How can I fix a kid's device connection?

Kid devices can become disconnected for a few reasons. We'll walk you through how to find out what's happening.

  1. On the parent device, open the Screenable app, go to your kid's settings, and tap the device in question.
  2. If the status says Connected, then everything is in good shape.
  3. If the status says Offline, then the device isn't checking in with Screenable. See below for how to tell what's going on.
  4. If the status says Needs Permission, then see below for the steps to repair it.

What if the status shows Offline?

This means the device isn't checking in. Here's how to investigate:

  1. The device may simply be turned off, or not able to get online. In this case, just get it online and open the Screenable app on the kid's device. Within 5 minute, you should see its status change to Connected in the Screenable app on your (the parent's) device.
  2. The device may have lost its permission to access Screen Time, and can't report back to the Screenable service. In that case, continue to the instructions below.

What if the status shows Needs Permission?

This means the Screenable app on the device has lost the ability to access and manage screen time. Here's how to fix it:

  1. On the kid's device, first check if the Screenable app is still there. If not, you'll need to reinstall it from the App Store and start the process of adding a kid's device – and skip the rest of these steps.
  2. On the kid's device, go to Settings > Screen Time.
  3. Scroll down to "Apps with screen time access" (right above the "Shared Across Devices" toggle).
    • If Screenable's toggle is off, turn it back on – and it should be fixed. (You will need to sign into your – the parent's – iCloud account.)
    • If you don't see Screenable in that that section (or you don't see that section at all), continue on to reconnect your device.
  4. To reconnect your kid's device, you'll need to start all over. It's easiest just to delete the Screenable app from your kid's device and reinstall it from the App Store, then go through the process of adding a kid's device.