How to Set Up Screen Time Limits on a Child's iPhone

Set up Family Sharing so you can manage everything from your phone

On your own iPhone, open Settings and tap your name at the very top, then tap Family. Follow the prompts to add your child to your family group — tap Invite People to add their existing Apple Account, or Create an Account for a Child to make one for them. This is what lets you control their Screen Time remotely without ever picking up their phone.

Settings[Your Name]Family

💡 For younger children, you usually have to create the Apple Account through Family Sharing — Apple requires a parent to do this.

Open Screen Time for your child

Still on your own iPhone, go to Settings and tap Screen Time. Under the Family section, tap your child's name, then scroll down and tap Manage Screen Time. Everything you set from here applies to their device. If Screen Time isn't on for them yet, follow the prompts to turn it on first.

SettingsScreen Time[Child's Name]Manage Screen Time

💡 You can also reach this through Settings, then your name, then Family, then your child's name — both paths land on the same Manage Screen Time screen.

Set a Screen Time passcode only you know

Tap Lock Screen Time Settings and create a 4-digit passcode, then enter it again to confirm. Make it different from the code that unlocks the phone, and don't share it with your child — this is what stops them from changing the limits. When prompted, set up Screen Time Passcode Recovery by entering your Apple Account so you can reset the passcode later.

SettingsScreen Time[Child's Name]Manage Screen TimeLock Screen Time Settings

💡 Don't skip the Apple Account recovery step. If you ever forget the Screen Time passcode, that's how you reset it.

Turn on App & Website Activity for reports

Tap App & Website Activity and turn it on if it isn't already. This powers the reports showing which apps your child uses most and how often they pick up the phone — and it's required before Downtime, App Limits, and Always Allowed will work. Turning it off later switches all of those off too.

SettingsScreen Time[Child's Name]Manage Screen TimeApp & Website Activity

💡 Give it a day or two, then check the report. It's an eye-opener and a great conversation starter.

Schedule Downtime (screen-free hours)

Tap Downtime, then turn it on. Choose Every Day for one schedule, or Customize Days to set different hours for school nights and weekends, then pick a start and end time — bedtime to morning is the most popular choice. With Block at Downtime turned on, only calls and the apps you allow will work during those hours.

SettingsScreen Time[Child's Name]Manage Screen TimeDowntime

💡 Pair this with App Limits below. Downtime handles 'when,' App Limits handle 'how long.'

Set App Limits for games and social media

Tap App Limits, then Add Limit. Pick a whole category (like Games or Social), or tap the category name to choose individual apps, then tap Next and set the daily time allowed. When the time is up, the app pauses until the next day — or until you approve more.

SettingsScreen Time[Child's Name]Manage Screen TimeApp Limits

💡 Use Always Allowed (back on the Manage Screen Time screen) to keep important apps — like Phone, Messages, or Maps — working even during Downtime.

Filter content with Content & Privacy Restrictions

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and make sure it's on. From here you can block adult websites, restrict the App Store and explicit music, and prevent changes to privacy settings like location sharing. For a child's account, web content filtering is already on by default — this is where you fine-tune it.

SettingsScreen Time[Child's Name]Manage Screen TimeContent & Privacy Restrictions

💡 Under Content Restrictions you can also set age ratings for apps, movies, and TV shows so nothing too mature slips through.

Set Communication Limits and Communication Safety

Tap Communication Limits to choose who your child can call, FaceTime, and message — during the day (During Screen Time) and during Downtime. Communication Safety, which blurs and warns about sensitive photos, is on by default for a child's account; you'll find it nearby in the same Screen Time area.

SettingsScreen Time[Child's Name]Manage Screen TimeCommunication Limits

💡 Limiting contacts to known numbers during Downtime is a simple way to keep late-night messaging in check.

Can I set up Screen Time without touching my child's phone?

Yes. As long as your child's Apple Account is in your Family Sharing group, you set and change every limit from your own iPhone under Settings, then Screen Time, then your child's name, then Manage Screen Time. Their phone simply follows the rules you set.

What's the difference between Downtime and App Limits?

Downtime controls WHEN the phone can be used — it's like a scheduled bedtime where only the apps you allow stay available. App Limits control HOW LONG specific apps or categories (like games or social media) can be used each day. Most families use both together.

What happens if I forget the Screen Time passcode?

If you set up Screen Time Passcode Recovery with your Apple Account during setup, you can reset it. For a child in your Family Sharing group, the family organizer resets it from their own device, not the child's. This is exactly why we recommend not skipping the Apple Account recovery step when you create the passcode.

My child keeps asking for more time. Can I approve it without changing the settings?

Yes. When a limit is reached, your child can tap Ask For More Time, which sends a request to your phone. You can approve 15 minutes, an hour, or the rest of the day right from the notification, the Messages app, or Settings then Screen Time — no need to dig back into the settings each time.

Will my child be able to turn these limits off?

Not without your Screen Time passcode. Once you tap Lock Screen Time Settings and set a code only you know, the limits stay in place. Just be sure to use a code that's different from the one that unlocks the phone.