What are alternative ways to keep using Apple Screen Time?

For any given kid in your family, in terms of integrating Apple Screen Time with Screenable there are 3 different approaches you can take, each with pros and cons.

Please see our main article on using Apple Screen Time with Screenable for these instructions, as it's what we recommend most people do.

Option 2 (easiest): disable Screen Time entirely

This fully deactivates Apple Screen Time, so it's nice and easy. We only recommend this if you don't need Apple's "Communication" features, like managing your kid's contacts or limiting who can contact them.

  1. On your (i.e. the parent's) iPhone, go to Settings > Family > Choose your kid > Screen Time.
    • If you see a screen like the following, that means you've never set up Apple Screen Time for this kid – so you're already done and can exit this guide. Otherwise continue to the next step.

  2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Stop Managing [Kid]'s Screen Time, and enter your passcode to confirm.

  3. Repeat for each kid you want to set up in Screenable.

Option 3 (harder, but more flexible): disable multiple pieces of Screen Time separately

This option selectively disables parts of Apple Screen Time while keeping the rest intact, which allows you to use Screenable for screen time management but also, say, see Apple's charts & reports. Here's what you do:

  1. On your (i.e. the parent's) iPhone, go to Settings > Family > Choose your kid > Screen Time.
    • If you see a screen like the following, that means you've never set up Apple Screen Time for this kid. Continue through setup, but make sure to skip the steps that set a) App Limits, b) Always Allowed apps, or c) any Downtime schedules. Then you're done and can safely exit this guide. Otherwise continue to the next step.

  2. If you see App & Website Activity, tap it and turn it on (you may need to enter your screen time passcode), which will reveal the selections needed for the following steps.
    • If you don't see it, it's already on so just continue to the next step.
  3. Tap App Limits (you may need to enter your screen time passcode).
    • Turn off the App Limits toggle at the top, which means it will no longer limit app or screen time usage (since Screenable will now manage that).
  4. Then go back to Screen Time and tap Always Allowed.
    • Remove each app from the Always Allowed list (since Screenable will manage these as well). Note that you cannot remove the Phone app.
  5. Then go back to Screen Time and tap Downtime.
    • Turn off Scheduled, which means it will no longer automatically block your kid from using their devices during the downtime window (since Screenable will manage this as well).
  6. Then go back to Screen Time and tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
    • We recommend keeping the "Content & Privacy Restrictions" toggle off unless you really need it, since Screenable handles the important settings in here and turning it on immediately conflicts with Screenable's features. (For instance, Apple currently has a bug that removes the App Store if this toggle is on while using Screenable, even if you've specified in both Apple and Screenable settings that you don't want to remove it.) However, if you need it for some reason, then turn on the toggle and make your selections, with the awareness that some features will be broken in Screenable.
  7. Repeat for each kid you want to set up in Screenable.

Need help?

This can be a little bit tricky so please feel free to contact us! We'll walk you through it if you have any troubles.