Screen Time limits not working on iPhone? Try these 7 fixes.

Start with a one-minute App Limit test on one app. If the restriction appears but you can continue using the app, Screen Time is working and an override or extra-time approval is the issue; if no restriction appears at all, check the Screen Time settings below before resetting anything. This page covers broad Screen Time failures, while a single broken App Limit has its own dedicated troubleshooting guide.

1. Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
2. Tap App & Website Activity and make sure it is on. Screen Time cannot track usage or apply limits when this setting is off.
3. Tap Always Allowed. Remove the app from this list if you want Screen Time to restrict it.
4. Tap Share Across Devices. With this on, usage and limits sync across every device signed in to the same Apple Account, which can make a limit look like it ran out early or never applied on this iPhone.
5. Check Downtime if you need an app restricted during scheduled hours rather than by a daily allowance.
6. Run the one-minute test on one app. If the restriction appears but you can continue, the limit is working and the available override is the issue.
7. Check Ignore Limit, additional-time approvals, and Family Sharing requests. For a child, verify the correct account, active limit, schedule, and private passcode from the parent or guardian device.

If it's one specific App Limit that won't enforce — the wrong app selected, a shared allowance, or a rule that needs rebuilding — that's the single most common cause, and it has its own dedicated fix: see the full App Limit troubleshooting guide for the exact steps.

App Limits set a daily allowance, while Downtime makes most apps unavailable during scheduled hours. If you need a schedule instead of a daily allowance, set up Downtime.

For a quick test, create a one-minute limit for one app. If the restriction appears but you can continue using the app, Screen Time is working and the issue is the available override. See how to make Screen Time limits harder to ignore.

The Ignore Limit option means Screen Time reached the limit and is offering a way to continue. Changing the timer will not remove that option.

Focus is separate from Screen Time. It can reduce notifications, but it does not set a daily app allowance or block an app by itself.

If you manage your child's Screen Time through Family Sharing, check their settings from the parent or guardian device: make sure the correct child is selected, their App Limit is still active, Downtime is scheduled correctly, the Screen Time passcode is private, and any requests for more time haven't been approved unintentionally. Children can request additional time after reaching certain Screen Time limits, so an app becoming available again doesn't always mean the original limit failed.

If the one-app test still fails, install the latest iOS update, restart your iPhone, and recreate the affected limit. Contact Apple Support if Screen Time still does not behave normally. Change one setting at a time so you can identify the cause.

If Screen Time works but its override is too easy to use, a dedicated app blocker can add more friction. Fella blocks the distracting apps you choose during a focus session. Each session includes one five-minute emergency unlock, after which those apps are blocked again. See how Fella blocks apps on iPhone, or see Fella's plans to get started. If overriding the limit itself has become the habit, see the app blocker built for people who keep overriding Screen Time.

Why is my Screen Time limit not working on iPhone? Start by checking App & Website Activity, the affected App Limit, Always Allowed, Downtime, and Share Across Devices. A setting mismatch is often the cause.

Why can I still open an app after reaching my Screen Time limit? If your iPhone offers Ignore Limit or additional time, the limit may already be working. The available override depends on how the device and restriction are configured.

Why does my Screen Time limit run out too early? Usage from another iPhone, iPad, or Mac can count toward Screen Time when Share Across Devices is on.

What is the difference between App Limits and Downtime? App Limits give selected apps or categories a daily allowance. Downtime restricts app availability during scheduled hours.

Should I reset Screen Time if App Limits stop working? Not immediately. Test one app, check the relevant settings, restart the iPhone, and recreate only the affected limit first.

Read more about setting App Limits correctly or using an iPhone app blocker. For the rest of the troubleshooting series, see the Screen Time & App Limits guides.