How to set up and use Screen Time on iPhone and iPad

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Screen Time on iPhone 11 Pro with iOS 13
Screen Time on iPhone 11 Pro with iOS 13 (Image credit: Christine Romero-Chan / iMore)

These days, it seems that most of us are glued to our device screens, whether it's intentional or not. As much as we love our expensive devices, it's probably best to take a break every now and then, or at least get an idea of just how much time you do spend staring at the screen during the day. Apple added Screen Time as a feature in iOS 12 and later, and it helps you see your device usage over time. Here's how to set it up and use it.

How to turn on Screen Time

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
  3. Tap Turn On Screen Time.

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap Turn On

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap Turn On (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Continue on the on-screen prompt.
  2. Select This is My iPhone when prompted if this is your iPhone or your child's.

Tap Continue, Tap if this your iPhone or a child's, and then select what you want to enable

Tap Continue, Tap if this your iPhone or a child's, and then select what you want to enable (Image credit: iMore)

How to set up Screen Time for your child

How to use a Screen Time Passcode

A Screen Time Passcode lets you secure various Screen Time settings, as well as giving you permission for more time when limits expire. This is useful if you want to do something like limit the screen time for someone else's device.

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.

Open Settings, tap Screen Time

Open Settings, tap Screen Time (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Use Screen Time Passcode.
  2. Input a 4-digit passcode of your choice.
  3. Re-enter the passcode.

Tap Use Screen Time Passcode, input a 4-digit code, confirm that code

Tap Use Screen Time Passcode, input a 4-digit code, confirm that code (Image credit: iMore)

If you want to change the passcode or turn the passcode off, do the following:

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.

Open Settings, tap Screen Time

Open Settings, tap Screen Time (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Change Screen Time Passcode.
  2. Choose whether you want to Change Screen Time Passcode or Turn Off Screen Time Passcode from the menu.
  3. Input your passcode when prompted.

Tap Change Screen Time Passcode, turn it off, input your passcode

Tap Change Screen Time Passcode, turn it off, input your passcode (Image credit: iMore)

How to combine Screen Time on multiple devices

If you have multiple iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches, you can combine the screen time for all of these devices into a single, comprehensive report.

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
  3. Toggle the switch for Share Across Devices to ON (green).

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, select Share Across Devices to ON

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, select Share Across Devices to ON (Image credit: iMore)

When this is enabled on each device, as long as you're logged in to the same iCloud account, all of your screen time will be combined.

How to set up Downtime

Downtime lets you schedule time away from the screen. However, you can choose to let certain apps be used during Downtime, and phone calls will still be available.

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
  3. Tap on Downtime.

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, select Downtime

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, select Downtime (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Turn the toggle to ON.
  2. Select what days you want Downtime to occur on: Every Day or Customize Days.
  3. Select your From and To times.

Toggle Downtime to ON, select days, then select time

Toggle Downtime to ON, select days, then select time (Image credit: iMore)

How to set up App Limits

App Limits allow you to set time limits for specific apps. Need to cut down on that wasted time on Facebook or Twitter? This is what you would use.

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
  3. Tap on App Limits.

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap App Limits

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap App Limits (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Add Limit.
  2. Choose what categories you want to apply the limit to.
    • Unfortunately, in iOS 12, you can't pick-and-choose specific apps to limit. This is a broad rule that will be applied to all current and future apps within your specified category.
    • iOS 13 does allow you to choose individual apps by tapping the arrow on a category and then selecting the app you want to limit.

Tap App Limits, select Categories in IOS 12

Tap App Limits, select Categories in IOS 12 (Image credit: iMore)

Tap the arrow and then tap the apps you want to limit in iOS 13

Tap the arrow and then tap the apps you want to limit in iOS 13 (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Next.
  2. Select how much time to allot for all apps in your selected categories.
  3. Select the Days that this rule applies to.
  4. Tap on Add to save your limits.

Select your Time and Days for App Limits, then tap Add to save

Select your Time and Days for App Limits, then tap Add to save (Image credit: iMore)

The option in iOS 13 for selecting individual apps is useful, but it can be a bit tedious if you're going to pick-and-choose from a lot of apps. This method works best if you don't have a lot of apps installed to begin with.

How to set up Always Allowed Apps

Sometimes you will want certain apps to always be available to access, regardless of any limits you've imposed.

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
  3. Tap on Always Allowed.

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap Always Allowed

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap Always Allowed (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap on the green + button on any app that you want to make always available.
  2. Tap on the red - button on any apps you want to limit if they fall into a limited category.

Tap the Green Plus button for any you want to add, Red Minus for those you want to remove

Tap the Green Plus button for any you want to add, Red Minus for those you want to remove (Image credit: iMore)

How to set up Content & Privacy Restrictions

If you want to block inappropriate content from showing up on the device, you must do it from Screen Time.

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
  3. Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap Content and Privacy

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap Content and Privacy (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap the toggle to ON.
  2. Tap on the option that you want to change.

Tap toggle to ON, select what you want to change

Tap toggle to ON, select what you want to change (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select Allow Changes or Don't Allow Changes.
  2. Toggle individual settings as you see fit.

Tap Allow or Don't Allow Changes, tap the individual settings as you see fit

Tap Allow or Don't Allow Changes, tap the individual settings as you see fit (Image credit: iMore)

How to set up Communication Limits in iOS 13.3

In iOS 13, there is a new Screen Time setting that lets you apply limits to communicating with others through Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and AirDrop. These settings limit you on who you can communicate with during allowed screen time and downtime when enabled.

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
  3. Tap on Communication Limits.

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap Communication Limits

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap Communication Limits (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Choose your setting for During Allowed Screen Time.
    • The options include: Everyone or Contacts Only.
    • You can also toggle Allow Introductions in Groups. This means people can be added to group conversations only when one of your contacts or a family member (if Family Sharing is enabled) is in the group.

Tap During Allowed Screen Time, select Everyone or Contacts Only, and you can toggle Allow Intro in groups

Tap During Allowed Screen Time, select Everyone or Contacts Only, and you can toggle Allow Intro in groups (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Choose your setting for During Downtime, which is either Everyone or Specific Contacts.
  2. If you chose Specific Contacts, tap Add Contacts.
  3. Select the method from which you want to choose a contact from: Choose From My Contacts, Choose From x name'sContacts (if Family Sharing is enabled), or Add New Contact.

Tap During Downtime, Specific Contacts, tap Add Contacts

Tap During Downtime, Specific Contacts, tap Add Contacts (Image credit: iMore)

With these new Communication Limits settings in iOS 13, it has never been easier to manage your child's communication and make sure that they're device usage is healthy and safe.

How to turn off Screen Time

If you're tired of seeing how much time you're wasting on your phone, or if you feel like your battery life is worse because of Screen Time, then you can simply turn it off.

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
  3. Tap on Turn Off Screen Time.

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, and tap Turn Off Screen Time

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, and tap Turn Off Screen Time (Image credit: iMore)

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding Screen Time, leave a comment below and we'll do our best to help!

Updated December 2019: Updated for iOS 13.3.

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Christine Chan
Christine Chan

Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed. When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.