iPhone and iPad Limits for Kids With Family Sharing

Family Sharing lets a parent or guardian manage a child’s Screen Time settings from their own Apple device, including app limits, downtime, and content restrictions. Set it up with the child’s Apple Account in your family group; the exact labels can vary slightly by software version.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone, iPad, or Mac signed in to the Apple Account used by the family organizer or parent/guardian.
Your child’s Apple Account added to your Family Sharing group. If your child does not have an account, create one through Family Sharing rather than sharing your own login.
The child’s iPhone or iPad, updated to a recent version of iOS or iPadOS when possible, and connected to the internet during setup.
Your Apple Account password and the child’s device passcode, if requested. Choose a Screen Time passcode your child does not know.

Step-by-Step

Confirm the child is in your family group. On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings and tap Family. In some versions, tap your name first, then Family Sharing. Check that your child appears in the member list. If not, choose the option to add a family member and follow the prompts. The child should use their own Apple Account on their devices.
Open the child’s Screen Time settings. From Settings, tap Screen Time. Scroll to the Family section, tap your child’s name, and then tap Turn On Screen Time if prompted. Follow the setup screens and select the options that match your household. If your child does not appear, verify Family Sharing and account sign-ins before continuing.
Set Downtime for device-free periods. Tap Downtime and turn on Scheduled. Choose the days and start and end times when you want most apps and notifications unavailable, such as overnight. Turn on Block at Downtime if you want restricted apps to require permission to open. Calls and apps you specifically allow can remain available.
Set App Limits. Tap App Limits, then Add Limit. Choose an app category, such as Games or Social, or expand a category and select individual apps. Tap Next, set a daily time allowance, and customize days if needed. Turn on Block at End of Limit if you want the limit to stop access rather than merely show a reminder. Tap Add to save.
Choose always-allowed apps. Open Always Allowed and review the list. Keep essential communication or other appropriate apps available during Downtime and after limits, and remove anything you do not want available. Availability can depend on the app and the child’s device settings.
Set content and privacy restrictions. In the child’s Screen Time page, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn it on. Review the sections for purchases, app installations, allowed apps, web content, and other content. Set age-appropriate options. These restrictions are separate from time limits, so configure both if you need both kinds of controls.
Secure the settings with a Screen Time passcode. Choose Lock Screen Time Settings or Change Screen Time Passcode, depending on the displayed option. Set a passcode different from the device unlock code, and store it somewhere you can recover it. Do not tell the child the passcode if you expect the settings to remain parent-managed.
Check the child’s device and test the rules. Confirm the child is signed in to their own Apple Account and that Screen Time is active. Give settings time to sync over the internet. Check Screen Time reports after the child uses the device, and test a limit with a suitable app. Adjust the schedule or allowance if the result is not what you intended.
Repeat or review for other devices. Screen Time settings can apply across a child’s Apple devices when Share Across Devices is enabled. Review that setting on the child’s device and check the family Screen Time page. Make sure the child is signed in to the same Apple Account on each device you intend to manage.

Common Mistakes

Using the parent’s account on the child’s device: this can mix activity, purchases, and settings. Give each family member a separate Apple Account.
Assuming limits block everything automatically: Downtime, App Limits, Always Allowed, and content restrictions control different things. Review each section rather than relying on one setting.
Leaving Block at End of Limit off: a limit may act as a reminder, with an option to request more time. Enable blocking if that better matches your rules.
Setting an easy-to-guess passcode: a child who knows the Screen Time passcode may be able to change limits. Keep it distinct from the device passcode.
Forgetting extra devices: limits may not behave as expected if Share Across Devices is off or a device uses a different Apple Account.

Tips

Start with a small number of clear rules. For example, set an overnight Downtime schedule and limits only for the categories you want to manage.
Use Downtime for a recurring schedule and App Limits for daily usage allowances; they are complementary, not interchangeable.
Explain the rules and agree on how your child can ask for more time. Screen Time can allow requests for additional time, which a parent or guardian can approve or decline.
Review reports and adjust limits periodically. A schedule that works on school days may not suit weekends, and limits can be customized by day.
Keep your Apple Account recovery details current so you can regain access if you forget the Screen Time passcode.

Troubleshooting

Your child is missing from the Screen Time family list: Check that Family Sharing is active, the child is listed as a family member, and you are signed in with the organizer or a parent/guardian account. Confirm the child uses their own Apple Account. Restart both devices and check again after they connect to the internet.

Changes do not appear on the child’s device: Check the internet connection, update the devices if practical, and verify the child’s Apple Account and Share Across Devices setting. Allow time for synchronization. Open Screen Time on the child’s device to see whether the settings have arrived.

An app remains available during Downtime: Check whether it is in Always Allowed, whether Block at Downtime is enabled, and whether the child has requested or received more time. Confirm that you edited the correct child and selected the intended schedule.

A limit does not block an app: Verify that the app is included in the selected category or explicitly selected, that the daily allowance is correct, and that Block at End of Limit is on. App categories and labels can change, so check the individual app selection.

You forgot the Screen Time passcode: On the device used to manage Screen Time, open Settings > Screen Time, choose the child’s name if needed, then tap Change Screen Time Passcode and select Forgot Passcode? Follow the prompts using the Apple Account associated with passcode recovery. If that option is unavailable or recovery fails, consult Apple Support rather than repeatedly guessing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set limits from my own iPhone?
Yes. A parent or guardian in the Family Sharing group can manage a child’s Screen Time from Settings > Screen Time, provided the child is set up in the family.

Do App Limits apply to both an iPhone and an iPad?
They can when Share Across Devices is enabled and the child uses the same Apple Account on both. Check the setting and verify the devices are online.

Can I limit one app instead of a whole category?
Yes. In App Limits, expand the category and select the individual app or apps you want to include.

Can my child ask for more time?
Yes, Screen Time can present a request option when a limit is reached. A parent or guardian can review the request and decide whether to allow additional time.

Do Screen Time limits work without an internet connection?
Limits already on the device can continue to work, but family management and syncing changes require connectivity. Reconnect the device and check that settings have updated.

Are these controls a replacement for talking with my child?
No. Screen Time provides device controls and reports, but it does not explain every choice a child makes online. Pair settings with age-appropriate conversations and regular reviews.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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