Parental Controls Won't Save

Anyone else having this problem? I'm on a 2012 MacBook Air running latest version of High Sierra.


After entering in websites I want off limits and apps I want of limits, I click lock to disallow any other changes and then I test opening apps or going to websites I have put off limits, it doesn't prevent me. Changes are not being saved.


I've tried clicking out of and back into parental controls after selecting what I want and it seems saved, but then when I close system prefs, try successfully to open an off limits app then go back into parental controls, I see nothing has been saved.


I've tried restarting computer after saving preferences, no dice.


Any suggestions?


Thanks.

MacBook Air, macOS High Sierra (10.13.1)

Posted on May 23, 2018 8:13 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 24, 2018 8:53 AM

Hey there, Matinicus Rock.


I see that you're trying to set up parental controls for managed users on your MacBook Air. Once you've gotten them set up to your liking, you test the controls, the changes aren't being saved. I'm happy to help.


Turn on parental controls for an existing user -- Make sure that you're working from the accounts are managed accounts.


Set up parental controls -- Then work through the instructions in this article.

Important: After you change parental controls settings for another user, wait at least one minute before switching to their account or restarting your Mac to verify that your changes have taken effect.


Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac -- If the issue persists, reset the System Management Controller. Follow the steps under "How to reset the SMC on Mac notebooks" for a nonremovable battery. Test the issue once you're back to the desktop.


Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac -- If you're still facing this issue, restart your Mac in safe mode and set up a few restrictions and test. If there are no issues, reboot normally and test again in your own user account. Remember this when booting in safe mode: Limited graphics performance in OS X recovery or safe mode


Let me know how that goes.


Take care!

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 24, 2018 8:53 AM in response to Matinicus Rock

Hey there, Matinicus Rock.


I see that you're trying to set up parental controls for managed users on your MacBook Air. Once you've gotten them set up to your liking, you test the controls, the changes aren't being saved. I'm happy to help.


Turn on parental controls for an existing user -- Make sure that you're working from the accounts are managed accounts.


Set up parental controls -- Then work through the instructions in this article.

Important: After you change parental controls settings for another user, wait at least one minute before switching to their account or restarting your Mac to verify that your changes have taken effect.


Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac -- If the issue persists, reset the System Management Controller. Follow the steps under "How to reset the SMC on Mac notebooks" for a nonremovable battery. Test the issue once you're back to the desktop.


Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac -- If you're still facing this issue, restart your Mac in safe mode and set up a few restrictions and test. If there are no issues, reboot normally and test again in your own user account. Remember this when booting in safe mode: Limited graphics performance in OS X recovery or safe mode


Let me know how that goes.


Take care!

May 24, 2018 8:53 AM in response to raina_b22

Thanks Becky I appreciate it! Seems the issue solved itself - I set all the controls, then shut the laptop down, then started it back up and logged into the managed account. When i did this, Parental Controls thought I had put EVERY app on the "no-fly list" so I gave permission to the apps I want to allow one by one and and after looking out/in and shutting down / restarting etc several times, it seems to be holding.

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Parental Controls Won't Save

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