How to Fix iPhone Screen Time Not Working [Updated]

Apple in iOS 12 introduced a significant feature – Restriction (Screen Time), which is designed to help users better understand and control the time they and their kids spend with apps and websites. With Screen Time feature, you can view your Screen Time history, check which apps take up most of your time, track how often you pick up your device, and set limits on app usage for yourself or your kids. However, many users face situations where Screen Time doesn’t work as expected. Fortunately, this guide will share 16 effective solutions to fix iPhone Screen Time not working, while also explaining how Screen Time works and the possible reasons behind its issues.

How Does Apple Screen Time Work?

Apple Screen Time is a built-in feature on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. It helps you monitor, limit, and manage how you or your family use Apple devices. Here’s how it works:

• Activity Tracking: Record and report your daily and weekly usage on apps, websites, and devices.
• App and Category Limits: Set daily usage limits for specific apps or categories.
• Downtime: Set a limited number of apps and features to be used during certain hours.
• Content & Privacy Restrictions: Restrict inappropriate content, purchases, and privacy settings.
• Parental Controls / Family Sharing: Parents can remotely manage and monitor their children’s device usage.
• Cross-Device Sync: Synchronize usage data and restrictions between devices with the same Apple ID.

Why Is My Screen Time Not Working iPhone?

Screen time controls can help you prevent your kid from using a specific application. However, lots of iOS users reported that their Screen Time was not working on their devices. Here are some possible factors may result in Screen Time not working:

• An incorrect or incomplete setup may cause limits and restrictions not to apply properly.
• Children may find ways to bypass or disable Screen Time, leading to unexpected issues.
• Bugs in older iOS may cause Screen Time features to malfunction.
• Temporary iOS glitches or background errors can prevent Screen Time from working as expected.

No matter what the reason is, follow the proven solutions below to fix the problem quickly. We are going to address the problem using the official methods so that you don’t need to install any third-party program. Let’s get started!

How to Fix iPhone Screen Time Not Working?

Way 1. Check Screen Time Service is Online

Your iPhone needs to communicate with the Screen Time service on Apple’s end to function correctly. If Screen Time isn’t functioning on your device, verify whether the service is down. You can visit Apple’s official System Status website to check if there is a green indicator next to the Screen Time service.

Way 2. Force Restart Your Device

Force restarting an iPhone will close all the programs and processes running on the system, and return all the things back to normal.

Restart iPhone 11/XS (Max)/XR/X, iPhone 8/8 Plus and later

• Press shortly the Volume Up button.
• Press the Volume Down button.
• Hold the Side button and wait for the Apple logo to appear.

Restart iPhone 7/7 Plus

• Hold both the Side and Volume Down buttons.
• Wait for the Apple logo to appear.

Restart iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad

• Hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons.
• Wait for the Apple logo to appear.

Way 3. Disabled and Re-enabled Screen Time

Another method you can try is to disable and re-enable Screen Time. In most cases, disabling and re-enabling the feature can refresh its settings and get it to work again. However, before turning off and turning on Screen Time, you should know that taking these actions will erase all your “Screen Time Data”. If you don’t mind losing your Screen Time data, try the following instructions:

Step 1. Go to the Settings app on the home screen and click on Screen Time.

Step 2. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on the Turn Off Screen Time option.

Step 3. Enter the Screen Time passcode and click on Turn Off Screen Time again.

Step 4. Open the Settings app again.

Step 5. Go to Screen Time, choose Turn On Screen Time, and hit Continue.

Step 6. Select This is My [device] or This is My Child’s [device].

Way 4. Ensure Low Power Mode is turned off

Low Power Mode is useful for extending your iPhone’s battery life. However, it limits and affects background processes, including Screen Time restrictions on your device. Try to disable Low Power Mode to fix iPhone Screen Time not working: Open the Settings app > Navigate to Battery > Toggle off Low Power Mode.

Way 5. Set Date & Time Automatically

Screen Time may not track usage or apply limits properly if your iPhone’s Date & Time is set incorrectly. Setting the Date & Time automatically may be helpful to fix Screen Time not working error. Easily Open Settings > General > Date & Time > Turn on Set Automatically. Now, go to the main screen of Settings and choose Screen Time to enjoy it.

