How to Use iPhone Screen Time Controls

Set up and manage iPhone Screen Time controls to monitor usage, set app limits, and create downtime schedules. Complete guide for iOS parental controls.

1. Enable Screen Time. Open Settings and tap Screen Time. If Screen Time is off, tap Turn On Screen Time, then tap Continue. Choose This is My iPhone if setting up for yourself, or This is My Child's iPhone if configuring parental controls.
2. Review your usage data. Tap the Screen Time graph at the top to see detailed usage statistics. View daily and weekly reports showing time spent in each app, pickup frequency, and notification counts. Tap specific apps to see usage patterns throughout the day.
3. Set app limits. Tap App Limits, then Add Limit. Select app categories or individual apps you want to limit. Set your daily time allowance using the hour and minute wheels, then tap Add. When you reach the limit, apps will show a time limit screen with options to ignore or request more time.
4. Schedule downtime. Tap Downtime to set hours when only essential apps work. Toggle Downtime on, then set your start and end times. Choose which days to apply downtime by tapping Customize Days. During downtime, only apps you choose and phone calls remain available.
5. Configure always allowed apps. Tap Always Allowed to choose which apps remain accessible during downtime and after app limits are reached. Phone and Messages are allowed by default. Tap the green plus icon next to apps you want to always allow, or tap the red minus to restrict them.
6. Set content and privacy restrictions. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle the feature on. Set restrictions for iTunes & App Store purchases, allowed apps, content ratings, and privacy settings. Create a Screen Time passcode when prompted to prevent changes to these settings.
7. Manage family Screen Time. Add family members by tapping your child's name under Family, then Set Up Screen Time for Child. Configure their limits, downtime, and restrictions remotely. View their usage reports and approve or deny app time extension requests from the Screen Time section.