How do I set up Screen Time with iOS 12-14 on an iPhone®?

Sydney W.
Sydney W.
  • Updated

Before You Begin

  • About Screen Time: Apple provides free device controls, called Screen Time, for iPhone® and iPad®.

  • iOS (iPhone® Operating System): This article highlights the Screen Time features on iOS 12, 13, and 14 that work well with the Covenant Eyes iPhone® app.

  • Update Recommendations: If you are using an iPhone 6S or higher, we encourage you to update to iOS 15.1, check your Covenant Eyes app version number, and update it. Then we can screen-capture your activity in Safari®!

Turn on Screen Time

Follow these steps to turn on Screen Time:

  1. Open the Settings app on the iPhone® or iPad®.
    settings-2.png
  2. Tap "Screen Time.”
  3. Tap “Turn on Screen Time.”
  4. Tap “Continue.”
  5. Tap “This is my iPhone.”
  6. Tap “Use Screen Time Passcode.”
  7. Enter a 4-digit passcode (the Covenant Eyes member should not know this code). Re-enter the code for verification.
  8. 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.

  9. Whether you skipped Passcode Recovery or not, Use Screen Time Passcode should change to Change Screen Time Passcode!

Disable 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:

  1. Open the Settings app on the iPhone® or iPad®.
    settings-2.png
  2. Tap “Screen Time.”
  3. Tap “Content and Privacy Restrictions.”
  4. Tap “Allowed Apps."
  5. Enter your Screen Time Passcode.
  6. Move the "Safari" toggle switch to the left to turn it off (the switch will turn white).
    iOS Safari Step 6.pngiOS Safari step 6 -2 (1).png

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.

  1. Open the Settings app on the iPhone® or iPad®.
  2. Tap “Screen Time.”
  3. Tap “Content & Privacy Restrictions.”
  4. Tap “iTunes & App Store Purchases.”
  5. Enter your Screen Time Passcode.
  6. Tap “Installing Apps.”
  7. Tap “Don’t Allow” to disable the ability to install apps.
  8. Select the “<Back” option in the upper left-hand corner.
  9. You’ll return to the iTunes & App Store Purchases screen and be able to view the changed setting. If you want to safeguard the Covenant Eyes app from being uninstalled, you can disable the ability to delete apps by tapping “Deleting Apps” and then “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.

  1. Open the Settings app on the iPhone® or iPad®.
    settings-2.png
  2. Tap “Screen Time.”
  3. Now tap “Content and Privacy Restrictions.”
  4. Tap “Content Restrictions.”
  5. Tap “Web Search Content.”
  6. Tap “Don’t Allow” to disable searching the web via Siri.
  7. Tap the “< Back” option to return to the previous screen.
  8. Tap “Explicit Language.”
  9. Tap “Don’t Allow” to disable inappropriate language with Siri.
  10. Tap the “< Back” option to return to the previous screen.
  11. You’ll return to the Content Restrictions screen and be able to view the changed setting.

Limit Adult Content

The Limit Adult Content setting helps filter and block explicit websites.

  1. Open the Settings app on the iPhone® or iPad®.
    settings-2.png
  2. Tap “Screen Time.”
  3. Tap “Content and Privacy Restrictions.”
  4. Tap “Content Restrictions.”
  5. Tap “Web Content.”
  6. Tap “Limit Adult Websites.”
  7. 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

  8. After you add the other website to the ALWAYS ALLOW list, tap the “< Back” option to return to the previous screen.
  9. You’ll return to the Content Restrictions screen and be able to view the changed setting.

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