Apple provides free device controls, called Screen Time, for iPhone® and iPad®. This article highlights the Screen Time features on iOS 15.1 (Apple’s iPhone® operating system) and later that work well with the Covenant Eyes app.
Turn on Screen Time
Follow these steps to turn on Screen Time:
- Open the Settings app on the iPhone® or iPad®.
- Tap "Screen Time.”
- Tap “Turn on Screen Time.”
- Tap “Continue.”
- Tap “This is my iPhone.”
- Tap “Use Screen Time Passcode.”
- Enter a 4-digit passcode (the Covenant Eyes member should not know this code). Re-enter the code for verification.
- In 2020, Apple released a feature for iOS 13+ called Screen Time Passcode Recovery. This feature allows you to reset the Screen Time Passcode via an Apple ID.
SUGGESTION 1: The ally can enter their Apple ID. The ally can then reset the Screen Time Passcode with their Apple ID. Allies can create a free Apple ID on Apple’s website, even if they don’t have an Apple device.
SUGGESTION 2: The ally can change the member’s Apple ID password before setting up the Screen Time Passcode. This way, the struggling member will be less able to “recover the passcode” and access the Screen Time settings.
SUGGESTION 3: You can select “Cancel” and opt out of Screen Time Passcode Recovery. The ally or whoever entered the code is then responsible for remembering it. Please note Covenant Eyes does not see or know your Screen Time Passcode, so if it’s lost or forgotten, you must contact Apple Support.
- Whether you skipped Passcode Recovery or not, Use Screen Time Passcode should change to Change Screen Time Passcode!
Check Safari
For the best accountability experience, use Safari as your browser so we can screen-capture your activity. Long-time members may have disabled Safari. Follow these steps to make sure Safari is on:
- Open the Settings app on the iPhone® or iPad®.
- Tap “Screen Time.”
- Tap “Content and Privacy Restrictions.”
- Tap “Allowed Apps."
- Enter your Screen Time Passcode.
- Move the toggle switch to the right to turn it on (the switch will turn green).
Disable Installing & Deleting Apps
To prevent the member from installing inappropriate apps or browsers via the App Store®, we recommend disabling the option to install apps. If you want to safeguard Covenant Eyes from being uninstalled, you can also disable the ability to delete apps.
- Open the Settings app on the iPhone® or iPad®.
- Tap “Screen Time.”
- Tap “Content & Privacy Restrictions.”
- Tap “iTunes & App Store Purchases.”
- Enter your Screen Time Passcode.
- Tap “Installing Apps.”
- Tap “Don’t Allow” to disable the ability to install apps.
- Select the “<Back” option in the upper left-hand corner.
- You’ll return to the iTunes & App Store Purchases screen and be able to view the changed setting.
You can also disable the member's ability to delete apps & protect Covenant Eyes from being uninstalled. First, go to the home screen and delete all the apps you don't want the member to have or use. Then, return to this screen, tap “Deleting Apps” and “Don’t Allow."
Disable Siri
Siri is Apple’s built-in voice assistant! You can ask Siri about the weather, search the web, send texts, make phone calls, and more. Since you can use Siri to search the web, some members find it helpful to disable Siri and explicit language.
- Open the Settings app on the iPhone® or iPad®.
- Tap “Screen Time.”
- Now tap “Content and Privacy Restrictions.”
- Tap “Content Restrictions.”
- Tap “Web Search Content.”
- Tap “Don’t Allow” to disable searching the web via Siri.
- Tap the “< Back” option to return to the previous screen.
- Tap “Explicit Language.”
- Tap “Don’t Allow” to disable inappropriate language with Siri.
- Tap the “< Back” option to return to the previous screen.
- You’ll return to the Content Restrictions screen and be able to view the changed setting.
Limit Adult Content & Lockdown the Covenant Eyes Safari Extension
The Limit Adult Content setting safeguards our Safari extension from being uninstalled, filters explicit websites across the whole device, removes the Private Browsing option in Safari and prevents the member from clearing browsing history in Safari.
- Open the Settings app on the iPhone® or iPad®.
- Tap “Screen Time.”
- Tap “Content and Privacy Restrictions.”
- Tap “Content Restrictions.”
- Tap “Web Content.”
- Tap “Limit Adult Websites.”
- Due to the adult themes, the Limit Adult Websites option will block covenanteyes.com. Under ALWAYS ALLOWED, tap “Add Website” and add these websites (you can only add one at a time):
covenanteyes.com
covenanteyes.net
cvnt.net
- After you add the other website to the ALWAYS ALLOW list, tap the “< Back” option to return to the previous screen.
- You’ll return to the Content Restrictions screen and be able to view the changed setting.
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