iPhone (iOS) · Accounts & Family
Set Daily App Limits and Scheduled Downtime
App Limits and Downtime, part of Screen Time, let you cap daily time spent in app categories and schedule periods when only phone calls and allowed apps remain available.
How to open App Limits & Downtime
- Open Settings → Screen Time
- Tap App Limits → Add Limit and choose categories or apps
- Set the daily time budget and days it applies
- Tap Downtime and set a start/end schedule
- Review Always Allowed to keep essential apps accessible
What you should know
- App Limits apply per category (e.g., Social, Games) or to individual apps
- Downtime schedules recurring or one-time blocks where restricted apps are unavailable
- 'Always Allowed' apps stay accessible even during Downtime
- A 'One More Minute' request can be sent to a parent/guardian to extend time
Why it matters
App Limits and Downtime give families and individuals a structured way to reduce compulsive app use without deleting apps outright, which research on digital wellbeing consistently shows is more sustainable than all-or-nothing blocking. For parents, these controls are the primary lever for managing a child's device use during school nights or family time, with requests to extend time creating a natural conversation rather than a silent workaround. For adults managing their own habits, seeing a hard stop reinforces intention over impulse.
Best practices
- Set Downtime to start well before bedtime to protect sleep
- Use category-based limits rather than blocking single apps to close loopholes
- Review the weekly Screen Time report before adjusting limits
- Keep essential apps like Phone, Maps, or Health in Always Allowed
Common problems and fixes
- An app is blocked during Downtime unexpectedly
- Add it to Always Allowed under Screen Time if it's needed during restricted hours
- A child bypasses limits by deleting and reinstalling an app
- Enable 'Block deleting apps' under Screen Time content restrictions
- Limit extension requests aren't arriving
- Confirm both devices are signed into Family Sharing and notifications are enabled
Tips and tricks
- Use a shorter limit as a trial before committing to a stricter long-term schedule
- Combine with Guided Access for single-session focus time beyond daily limits
Frequently asked questions
Do App Limits reset automatically?
Yes, they reset daily at midnight unless configured otherwise.
Can Downtime differ by day of the week?
Yes, you can set a custom schedule that varies for different days.
Does Downtime block phone calls?
No, Phone and any apps marked Always Allowed remain usable during Downtime.
Related settings
- Screen Time & FamilyScreen Time shows how you (or your family) use your devices and lets you set app limits, downtime schedules, and content restrictions — especially useful when set up through Family Sharing for a child's device.
- Family SharingFamily Sharing lets up to six people share App Store and iTunes purchases, an Apple Music or Apple One subscription, iCloud+ storage, and a shared photo album — plus parental controls for kids' accounts.
- Guided AccessGuided Access temporarily restricts iPhone to one app and lets you disable specific screen areas, hardware buttons, or gestures, helping someone stay focused or preventing accidental exits.
More Accounts & Family guides for iPhone (iOS)
- Apple ID & iCloudThe account panel at the top of Settings is where your Apple ID lives on iPhone — your name, phone numbers, email addresses, and every iCloud service (Photos, Backup, Drive, Mail, and more) that's currently syncing to your account.
- Sign-In & SecuritySign-In & Security is where you change your Apple ID password, view your two-factor authentication trusted phone numbers, and manage which devices are trusted to approve sign-ins.
- Mail, Contacts, Calendars AccountsThis Accounts list is where you add Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or other third-party accounts so their mail, contacts, and calendars sync into the built-in Mail, Contacts, and Calendar apps alongside iCloud.
- Apple Cash & Family PaymentsApple Cash Family lets an organizer set up Apple Cash for a family member under 18, issue a virtual or physical debit card, fund their balance, and monitor or limit their transactions.
- Ask to BuyAsk to Buy requires children in a Family Sharing group to send a purchase or download request that an organizer approves or declines from their own device before it completes.
- Calendar AccountsCalendar account settings let you add and sync calendars from iCloud, Google, Exchange, Yahoo, and other CalDAV services, choosing which calendars are visible and how invitations are handled by default.