Open Settings > Screen Time > Downtime to schedule when most apps are unavailable. Choose Every Day or Customize Days, set the start and end time, review Always Allowed, and turn on Block at Downtime for stricter blocking.
Quick setup: Go to Settings > Screen Time > Downtime. If App & Website Activity is off, turn it on first. Enable Scheduled, choose Every Day or Customize Days, then set the start and end times.
Review Always Allowed for exceptions. To make restricted apps unavailable instead of showing a reminder you can continue past, set a Screen Time passcode and turn on Block at Downtime. If your starting question is broader, see how to block apps at certain times of day on iPhone.
1. Turn on Screen Time. Go to Settings > Screen Time > App & Website Activity, then turn it on if it is not already enabled.
2. Open Downtime. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Downtime and turn on Scheduled.
3. Choose the schedule. Select Every Day for one repeating window, or Customize Days for different times on workdays and weekends. Set the start and end times.
4. Block restricted apps. Set a Screen Time passcode, then turn on Block at Downtime. With this off, restricted apps are dimmed but you can continue using them; with it on, they cannot be opened during Downtime.
5. Choose exceptions. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed and choose the apps and contacts that should remain available.
iPhone sends a five-minute reminder before scheduled Downtime begins. You can also use Turn On Downtime Until Tomorrow for a one-off period without changing the recurring schedule. If you no longer need a schedule, turn off Downtime without disabling all of Screen Time.
Downtime: a schedule. Most apps and notifications are unavailable during the start-to-end window, such as bedtime, meals, or a work block.
App Limits: a daily allowance. Set a number of minutes for chosen app categories or individual apps; it is not tied to one scheduled period. If that daily rule is misbehaving, see App Limits not working on iPhone.
Always Allowed: the exceptions. Choose which apps and contacts can remain available during Downtime and after App Limits are reached.
Screen Time passcode: protects Screen Time settings. It is separate from the iPhone unlock passcode. For a child’s iPhone, manage Screen Time through the child’s Family settings and keep the passcode private.
Focus modes: manage notifications, people, apps, and screens. They can be scheduled, but they do not replace Downtime when the goal is to restrict app access.
Use Downtime when you want scheduled windows. It fits bedtime, a recurring work period, meals, family time, or another time when access should return at a predictable hour.
It is not an all-day block. If selected distracting apps should stay blocked by default rather than reopen on a schedule, Fella is an all-day app-blocker option. It blocks selected apps by default and is intentionally not a scheduling tool.
Downtime has not started: Check that Scheduled is on, the current day has the expected times, and the current time falls inside the window.
An app still opens: Turn on Block at Downtime, then check Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed to make sure the app is not an exception. If those checks are correct but restrictions still fail, see Screen Time limits not working.
Calls or messages are not behaving as expected: Review Always Allowed contacts and Settings > Screen Time > Communication Limits. Those settings can affect who you can contact during Downtime.
The restriction is easy to change: Set a Screen Time passcode. For a child’s device, use Family Screen Time rather than relying on the child to protect their own settings.
| Tool | What it controls | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Downtime | Most apps during scheduled hours. | Bedtime, meals, work blocks, or family time. |
| App Limits | Daily minutes for selected apps or categories. | A daily allowance. |
| Focus | Notifications, people, apps, and screens. | Reducing interruptions. |
| Fella | Selected distracting apps blocked by default. | All-day boundaries instead of a recurring open window. |
Go to Settings > Screen Time > App & Website Activity and turn it on if needed. Then open Downtime, turn on Scheduled, choose Every Day or Customize Days, and set start and end times.
Set a Screen Time passcode, open Settings > Screen Time > Downtime, then turn on Block at Downtime. With it off, restricted apps are dimmed but can still be used.
Calls, messages, and the apps and contacts you choose in Screen Time > Always Allowed can remain available. Communication Limits can further affect calls and messages.
Downtime is a scheduled window when most apps are unavailable. App Limits are daily time allowances for chosen app categories or individual apps.
No. Focus mainly manages notifications, people, apps, and screens. Downtime is Screen Time’s scheduled app-access restriction.
Check that Scheduled is on and currently active, Block at Downtime is on, and the app is not listed under Always Allowed. Also check Communication Limits for calls and messages.
Use Downtime for scheduled windows such as bedtime or work hours. Consider Fella when selected distracting apps should stay blocked by default rather than return on a schedule.