Way 6. Disable Share Across Devices

The Share Across Devices feature can occasionally create conflicts that stop Screen Time from functioning correctly. If Screen Time continues to malfunction on your iPhone, try disabling this option to check if it fixes the problem. Navigate to Settings > Screen Time > Toggle off Share Across Devices.

Way 7. Check the Downtime Settings

iPhone Screen Time not working properly may be related to your Downtime settings. On iOS 17 and later, Downtime is a helpful feature that lets you step away from your device and reduce distractions. Check its setup can often resolve the problem.

Step 1. Open Settings and go to Screen Time, then select Downtime.

Step 2. Access the Downtime section within Screen Time.

Step 3. Make sure the Scheduled switch is enabled. Confirm whether you have chosen Every Day or the Customize Days option.

Step 4. Review the Time settings to view your current Downtime schedule.

Step 5. Tap on Time if you want to adjust the Downtime schedule according to your preferences.

Way 8. Reset App Limit Preferences on iPhone

The Screen Time App Limits feature allows you to control how long apps can be used by setting time restrictions. However, occasional glitches may cause this feature to stop working properly. To resolve this issue, you need to reset the App Limit settings.

Step 1. Go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits.

Step 2. Under App Limits, select any existing app limit or app category. Tap Delete Limit to remove it.

Step 3. After clearing old limits, tap Add Limit.

Step 4. Choose the app category or specific apps you want to restrict. Then tap Next.

Step 5. Set the daily time limit for the chosen apps. Tap Add to save the new limit.

Way 9. Check Privacy & Restrictions settings

iPhone Screen Time not working may also be caused by misconfigured Content & Privacy Restrictions. This feature blocks explicit content, disables in-app purchases, and limits specific iPhone functions. If these settings clash with your App Limits, Screen Time might not apply the restrictions properly. Checking and modifying these settings usually helps fix the issue: Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Ensure Content & Privacy Restrictions toggle is turned on and check settings.

Way 10. Ensure Other Screen Time Options Enabled

Besides restricting access to apps and questionable content, Screen Time also includes Screen Distance and Communication Safety features. When Screen Time is still not working on your iPhone, the issue may be that Screen Distance or Communication Safety is disabled. To fix this, go to Settings > Screen Time > Screen Distance and make sure it’s enabled. Navigate to Communication Safety and toggle it on as well.

Way 11. Ensure App Isn’t Excluded from Screen Time

Sometimes, Screen Time might already work properly on your iPhone. You may be unable to manage a particular app or view its usage data because it is excluded from Screen Time. To make sure this isn’t happening, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open Settings, then go to Screen Time > Always Allowed.

Step 2. Check if the app you want to control is listed among the allowed apps.

Step 3. Access the Always Allowed section in Screen Time.

Step 4. If the app appears, tap the Minus icon next to it and select Remove.

Way 12. Allow Third-party Apps to Access Screen Time

Lack of permission for third-party apps to access Screen Time data can cause Screen Time to stop working properly. To fix this, go to Settings > Screen Time > Find Apps with Screen Time access > Toggle on the apps you want to allow.

Way 13. Re-enable Screen Time Passcode

The Screen Time Passcode is useful because it stops others from altering the screen time settings. However, glitches may cause this feature to not work properly. Follow the steps to turn the Screen Time Passcode off and on again to fix the issue:

Step 1. Go to Settings > Screen Time. Tap Change Screen Time Passcode.

Step 2. Choose Turn Off Screen Time Passcode, then enter your existing passcode.

Step 3. After it’s disabled, go back to Change Screen Time Passcode.

Step 4. Tap Turn On Screen Time Passcode → enter a new passcode → re-enter to confirm.

Way 14. Allow Settings to Use WLAN & Cellular Data

User feedback suggests that restricting the Settings app from using WLAN and cellular data may cause Screen Time not to work properly. To fix this, make sure the Settings app is allowed to access both WLAN and cellular data. Go to Settings > WLAN > Apps Using WLAN & Cellular > Select Settings > Tap on WLAN & Cellular Data option.

