How to set up Screen Time for your child

By Bryan M Wolfe
published

iPhone Screentime
iPhone Screentime (Image credit: iMore)
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Having children in the age of technology presents parents with many challenges. One of the largest is making sure your loved ones are safe and healthy by limiting their time staring at a screen. It's also essential to monitor and restrict what they are doing during that time. With Screen Time, you can check your family's device usage.

There are two ways you can set up Screen Time controls for your child: through Family Sharing and directly on a device.

How to set up Screen Time for your child through Family Sharing

With Family Sharing, you create an Apple ID for your kids. In doing so, all family members can share their Apple purchases such as apps, music, and books. In addition, with Family Sharing, you can set Screen time rules for each family member to be confident that everyone has settings that fit their needs and lifestyle.

To add a child account to family sharing, check out our How to create and add a child to Family Sharing article.

After you've added your child's account to Family Sharing on one of the best iPhones or best iPads, you can control their Screen Time settings by doing the following.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap on your Apple ID.
  3. Choose Family Sharing.
  4. Select Screen Time.
  5. Follow the instructions to create your child's Apple ID.

To setup Screen Time, launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, then tap on your Apple ID. Choose Family Sharing, followed by Screen Time. Follow the additional instructions on the screen. (Image credit: iMore)

How to set up Screen Time for your child directly on a device

Though Family Sharing is a great tool, it isn't for everyone. If you'd prefer not to give your child an Apple ID just yet and would instead like to set up Screen Time directly on your child's device, you can do that as well. Here's how.

  1. Launch Settings.
  2. Tap Screen Time. You'll see a list of insights that Screen Time provides.
  3. Select Continue.

To set up Screen Time for your child directly on a device, launch the Settings app, then tap Screen Time, followed by Continue. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap This is My Child's iPhone/iPad to set up Screen Time on this device for a child. You can then set a Downtime (i.e., a chunk of time — say, nighttime — when you don't want them using their device).
  2. Choose Start.
  3. Select a start time.
  4. Tap Start again. Do the same for the End time.
  5. Choose Set Downtime to save your settings.

To set up Screen Time for your child directly on a device, launch the Settings app, tap This is My Child's iPhone/iPad, then choose Start. Choose a start time. Tap Start again for the End time. Save s (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Set your child's App Limits (the amount of time per day that you want your kiddo to spend on certain categories of apps). For instance, if you only want them to spend 30 minutes per day playing games, then tap Games to select that category. Then scroll down to the bottom to where it says Time Amount, enter 30 minutes, then tap Set App Limit. You can set limits on as many individual app categories as you like or set an umbrella time for all apps.

To set up Screen Time for your child directly on a device, set the App Limits. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Continue after reviewing Content & Privacy controls.
  2. Create a four-digit Parent Passcode using the numerical keyboard. Your child's device will require this passcode to allow for more time or to change any Screen Time settings.
  3. Re-enter the passcode.

To set up Screen Time for your child directly on a device, tap Continue, then create a four-digit Parent Code. Reenter the code. (Image credit: iMore)

That's it! The Screen Time settings on your child's device are now in place. If you ever want to make any changes, you'll need to launch Screen Time using the first two steps in the tutorial above and then enter your Parent Passcode.

How to set communication limits for your child

Screen Time on the iPhone 13 and other mobile devices include the ability to create communication limits. These limits, which you can set for yourself and your children, apply to Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and iCloud contacts.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your mobile device.
  2. Tap Screen Time.
  3. Under Family, tap your child's name.

To set communication limits for your child, launch the Settings app on your device, tap Screen Time. Under Family, tap your child's name. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select Communication Limits.
  2. Tap During Allowed Screen TIme
  3. Enter your Screen Time password, if applicable.

To set communication limits for your child, select Communication Limits, tap During Allowed Screen Time, enter your Screen Time password, if applicable (Image credit: iMore)
  1. On the next screen, you can decide Allowed Communication is Contacts Only, Contacts & Groups, or Everyone.
  2. Tap the Back button at the top left.
  3. Select During Downtime to limit who your child can communicate with during downtime or after app limits have expired.
  4. On the next screen, you can decide Allowed Communication is Specific Contacts or Contacts & Groups.

To set communication limits for your child, tap the Back button, then tap During Downtown, decide on who to allow communication with. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap the Back button at the top left.
  2. From the Communications Limits screen, tap the Manage (Your Child's Name) Contacts toggle if you'd like to manage their iCloud contacts remotely.
  3. Toggle Allow Contact Editing if you'd like to turn contact editing on/off for your child.

To set communication limits for your child, tap the Back button, then tap Manage (Your Child's Name) Contacts. Toggle Allow Contact Editing. (Image credit: iMore)

Protect and monitor

Screen Time takes the guesswork out of monitoring what's going on with your kid's Apple devices. Start using it today.

Updated March 2022: Includes latest information.

Bryan M Wolfe
Bryan M Wolfe
Staff Writer

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.