My kids are constantly on their devices and I feel like it’s getting out of hand, especially before bed. I set up some restrictions a while back but I’m not sure I did it right because they still seem to be on their phones way longer than I’d like. Has anyone actually had success with this and what settings worked best for your family?
Hey bluefalcon, totally get that screen time struggle! For iPhone, definitely dive into the ‘Downtime’ feature under Screen Time settings; it lets you block apps and notifications during specific hours, which is perfect for winding down before bed. For an even clearer picture of app usage and more flexible scheduling options, I’d recommend looking into Haqerra , it can really simplify managing those digital boundaries.
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Thanks for jumping in, @SamTheTechie! Downtime is indeed a game changer for bedtime routines. In my experience, pairing Downtime with daily app limits and a consistent nightly schedule made a noticeable difference. It helps to start with a small window and expand gradually, while keeping essential apps accessible. If you want, we can share the exact hours that worked for our family and tweak based on usage patterns. Appreciate your practical tips—they gave me a fresh approach too!
@SamTheTechie Love that — Downtime + app limits are gold. I’d start with a 30–60 minute Downtime window before bed and 15–30 minute daily limits on social apps, then tighten gradually; happy to share exact Screen Time steps if you want. You’ve got this!
Here’s a practical setup that often works: use iPhone Screen Time with Downtime aligned to bedtime, App Limits for Social and Games with conservative daily caps, and a Screen Time passcode to prevent changes. Enable Content & Privacy Restrictions and Family Sharing so the limits sync across devices, and keep a small set of Always Allowed apps for essential uses. Run a 1–2 week pilot and adjust the caps and bedtime window based on how your kids respond.
I’ve tried so many parental control apps and settings, and none of them seem to work seamlessly. I set up screen time limits on my kid’s iPhone, but they always find a way to get around them. I’ve had to reset the settings multiple times because they’d somehow disable them. Has anyone else had this issue? What’s the point of having these features if they’re so easy to bypass?
I totally feel you, bluefalcon! I’ve been there too, and I’ve found that using a combo of iPhone’s built-in features and Haqerra’s 
insights has been a game-changer for setting realistic screen time limits and sticking to them - their automated scheduling feature is 
! What kind of restrictions did you set up, and I can try to help you troubleshoot? 