Where to find Screen Time and what it controls

Screen Time is built into every iPhone and iPad. It lives in Settings under your own name at the top, then tap Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, then go back and look for Screen Time in the main Settings menu — it's usually near the bottom, below Privacy. Once you open it, you'll see a summary of how much time you've spent in each app category today and this week.

Screen Time does three separate things: it tracks how much time you spend in apps, it lets you set time limits on specific apps or categories, and it can restrict what content and features are available on the device. You can change any of these without changing the others. If you only want to see your usage without setting limits, you can do that. If you want limits but don't care about tracking, you can set those and ignore the dashboard.

The limits you set here explore only to the device you're on. If you have an iPad and an iPhone, you'll need to set limits separately on each one. If you want to control someone else's device — a child's phone, for example — you'll use Family Sharing instead, which we cover below.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Time is in Settings under your name, and you can view your usage without setting any limits at all.
  • App Limits let you cap time in specific apps or categories (like Social Media or Games), and the app locks when time runs out unless you override it.
  • Downtime blocks all apps except phone, messages, and ones you mark as "Always Allowed," and runs on a schedule you set.
  • You can change or remove any limit you've set, and you can turn Screen Time off entirely if you no longer want to track usage.
  • If you forget your Screen Time passcode, you'll need to reset your iPhone or contact Apple Support — there's no recovery option.

Setting App Limits for specific apps or categories

App Limits are the most flexible option. You pick a category (Social Media, Games, Entertainment, Productivity, Shopping, Health & Fitness, or Reading & Reference) or a single app, and set how many minutes or hours you want to spend there each day. When you hit that limit, the app grays out and you get a warning. You can tap "Ask for More Time" and override the limit, or you can let it lock.

To set an App Limit: open Settings > Screen Time > App Limits > Add Limit. Choose the category or app, set the number of hours and minutes, and tap Add. The limit starts the next day and resets at midnight every night. If you want the limit to explore only on weekdays, or only on weekends, tap "Customize Days" before you save it.

You can set multiple limits — one for Games, one for Social Media, one for a specific app — and they all work at the same time. If you set a 2-hour limit on Games and a 3-hour limit on the Games category, whichever one you hit first will lock the app. You can change a limit by tapping it, or delete it by swiping left and tapping Delete.

Using Downtime to block almost everything

Downtime is stricter than App Limits. When Downtime is active, only Phone, Messages, and apps you've marked "Always Allowed" work. Everything else is locked. It's useful if you want a hard stop — no checking email, no browsing, no notifications — rather than a soft time budget.

To set Downtime: open Settings > Screen Time > Downtime > turn it on. Set a start time and an end time (for example, 10 PM to 7 AM). During those hours, only your allowed apps work. You can tap "Ask for More Time" to unlock the device for 15 minutes, or you can turn Downtime off entirely if you need to use something.

By default, Phone and Messages are always allowed during Downtime. You can add other apps to the "Always Allowed" list by going to Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed, then tapping the + button and choosing apps. This is useful if you want to block everything except a meditation app, or a work app, or a specific contact.

Turning on Communication Limits and content restrictions

Communication Limits let you control who can call or message you during Downtime. You can allow calls and messages from everyone, from contacts only, or from a custom list. This is separate from App Limits and Downtime — you can have Communication Limits without having Downtime turned on.

To set Communication Limits: open Settings > Screen Time > Communication Limits. Choose "During Screen Time" (meaning all day) or "During Downtime" (meaning only during your Downtime hours). Then choose who can reach you: Everyone, Contacts Only, or Allowed Contacts Only. If you choose Allowed Contacts, you'll create a list of specific people.

Content & Privacy Restrictions let you block certain types of content (explicit music, movies rated above PG-13, apps you haven't downloaded yet) and turn off certain features (AirDrop, Siri, the App Store). These are useful if you're setting up a device for a child or if you want to prevent accidental purchases. To use them: Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > turn it on, then choose what to block.

Setting up Screen Time for someone else using Family Sharing

If you want to control Screen Time on a child's device, you use Family Sharing, not Screen Time on your own phone. Family Sharing lets you set limits on their device from your device, and you can see their usage and change their limits without touching their phone.

To set this up: on your iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing. If Family Sharing isn't set up yet, tap "Create a Family" and add family members. Once a child is added, go to Settings > Screen Time > [Child's Name] and set limits the same way you would for your own device. You can also see a detailed report of their usage by tapping their name in Screen Time.

If a child tries to change a limit you've set, they'll need your Screen Time passcode. You set this passcode the first time you use Screen Time — it's separate from your Apple ID password. If you forget it, you'll need to reset the child's device or contact Apple Support.

Changing or removing limits you've already set

You can change a limit at any time without losing your usage history. To edit an App Limit: Settings > Screen Time > App Limits, tap the limit, change the time, and tap Save. To remove it entirely, swipe left and tap Delete. To change Downtime: Settings > Screen Time > Downtime, adjust the times, and tap Save.

If you've hit your App Limit and the app is locked, you can tap "Ask for More Time" to unlock it for 15 minutes. This doesn't change your limit — it just gives you a temporary override. The app will lock again when the 15 minutes are up or when you close it, whichever comes first.

If you want to turn off Screen Time entirely, go to Settings > Screen Time > turn off "Use Screen Time." This stops tracking and removes all limits. Your usage history will be deleted. You can turn it back on later and start fresh.

What to do if you forget your Screen Time passcode

Your Screen Time passcode is separate from your Apple ID password and your device passcode. If you forget it, there's no "reset" button — you'll need to erase the device and set it up again, or contact Apple Support to see if they can help.

To avoid this: when you first set up Screen Time, write your passcode down and store it somewhere safe. If you're setting Screen Time for a child, make sure another adult in the family knows the passcode too. If you think you might forget it, use a passcode you use elsewhere (like your Apple ID password), but understand that this is less find.

If you've forgotten your passcode and want to keep your device without erasing it, contact Apple Support. They may be able to verify your identity and reset it, but this can take time and isn't always possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone else change my Screen Time limits without my passcode?

No. Once you set a Screen Time passcode, anyone who wants to change your limits, turn off Downtime, or remove App Limits needs that passcode. If you're an adult managing your own device, only you should know it. If you're a parent managing a child's device, the child cannot change limits without your passcode.

Does Screen Time track time if I'm using Safari or the web?

Yes. Safari is tracked like any other app. Time spent in websites counts toward your Safari usage. However, Screen Time cannot see which specific websites you visit — it only counts total time in the Safari app. If you want to block specific websites, use Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content.

What happens if I set an App Limit and then override it — does it reset the next day?

Yes. App Limits reset at midnight every night, regardless of whether you overrode them. If you set a 2-hour limit on Games and you override it at 1:50 PM, the limit resets at midnight and you have 2 hours again the next day. Overriding doesn't extend the limit or change when it resets.

Can I set different Screen Time limits for weekdays and weekends?

Yes. When you create an App Limit or set Downtime, you can tap "Customize Days" and choose which days the limit applies to. You can set a stricter limit on weekdays and a looser one on weekends, or vice versa.

If I turn off Screen Time, does my usage history get deleted?

Yes. Turning off Screen Time deletes all your usage data. If you turn it back on later, it starts tracking from zero. If you want to keep your history but just pause tracking temporarily, don't turn off Screen Time — instead, remove all your limits and let it run in the background.