Set up Screen Time for yourself on iPad

With Screen Time, you can manage your app use, schedule time away from your devices, and more. You can change or turn off any of these settings at any time.

Schedule time away from the screen

In Screen Time, you can block apps and notifications for periods when you want time away from your devices. For example, you might want to schedule downtime during meals or at bedtime.

Go to Settings > Screen Time, then turn on Screen Time if you haven’t already.
Tap Downtime, then turn on Downtime.
Select Every Day or Customize Days, then set the start and end times.

Turn on downtime on demand

During downtime, only calls, messages, and apps you choose to allow are available. You can receive calls from contacts you’ve selected to allow communication with during downtime, and you can use apps you’ve chosen to allow at all times.

When you turn on downtime on demand, a five-minute reminder is sent before downtime is turned on. It stays on until the end of the day, or until the beginning of your scheduled downtime, if you’ve scheduled it.

Go to Settings > Screen Time, then turn on Screen Time if you haven’t already.
Tap Downtime, then tap Turn On Downtime Until Tomorrow, or Turn On Downtime Until Schedule (if Scheduled is turned on).
To turn off downtime on demand, tap Turn Off Downtime.

Note: You can also turn on downtime on demand for a family member, either directly on their device, or through Family Sharing on your device.

Set limits for app use

You can set a time limit for a category of apps (for example, Games or Social Networking) and for individual apps.

Go to Settings > Screen Time, then turn on Screen Time if you haven’t already.
Tap App Limits, then tap Add Limit.
Select one or more app categories.
To set limits for individual apps, tap the category name to see all the apps in that category, then select the apps you want to limit. If you select multiple categories or apps, the time limit you set applies to all of them.
Tap Next, then set the amount of time allowed.
To set an amount of time for each day, tap Customize Days, then set limits for specific days.
When you finish setting limits, tap Add.

To temporarily turn off all app limits, tap App Limits on the App Limits screen. To temporarily turn off a time limit for a specific category, tap the category, then turn off App Limit.

To remove a limit for a category, tap the category, then tap Delete Limit.

Set communication limits

In Screen Time, you can either allow or block communication—including incoming and outgoing phone calls, FaceTime calls, and messages—from certain contacts in iCloud, either at all times or during certain periods.

If you haven’t already turned on Contacts in iCloud, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, then turn on Contacts.
Go to Settings > Screen Time, then turn on Screen Time if you haven’t already.
Tap Communication Limits, tap During Screen Time, then select one of the following for communication at all times (other than downtime):
- Contacts Only: To allow communication only with your contacts.
- Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact: To allow one-on-one conversations only with people in your contacts and group conversations that include at least one person in your contacts.
- Everyone: To allow conversations with anyone, including unknown numbers.
Tap Back at the top left, then tap During Downtime.
The option you selected for During Screen Time is already set here. You can change this setting to Specific Contacts, then choose one of the following:
- Choose From My Contacts: To select contacts to allow communication with during Downtime.
- Add New Contact: To add a person to your contacts and allow communication with that person during downtime.

If someone who’s currently blocked by your Communication Limit settings tries to call you or send you a message, their communication won’t go through.

If you try to call or send a message to someone who’s currently blocked by your Communication Limit settings, their name or number appears in red in your list of recent calls or messages, and your communication won’t go through. You can communicate with them when the communication limit is changed. If the limit applies only to downtime, you receive a Time Limit message. You can resume communication with the contact when downtime is over.

To resume communication with contacts who are blocked by your Communication Limit settings, change the settings by following the steps above.

Choose apps and contacts you want to allow at all times

In Screen Time, you can specify apps that can be used, and contacts you can communicate with, at all times—even during downtime (for example, in the event of an emergency).

Go to Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed.
Below Allowed Apps, tap or next to an app to add or remove it from the Allowed Apps list.
To specify contacts you want to allow communication with, tap Contacts.
The option you selected in Communication Limits appears here. You can change this setting to Specific Contacts, then choose one of the following:
- Choose From My Contacts: To select specific people to allow communication with.
- Add New Contact: To add a new contact and allow communication with that person.
Tap Back at the top left.

Set content and privacy restrictions

You can block inappropriate content and set restrictions for iTunes Store and App Store purchases.

Go to Settings > Screen Time, then turn on Screen Time if you haven’t already.
Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions, then tap options to set content allowances for iTunes Store and App Store purchases, app use, content ratings, and so on.
You can also set a passcode that’s required before changing settings.
Select options to set content allowances for iTunes Store and App Store purchases, app use, content ratings, and more.
Note: To restrict SharePlay in FaceTime calls on your device (iPadOS 15.1 or later), go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps, then turn off SharePlay. To allow SharePlay, turn it on.

To share your Screen Time settings and reports across all your devices, make sure you’re signed in with the same Apple ID and Share Across Devices is turned on.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide