I'm looking at the list of "always allowed" apps to include for the Downtime feature but Safari is not listed there and when downtime is enabled Safari is still able to be used (my allowed apps are phone, messages, FaceTime, maps - the default). Anyone else seeing this issue?
iMac, macOS High Sierra (10.13.1)
Seriously guys the “solution” or reason safari stays active during downtime has been explained several times on this thread. When Downtime is active safari stays accessible. *However* it is restricted from loading any websites by the user. Please see the attached screenshot.
No need to download chrome, or other workarounds. This is how it’s meant to operate.
I have just turned on downtime, clicked on safari and tried to load several websites. As expected nothing loads. I tried google.com, YouTube.com, and even the apple.com site. None of them loaded. So I don’t understand where the problem is?
By the way if you are setting this up for a child and you want to replace the “ignore limit” option with “ask for permission to extend limit” option you need to set up downtime under family sharing.
It seems crazy that in order for Screen Time to work properly you have to use a non-Apple browser.
And I can’t get Screen Time to block the YouTube app, either.
Thanks for the workaround.
My kid for and XR for Christmas. I set up screen time and expected that the internet would be disabled. I was wrong. Screw time is useless until Apple fixes this problem.
I’m afraid that’s not the case on the phone I have with iOS 12.1.2. I think still some work is needed. The same goes for the password change that I’m not able to find.
Crazy. Apple should simply fix it.
Great, appreciate your time
Thank you, appreciated
General sessitting and accounts passwords also has a back door to browse the web. Safari is not even on the phone as it is hidden by Qustodio but via general, accounts and passwords and then password you can open the link in a saved password. Via change password option will it open the password page for the site
Hi guys,
Fear not even though when downtime kicks in and the safari app doesn’t grey out, when you open safari and actually try to load a website it won’t let you. For example if you try opening www.facebook.com or any website it just comes up with a little egg timer saying downtime is enabled. It’s actually working fine.
I don’t know why you are having a different experience to me, i have it set up for my daughter and when downtime kicks in she can only go onto messenger and FaceTime. To check catagories go onto settings>Screen time>Tap “your iPhone” at top of screen>then tap show categories> then click a catagory
Safari is always turned off with downtime, however the app doesn’t grey out. I think the system must need to access it at all times, But (and i can only speak from my experience) when my child opens safari and tries to load a website after 8pm (which is when i have it set to kick in) it comes up saying that downtime is active and you may ask permission from a parent to allow more time on the particular website. So in effect safari is unusable with downtime on, which is what we want right?
As to JamesMcook all i can say is once downtime has kicked in you either just click allow more time for whatever website they want to do their homework on or tell your kids to do their homework before downtime kicks in. It’s one or the other I’m afraid.
The only alternative is to switch off downtime altogether and set time limits on games and entertainment etc..Therefore blocking the games etc after a certain amount of time but safari and websites should still be available 24/7
And to all the parents reading this, Downtime and screen time etc is very confusing when trying to set it up properly on a childs iPad or iPhone.
I rang apple support (well i submitted a help ticket online and they rang me back instantly) and they guided me through the whole process. They actually remotely connected to my iPhone and my daughters iPad and talked me step by step of how to set it up. The call center is in Ireland i think. They were extremely friendly & helpful.
you have paid a lot of money for your childs device so don’t hesitate to ring them and ask them how to set it up.
My son quickly discovered that 1. Safari is available always and 2. videos opened into full-screen mode from Safari, if left open, will continue indefinitely during downtime and after he has already used up his allotted time for videos for the day. Screen Time is great in concept, but there are so many loop holes that it's useless. I turned Safari off today using this tip and will try installing Chrome, but I'm wondering if the same full-screen video cheat will be a problem.
If Screen Time is on and you have either gone over your allotted time for general category apps or the time block for the day, if you launch Safari or try to access an open Safari page, you will hit the Screen Time block screen. So effectively Safari IS turned off via Screen Time. It just doesn't LOOK like it is because the icon is still active; the pages themselves are NOT active inside the app.
Nope. My kid can still access all of safari and watch YouTube videos using safari. I just tested it.
Screen Time and Safari
