicking on "Open x's Screen Time...", and it shows her in the menu but Screen Time is toggled off. I then select another "Family Member" from the list and go back to my daughter and Screen Time is Toggled on. It's not that it's switching on and off it's that the screen is showing status for the wrong person. Not synced.

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Answer 2

Aug 7, 2023 3:49 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks for the response. The issue a bug in macOS. Although I had my daughter selected in the menu macOS was changing Screen Time settings for my account which is an admin account.

When I fiddled with the Menu, selected my daughter, then mine, my daughters again, the view was corrected to Screen Time settings for her account, which is of course not an admin account, and the issue resolved on its own.

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Answer 3

appden

Level 1

8 points

Jun 9, 2024 1:54 AM in response to johnnyjackhammer

Many thanks for this post - I had exactly the same problem, which was very confusing. It is a bug as I had my daughter selected while setting the screen time and I had exactly the same warnings etc Changing from my daughter to me and then back to her the view was corrected on her account, so then I only had to disable screen time on my account and voile - all sorted! It should be reported to Apple. There are a few other issues with screen time - for some reason time limit for using Tik Tok for example is just not working, my daughters can still use it regardless of the time set

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Answer 4

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,102 points

Aug 7, 2023 2:22 PM in response to johnnyjackhammer

You should not use an admin account as a "managed" account because it can just override the settings you create in Screen Time. It makes no sense at all.

Now it appears Apple is telling me I can't use an admin account to manage my family Screen Time settings.

Does that mean you are all logging into the same user account on the Mac? Your family members should all have their own user accounts.

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Answer 5

Aug 9, 2023 1:06 PM in response to Barney-15E

It's not a bug until it is proven to be a bug. From what I posted a person could attempt to reproduce the issue and Reply or click on "Me Too". This would then indicate it was a reproducible bug and I could move forward with a note to Apple.

There are known issues with Screen Time right now, Apple has admitted, and I wouldn't be surprised if this was part of those issues.

Thanks I will wait for others to respond.

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Answer 6

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,102 points

Aug 7, 2023 4:18 PM in response to johnnyjackhammer

Nobody here can do anything about fixing bugs in the OS. You'd have to contact Apple Support.

I don't use Screen Time, so I can't comment on whether you are an anomaly or if it happens to others.

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Answer 7

Jun 10, 2024 9:49 AM in response to Barney-15E

I am the original poster. We are having a conversation about the issue and once we’ve determined it is a consistent and unexpected behavior we will file a bug report. This is a conversation.

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Why am I getting this notice: "It is recommended that the current user account be converted into a standard user account."

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