How to Use Screen Time on iPhone

Edited 5 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Screen Time is a very useful feature available on iPhone that helps you understand how you spend your time on your device. It includes details about app usage, notifications, and device pickups. You can also set limits on app usage to help you manage your digital health. This guide will tell you what you need to know to get started with Screen Time and how to make the best use of it.

Enabling Screen Time

To start using Screen Time, you first need to enable it on your iPhone. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Screen Time.
3. Tap Turn on Screen Time.
4. You will see a screen with an introduction to Screen Time, tap Continue.
5. You will be asked whether the iPhone is yours or your child's. Choose the appropriate option.

Once enabled, your device will begin collecting information about your usage.

Understanding your Screen Time data

Screen Time provides a comprehensive summary of your usage. Here's how you can view and understand it:

1. Go to the Settings app and tap Screen Time.
2. You'll see a chart showing the total time spent on your device today.
3. Below the charts are details of your app usage, most used apps, and categories of apps.

The information is aggregated into daily and weekly reports. The daily report shows your activity today, while the weekly report summarizes your activity over the week. This data can tell you how much time you're spending on specific apps and help you make decisions to adjust your screen usage patterns.

Setting app limits

To manage your app usage more effectively and possibly reduce your screen time, you can set app limits using the following steps:

1. In the Screen Time section, tap App Limits.
2. Tap Add limit.
3. Select the categories or specific apps you want to limit and then tap Next.
4. Set the time frame you want, then tap Add in the top right corner of the screen.

Now, whenever you reach the time limit on an app or category, you will be given a notification and you can choose whether to temporarily extend the time limit or log out of the app.

Using Downtime

Downtime lets you schedule a time to be away from your screen. During Downtime, only the calls and apps you want to allow will be accessible. Here's how to set it up:

1. In the Screen Time menu, select Downtime.
2. Toggle the Downtime switch to enable it.
3. Set a start and end time for downtime.

Free time is especially useful for making sure you can focus on tasks like schoolwork or get a good night’s sleep without being distracted by your phone.

Managing content and privacy restrictions

Screen Time also provides options to restrict content and privacy settings for added security:

1. In Screen Time settings, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
2. Tap Enable restrictions.
3. You can then set various restrictions for allowed apps, and content-specific restrictions such as age-appropriate content and privacy settings.

This feature can be very useful if you need to control what children or other family members access on their iPhone.

Set up Family Sharing for Screen Time

If you want to set and monitor screen time for family members, you can use Family Sharing. Here's how to set it up:

1. Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top.
2. Tap Family Sharing, then tap Add family member.
3. Invite your family member to join using iMessage and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Once your family member has joined, go back to Screen Time and select their name to set up and manage their Screen Time settings.

This allows you to monitor and manage your family’s device usage and set restrictions to ensure a healthy balance of screen time.

Using a Screen Time Passcode

The passcode ensures that only you can adjust Screen Time settings and overrides on your device. Here's how to set it up:

1. Go to Settings, then Screen Time.
2. Tap Use Screen Time Passcode.
3. Enter and then re-enter a four-digit passcode to secure this setting.
4. If you don't remember your Screen Time passcode, you can use the Apple ID you used to create it to recover it.

This step is especially important if you have kids and you want to make sure they can’t bypass the restrictions you’ve set.

View usage across devices

Screen Time can also display your collective data usage if you use more than one Apple device:

1. Make sure all devices are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.
2. Under Screen Time in Settings, enable Share across devices.

After enabling this feature, you can monitor your usage across multiple devices, such as an iPad or Mac. This gives you a comprehensive understanding of your overall screen habit.

Troubleshoot Screen Time issues

If you run into problems with Screen Time, try these troubleshooting tips:

• Make sure that your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version as some features may not work on older versions.
• If Screen Time data isn't showing up, try turning Screen Time off, then back on after restarting your device.
• Make sure your date and time settings are set correctly as Screen Time relies on them for accurate data.

In conclusion, Screen Time is a powerful tool to help you effectively manage your interactions with your iPhone. Whether for self-regulation or to keep kids' device use in check, the ability to monitor, set limits, and impose restrictions is invaluable. By using Downtime, App Limits, and Family Sharing, you can ensure that your relationship with your device remains healthy and balanced.

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