Way 15. Sign Out and Sign in to iCloud

Screen Time uses iCloud to save data and synchronize settings across devices linked to the same Apple ID. If Screen Time isn’t appearing or functioning correctly, logging out of your Apple ID and then logging back in might fix the problem. Just open the Settings app > Select the Apple ID banner > Choose Sign Out > Enter your Apple ID password.

Way 16. Reset All Settings

If Screen Time is still not working on your iPhone after trying all other fixes, resetting all settings may help resolve hidden conflicts in system configurations. Before resetting all settings on your iPhone, you may wonder does resetting iPhone delete everything? Don’t worry, it won’t erase your data, and only the system settings will be reset. To perform a resetting action, go to Settings > General > Scroll down and choose Reset > Tap on Reset All Settings. After the process completes, try to turn on Screen Time to see whether it is working now.

Way 17. Fix iPhone System Issues – AnyFix [Easy & Safe]

Sometimes, the iPhone Screen Time not working issue may be caused by deeper iOS system problems that the above methods cannot fix. In such cases, using a professional iOS system repair tool is the best option. AnyFix is highly recommended, as it can repair over 150+ iOS system issues without causing data loss. It provides three repair modes to handle everything from minor bugs to more severe system crashes, such as being stuck on the Apple logo, boot loop, or black screen. With just a few simple steps, AnyFix can quickly resolve iPhone Screen Time not working.

Main Benefits of AnyFix:

• Fixes 150+ iOS/iPadOS issues, including Screen Time errors, app crashes, etc.
• Repairs system glitches without erasing personal data.
• Multiple repair modes can be chosen according to system errors.
• Fix iPhone Screen Time not working within minutes.
• Easy steps to fix iOS system issues; no technical skills are required.

Here’s how to fix iPhone screen time not working with AnyFix:

Step 1: Download AnyFix on Computer

Download and install AnyFix on your Windows or Mac computer. Launch AnyFix and click System Repair from the main screen.

Step 2: Choose Corresponding System Issues

Choose App Issues, then choose Standard Repair from the 3 options.

Step 3: Repair System Issue Successfully:

Follow the instructions to finish system repair with AnyFix. After repairing, your iPhone is supposed to restart, and the Screen Time will work normally.

Bonus Tip: How to Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

All those above tips would solve the Screen Time Not Working issue easily if you gave them a try. As a time-limit or time-optimized feature on iOS, sometimes, you may forget the passcode as it is different from the screen passcode. Therefore, what do you do if you forget your restrictions passcode? Well, it won’t be so difficult to unlock the Screen Time passcode. You just need to get help from AnyUnlock – iPhone Password Unlocker.

The following detailed steps will lead to an easy and quick way to remove the Screen Time passcodes.

Step 1. Download AnyUnlock and run it on your computer, then connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable > Choose the Unlock Screen Time Passcode on the right corner.

Step 2. To tap on the Unlock Now, AnyUnlock will start the screen time passcode unlock journey.

Step 3. On this page, you will see AnyUnlock backing up your iPhone in case of data loss. The data will be encrypted before it starts backing up. Please remember the passcode. Also, it is analyzing your device.

Step 4. Wait for a while, and you will get an iPhone without a Screen Time passcode.

FAQs about iPhone Screen Time Not Working

Q1. How to fix Apple Screen Time app limits not working?

To fix Apple Screen Time app limits not working, ensure the feature is turned on, remove and then reapply the limits, set your date and time to update automatically.

Q2. Why is Screen Time not showing data on iPhone?

Screen Time not showing data on iPhone can happen due to incorrect settings, iCloud sync issues, or system glitches. Try toggling Screen Time off and on again, or sign out and back into your Apple ID.

Q3. How do I manage my child’s screen time on my iPhone?

To manage children’s Screen Time on your iPhone, you should set up Family Sharing first. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Set Up Screen Time for Family. Then follow the prompts to add your child as a family member.

The Bottom Line

In summary, this guide provides 16 practical methods to resolve the issue of iPhone Screen Time not working properly. Follow these steps one by one to identify the solution that works best for you. If the problem stems from more serious iOS system errors, we strongly suggest using AnyFix to quickly fix iOS system problems without losing data. This tool can also help you upgrade or downgrade iOS devices. Download AnyFix now to restore complete control over your iPhone.