Screen Time is a handy feature on iOS that allows you to limit your phone usage. However, some users are complaining that Screen Time is not working on their iPhones.
If you’re among them, I’ve got you covered.
Today, I’ll show you everything you need to know to get Screen Time working on your iPhone.
TL;DR Version
When Screen Time is not working on your iPhone, perform these troubleshooting steps:
Before Anything: Restart Your iPhone
It’s always a good practice to restart your device if something isn’t working.
If you haven’t already, restart your iPhone to reload its resources and eliminate temporary errors that occurred during use.
If you’re using an iPhone with Face ID, here’s how you can restart it:
- Hold the Volume Down and Side buttons until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ prompt appears.
- Now, drag the slider to the right and wait for 30 seconds.
- Press the Side button afterward to turn on your device.
For iPhones with Touch ID, you can restart them by doing the following:
- Locate the Power button on your device.
- Hold the button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ prompt appears.
- Drag the slider to the right and wait 30 seconds before turning on your device.
1. Refresh Screen Time
Try refreshing Screen Time by turning the feature on/off. This should reinitialize the feature and your preferences.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go to Screen Time.
- Scroll down and tap on Turn Off Screen Time.
- Enter your passcode and follow the prompts.
Re-enable Screen Time afterward and check if the problem is solved.
2. Try Logging Back Into Apple ID
Conflicts with your Apple ID can also cause Screen Time not to work.
To rule this out, sign out your Apple ID and log back in after several minutes. This ensures that your Apple ID and iCloud data are synced correctly.
Follow the steps below:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on your name from the top.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
- Provide your Apple ID password to proceed.
- Restart your iPhone.
Go back to settings and sign in your Apple ID.
3. Set Correct Date & Time
Having the wrong date and time settings on your iPhone can also cause Screen Time to malfunction.
If Screen Time is not turning on as expected or turns off too early, check your date and time settings.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Go to your iPhone’s settings.
- Navigate to General > Date & Time.
- Enable the Set Automatically option.
4. Reset iPhone Settings
There might be conflicts with your current device preferences that prevent Screen Time from working.
Reset your iPhone’s settings to roll back any changes that may have caused the problem.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap on Reset.
- Select Reset All Settings and follow the prompts.
Note
- Your iPhone will immediately restart upon resetting your configurations.
- It may be stuck in the Apple logo. Wait for the process to complete, which usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Update iPhone
The version of iOS you’re using might have a problem related to Screen Time.
Check if there are available updates for your iPhone and install them to patch bugs and other errors.
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Navigate to General > Software Update.
- If there’s a new iOS version available, tap Download and Install.
- Once the new software is ready, follow the prompts to install the update.
Note
- Your device can restart several times while installing the update.
- Ensure your iPhone has at least 50% battery before installing updates. It’s best to keep your device plugged into the wall charger to avoid interruptions.
- Allow at least 15 minutes for the update to install, especially if it’s a major update (iOS 15 to iOS 16).
To avoid missing future updates, enable automatic updates on your iPhone:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Go to General > Software Update > Automatic Updates.
- Enable Download iOS Updates and Install iOS Updates.
6. Contact Apple Support
If none of the solutions above worked, I suggest that you seek help from the experts.
Reach out to Apple’s team to ask for assistance in setting up Screen Time on your iPhone. Your account might have an issue, or you’re doing something wrong during the process.
Asking for help from Apple’s team should allow you to set Screen Time as how you want it to function.
FAQs
Why is Screen Time not working on my iPhone?
Screen Time might not be working on your iPhone due to incorrect date and time settings or problems with your Apple ID. Make sure that your Apple ID is synced across all devices and that your iPhone’s date and time are properly set.
How do I force Screen Time on iOS?
You can do this by going to Settings > Screen Time. Scroll down and select a family member you want to limit. To schedule a downtime, follow the instructions in Schedule Time Away from the screen.
Why can’t I see my Screen Time data?
If you can’t see your Screen Time data, try disabling/enabling the feature. If you’re still having trouble, ensure the latest iOS version is installed to patch possible bugs and errors.
