Many parents worry about kids’ screen time and look for solutions for parental control of screen time limit. The good news is the function is available on iPhone and iPad with the Guided Access feature.
The Guided Access allows you to lock the iPad or iPhone screen within the app you choose. When it is on, kids can only use that one app. To get out of the app, they need your password to stop Guided Access. We have a detailed guide on how to lock the screen within one app using Guided Access.
Today we share the feature to also set a time limit using the Guided Access. By the end of the time limit, kids will just see a black screen telling them the time is up. The screen becomes in-responsive, meaning kids can’t get out of it for another app. The only way to unfreeze the screen is for you to disable the Guided Access, which requires password.
Set Screen Time Limit on iPad and iPhone with Parent Control
1. First you need start Guided Access.
You can find detailed step by step guide with screen shots here: How to lock the iPad or iPhone screen within the app.
2. Set up Screen Time Limit feature.
When you set up the Guided Access, there will be a new option Time Limits. Tap on it will bring a new screen, letting you to choose the warning signs when the time is up. You can choose Sound or Speak. I would choose both. For Sound, you are given the option to pick a sound from your device sound profiles.
3. Activate the Screen Time Limit Feature.
After you have screen time limit feature set up, you can use it anytime. To use the feature, after you open an app, triple click the home button, you will see Guided Access is activated. There will be a label at the top of the screen saying Guided Access.
At the bottom of the screen, you can see Option. Tap on Option. You will see a new screen, and the last item on this new screen is Time Limit. Tap on Time Limit, and make sure the button to the right is green. Now you can use the scroll to set the time you want your child stay on the app. You will see the time showing up right under Time Limit, then tap Done.
4. Screen Time Limit in Action.
After activating the feature, you can give the device to your child, knowing they can only stay within that app, and they can only stay on it for the set time.
5. When it is close to the time, kids will see and hear the warnings.
6. When the time is up, they will see a black screen telling them screen time expired. They cannot get out of the screen or get on another app without your disabling Guided Access first.
7. To stop Guided Access, tap on End at the top left corner of the screen.
Hope this is helpful.
