Screen Time shows inflated usage with unexplained grey bars

Your Screen Time is showing inflated grey bars because it may be counting activity from other devices or background system processes. Use the steps below to correct it and get accurate readings.

• Open Settings ➔ Screen Time ➔ See All Activity and check which device is being measured. If multiple devices share your Apple ID, Screen Time will combine usage and create long grey bars.
• Tap Devices (top right) and select This iPhone only to remove usage coming from other devices.
• Open Settings ➔ Screen Time ➔ Share Across Devices and turn this OFF. Restart the iPhone to force Screen Time to recalculate locally.
• Open Settings ➔ Battery and compare the timeline. If Battery shows no activity during those hours, the grey bars are background system processes, not actual screen use.
• Open Settings ➔ Privacy & Security ➔ Analytics & Improvements ➔ Analytics Data and check for repeated logs. Heavy system logging after an update can inflate grey bars.
• If the grey bars continue during sleep hours, reset Screen Time data: Settings ➔ Screen Time ➔ Turn Off Screen Time, restart, then turn it back on.

Axel F.

Hello Susan:

To the second point DEVICES, I will be more specific this time so that portion is easy to find:

Open Settings ➡️ Screen Time ➡️ See All App & Website Activity (Under All Devices) ➡️ Devices (Top Right) ➡️ only select The Name of Your Device to remove usage coming from all other devices.

Axel F.

You are welcome Susan,

If nothing works, then I recommend that you contact 👉 Official Apple Support .

Axel F.