macOS · Accounts & Family
Track and manage device usage
Screen Time shows how much time you or a child spend in apps and on websites, and lets you set app limits, downtime schedules, and content restrictions that sync across signed-in Apple devices.
How to open Screen Time
- Open System Settings → Screen Time
- Turn on Screen Time and review the usage report
- Set App Limits or Downtime under the respective sections
- Enable Share Across Devices to sync settings
- Set a Screen Time passcode if managing another person's account
What you should know
- Usage reports broken down by app category and website
- App Limits to cap daily time in specific apps or categories
- Downtime schedules that restrict device use outside chosen hours
- Content & Privacy Restrictions for purchases, explicit content, and privacy settings
- Syncs across devices signed in with the same Apple Account
Why it matters
Screen Time turns vague concerns about device usage into concrete, actionable data, which helps both adults trying to build healthier habits and parents managing a child's device access. Because settings sync across a person's Apple devices, limits and restrictions set on a Mac carry over to an iPhone or iPad automatically, so managing screen habits does not require separately configuring each device.
Best practices
- Review the weekly usage summary to spot habit changes rather than only daily numbers
- Set App Limits on categories rather than individual apps to cover substitutes like different browsers
- Use downtime schedules aligned with actual routines like bedtime rather than arbitrary hours
- Set a separate Screen Time passcode from the device passcode when managing a child's account
Common problems and fixes
- Screen Time settings do not sync to another device
- Confirm both devices are signed in with the same Apple Account and have Screen Time turned on with sharing enabled.
- A blocked app still opens
- Check whether the limit applies to the specific app version or category, and confirm the restriction has not expired for the day.
- Forgotten Screen Time passcode
- Use Apple Account recovery through Screen Time settings, or reset it using the parent's Apple Account credentials.
Tips and tricks
- Use 'Always Allowed' to keep essential apps like Phone or Messages available even during downtime.
- Check the Screen Time widget in Notification Center for a quick usage glance without opening settings.
Frequently asked questions
Is Screen Time only for children's accounts?
No, any Apple Account holder can use it to monitor and limit their own usage.
Can I temporarily allow more time for a limited app?
Yes, a one-time extension request can be granted directly from the limit notification.
Does Screen Time track usage in Safari private browsing?
Yes, website usage is still tracked by category even in private browsing windows.
Related settings
- Family SharingFamily Sharing links up to six Apple IDs into one group so everyone can share iCloud+ storage, App Store and iTunes purchases, and subscriptions like Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade — without sharing passwords. It also gives parents tools like Ask to Buy and Screen Time to manage what kids can access.
- Apple Account & iCloud SynciCloud settings control which of your apps and data — Photos, Mail, Contacts, Find My Mac, and more — stay in sync across all your Apple devices, plus your iCloud storage plan.
- Users & GroupsUsers & Groups lets you create additional accounts for other people who use this Mac, decide whether each one is an administrator or a standard user, and organize accounts into groups for permission purposes. It's the foundation for keeping multiple people's files and settings separate on a shared Mac.
More Accounts & Family guides for macOS
- Internet AccountsInternet Accounts is where you add non-Apple email, contacts, and calendar accounts — like Google, Microsoft Exchange, Yahoo, or a standard IMAP account — so they sync into Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and Notes. It's separate from your Apple ID and handles every other account you use on the Mac.
- Password & Sign-inThis settings area covers your Mac account password, Touch ID fingerprint enrollment, and AutoFill for passwords and passkeys saved in your keychain. It's where you change your login password and decide how quickly Touch ID or a password is required to unlock the Mac.
- iCloud KeychainiCloud Keychain securely stores and syncs passwords, passkeys, and payment information across your Apple devices using end-to-end encryption, and can autofill them in Safari and other apps.
- Game CenterGame Center settings control your public gaming profile, friends list, and social features like leaderboards and achievements that sync across Apple devices for supported games.
- Wallet & Apple PayWallet & Apple Pay settings let you add and manage credit, debit, and transit cards for use with Apple Pay on the web and in apps, and configure default cards and shipping information.
- Apple Account SecurityApple Account Security settings manage two-factor authentication, trusted phone numbers, trusted devices, and recovery options that protect sign-in to your Apple Account across all your devices.