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How To Use Apple’s Downtime Feature On Your iPhone

With the introduction of iOS 12, Apple added a feature to the iPhone called Downtime. The feature is a tool that can be used to combat screen addiction by blocking off the use of certain apps during a set time of day. But how do you use it?

To use the Downtime feature on iPhone, open the Settings app and select Screen Time. In this menu, select Downtime, and you should be able to set a time of day when your phone will block the use of certain non-necessary apps and apply a Bedtime Focus.

Apple’s Screen Time menu has other helpful features. For example, it’s possible to set a screen time password so you can’t go past your screen limit without typing a password. Let’s get into the topic of Downtime on iPhone in more detail to help you or your loved ones put down the phone and be more productive.

What is the Purpose of the Downtime Feature on an iPhone?

iphone screen with some app icons greyed out

With technology becoming more and more of a vital part of people’s lives, a new problem has become a real issue in recent years: screen addiction. Some people spend too much time looking at their phones and never get as much work done as they could.

It can be easy for people with this problem to say something like, “Just don’t use your phone while working.” However, some people just can’t get over this addiction without a little bit of support.

For these people, Apple has created a feature called Downtime. The Downtime feature limits your phone’s usage during certain hours of the day to help you resist the temptation and hopefully kick your screen addiction.

When your set Downtime begins, certain apps will be grayed out. This will give a warning message whenever you open an app that you are currently in Downtime and should not be using the app. This does not affect apps that could be used in an emergency, like your Phone app.

How Do You Set Up Downtime on an iPhone?

To set up the Downtime feature on your phone:

  1. First, begin by opening the Settings app. Underneath your Do Not Disturb settings, you should see a setting that says Screen Time.
  1. Select Screen Time, and you will be greeted with a menu featuring a graph showing how often you use your phone.
  1. Under this graph is the Downtime option. Select this, and you can set when you would like your phone to enter Downtime.
  1. Here, you’ll see two options: Every Day and Customize Days. Selecting Every Day will let you set your Downtime at the same time every day. On the other hand, Customize Days allows you to individually set your Downtime for each day of the week.

You will receive a notification 5 minutes before your Downtime begins. Once Downtime begins, multiple apps on your home screen will be grayed out. If you select a grayed-out app, you’ll be reminded that your phone is in Downtime.

From here, you can either cancel opening the app, or you can tap Ignore Limit. Selecting Ignore Limit allows you to either use the app for one more minute, ask to be reminded in fifteen minutes, or just ignore the limit entirely.

How to Add a Screen Time Password

If you are a parent trying to kick the screen addiction of a child, or just someone trying to help someone else, you may want to set a screen time password.

This feature makes you enter a password to change your Screen Time settings. This feature is an excellent counter to people that tend to select Ignore Limit when their screen time is up.

To set a screen time password:

  1. First, open the Settings app and then select Screen Time.
  1. In the Screen Time menu, you should see an option that says Use Screen Time Passcode.
  1. Select this option, and you will be prompted to enter a four-digit passcode. This is the passcode you will be asked for to change any screen time settings, so make sure you remember it. However, if you ever forget the password, you can use your Apple ID and Password to change it.
  1. Once you’ve done this, your screen time passcode should be set up.

If you ever need to change it, you can do this by opening Settings, going to Screen Time, and then selecting Change Screen Time Passcode.

Setting a Proper Device Limit

iphone with tiktok page on app store

It can be easy to claim that you shouldn’t spend too much time using your phone daily. However, just how much time is “too much” exactly?

In 2021, BBC reported that the average adult spent around 4.8 hours per day on their phones. This time was mainly spent on the most popular apps downloaded in 2021. These apps included TikTok (the most popular app of the year), YouTube, and other social media apps.

Many studies in the past have indicated that spending less time looking at screens can do wonders for your mental health and sometimes even your physical health.

For example, in 2017, a study performed by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center found that people who spent more than 6 hours a day looking at their screens had a much higher rate of depression than those who didn’t.

So if 6 hours a day on your phone is way too much, what is the perfect amount of screen time? Generally, experts agree that the average person should spend less than 2 hours a day on their phone.

You can support this lifestyle by using Apple’s downtime feature to make it, so your phone’s apps are only usable for 2 hours each day. This will likely have multiple benefits for your physical and mental health.

Another option for limiting screen time is making your social media apps less accessible. For example, removing apps from your home screen may limit the temptation to open them.

Is Downtime Available on all Apple Devices?

Apple’s Downtime feature was introduced alongside iOS 12. This means that if your iPhone runs on iOS 12 or later, you should be able to use the Downtime feature.

This feature is also available on other Apple devices. For example, Downtime was introduced to Mac computers with macOS Catalina. The feature can also be found in the settings of most iPads and Apple Watches.