By Michael | Last Updated
Q: "I was looking forward to the new features brought by iOS 18 Beta and updated my device a few days ago, but the beta software seems to have a screen time bug? I can't open Screen Time because it keeps crashing, which bothers me."
Apple's Screen Time feature is a utility for managing and limiting device usage time and content. Since its introduction in iOS 12, it has continued to improve with iOS updates and has been well received by Apple fans. However, recently a number of users have reported glitches with Screen Time on their Apple devices such as crashes, limits not working, freezes, and more.
This guide will discuss why screen time not working on iOS 18 and how to fix it. These ways should apply to any system version, including iOS 17, iOS 16, and iOS 15, but the path of operation may be a little different.
Why is screen time not working on iPhone, especially after updating to iOS 18/17/16? This faults is usually related to software or system settings, such as software bugs, low-power mode restrictions, and settings conflicts. Therefore, we can try to fix the issue through troubleshooting.
There is also a scenario where your child tries to hack or bypass screen time, so the time limits and access restrictions set on your phone for your child's device are disabled. Apple has reportedly fixed the "Screen Time" bypass vulnerability in the iOS 17.5.2 update.
Restarting your iPhone closes all running programs and processes, fixes minor system glitches and refreshes the system state, and may help restore normal screen time usage.
Step 1: The exact restart button depends on your device model.
iPhone X and newer: press and hold any volume button and side button.
iPhone 6/7/8 and SE (2nd and 3rd generation): press and hold the side button.
iPhone SE (first generation) and earlier: press and hold the top button.
Step 2: Wait for the power off slider to appear and drag it to the far right to turn off your device.
Step 3: After waiting for ten seconds, turn on the device by pressing and holding the power on button on your iPhone and then you can check if its screen time will still not work.
In low battery mode, the system shuts down or restricts certain background activities and functions to extend battery life. Therefore, if your device is in low battery mode, Screen Time may not be able to properly record and process the usage of the apps on your device, such as not being able to access Screen Time, or even the whole function crashes.
Step 1: Open "Settings" > "Battery" option.
Step 2: If the switch next to "Low Power Mode" is green, it means your device is in low power mode.
Step 3: Tap on this switch to turn off Low Power Mode.
If your iPhone's screen time report isn't showing, parental controls aren't syncing, or App restrictions are failing, these issues are usually related to the status of the device's network or Apple servers. Before you do any other troubleshooting, you can head over to Apple System Services to check if it's under maintenance or down.
Sometimes turning off the Screen Time feature and then turning it back on and setting a new screen time limit can resolve configuration or operational issues within its functionality. Before resetting, please note that this will clear all "Screen Time Usage Data".
Step 1: Go to "Screen Time", click "Change Screen Time Passcode".
Step 2: Click "Turn Off Screen Time Passcode", enter the screen time passcode to verify your identity as required by the system, and then you can turn it off.
Step 3: If you have forgotten your screen time passcode, click the "Forgot Passcode" button and enter your Apple ID credentials, you will be able to reset a new passcode.
Here is the solution of no option for forgot screen time passcode if needed.
If after updating to iOS 18/17/16, Screen Time is experiencing issues such as usage report anomalies, password verification failures, or data not syncing, you can try to fix it by logging out and signing back in to your Apple ID. This will force iCloud to resynchronize all relevant data, including Screen Time's.
Additionally, logging out and logging back in will also resolve conflicts between Screen Time settings and other iCloud settings, thus restoring its normal functionality.
Coming to this, if your iPhone's screen time still doesn't work, you can try the following steps: Go to "Settings" > "General" > "Restore" > "Restore All Settings". This will restore all the settings on your device to their default state, thus completely removing any possible interference with Screen Time.
Screen time not working could be a bug in iOS 18 Beta or a specific iOS. Apple usually fixes some known bugs in newer versions, so you can update your iPhone to the latest iOS.
Click on "General" > "Software Update", if it shows that there is an available iOS update, click "Update Now" to to complete the upgrade process.
Tip: If you can't install iOS 18 Beta via OTA. iSunshare iOS Repair Genius provides a one-click option to quickly upgrade to the latest available iOS Beta. You can also use this tool to downgrade iOS 18 to iOS 17.
Factory resetting your device is the most thorough but also the most effective way to fix screen time unavailability, and this has been proven to be effective by quite a few users in some forums.
Step 1: Backup your important data to iCloud or PC.
Step 2: Turn off the screen time limit, then go to "General" and click "Transfer or Reset iPhone" > "Reset".
Tip: If you can't turn off the screen time, you can choose other reset methods, such as Restore iPhone with iTunes.
Step 3: Click "Erase All Content and Settings" and enter your screen password to confirm.
Whether it's because the screen time has become not working after updating to a new iOS or the problem has suddenly appeared, the solutions provided in this guide are applicable to all situations. If you are unable to fix the screen time not working error on your device after trying the above options, it is recommended to seek help from Apple support.
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