With Screen Time, you can see how much time you and your kids spend on apps, websites, and more. Make informed decisions about how you use your devices, and set limits if you'd like to. Learn how to turn on Screen Time, use a Screen Time Passcode, track usage, limit usage, and approve requests for more time.
Turn on Screen Time
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Make sure that your Mac is using macOS Catalina, then follow these steps:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time.
- Click Options in the lower-left corner.
- Click Turn On.
- To be able to see usage information for every other device signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID, select ”Share across devices” on each Mac. And on each iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > Screen Time and turn on the same setting.
If you're using Family Sharing to manage a child account, you can turn on Screen Time directly from each of your child's devices. Or follow these steps to do it from your Mac:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Family Sharing.
- Click Screen Time in the sidebar, then select your child's name from the list on the right.
- Click the Open Screen Time button to return to Screen Time preferences.
- Choose your child's name from the menu in the upper-left corner.
- Click Options in the lower-left corner.
- Click Turn On.
Mac Os Must Have Apps
Before deciding whether to select ”Use a Screen Time Passcode,” learn about Screen Time passcodes.
Use a Screen Time passcode
Set a passcode so that only you can change Screen Time settings and allow more time when app limits expire. If you're a parent, use this feature to set up enforceable content, communication, and privacy limitations for your child.
If you're using Family Sharing to manage a child account, follow these steps:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time.
- Choose your child's name from the menu in the upper-left corner.
- Click Options in the lower-left corner.
- Select ”Use Screen Time Passcode,” then enter a passcode when prompted.
- If you're using the latest version of macOS, you're offered the option to enter your Apple ID to enable Screen Time passcode recovery, in case you forget your Screen Time passcode.
If you're not using Family Sharing to manage a child account, follow these steps:
- Make sure that you're on the same Mac used by the child, and are logged in to the standard account used by the child. If you're not sure what to do, just continue with the steps below: Screen Time will help you.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time.
- Set up Downtime, App Limits, Communication Limits, and Content & Privacy with all of the limitations that you want for your child.
- Click Options in the lower-left corner.
- Select ”Use Screen Time Passcode,” then enter a passcode when prompted.
- If you're using the latest version of macOS, iOS, or iPadOS, you're offered the option to enter your Apple ID to enable Screen Time passcode recovery, in case you forget your Screen Time passcode.
If you're setting a passcode while logged in to your administrator account, an alert explains that you should do this from a standard account. If you haven't set up a standard account for your child, you can either do that and log into their account, or choose from these options:
- Allow this user to administer this computer. If you choose this option, the passcode affects the current user, even though they're also an administrator of this Mac. This isn't recommended, because administrators have macOS privileges that could allow them to work around passcode restrictions.
- Don't allow this user to administer this computer. If you choose this option, you're prompted to enter your account password in order to modify your configuration. You're then guided through the steps to create a new administrator account—for use by the parent. The administrator account you're currently logged in to is converted to a standard account—for use by the child.
Learn what to do if you forgot your Screen Time passcode.
Track usage
Use the App Usage, Notifications, and Pickups features in the Screen Time sidebar to see how much time you spent using apps and websites.
Each feature offers several views:
- To see usage for only one of your devices, choose a device from the menu at the bottom of the window.
- To switch between days, click within the weekly chart, or use the arrow buttons above the chart. To see total usage by week, including how much more or less time you spent compared to last week, choose This Week from the date menu at the top of the window.
- To see usage for a child account, choose the child's name from the menu in the upper-left corner.
App Usage
See how much time you spent using each app. Click Categories to view usage by categories such as social networking, productivity, or entertainment. To see an app's category, click the information icon that appears when your pointer is over an app in the list. Or click the app limit icon to quickly create a new app limit for that app or category.
See how much time you spent using each app. Click Categories to view usage by categories such as social networking, productivity, or entertainment. To see an app's category, click the information icon that appears when your pointer is over an app in the list. Or click the app limit icon to quickly create a new app limit for that app or category.
Notifications
See how many notifications you received from each app. Remember, you can use the devices menu at the bottom of the window to separate the notifications received on your Mac from the notifications received on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
See how many notifications you received from each app. Remember, you can use the devices menu at the bottom of the window to separate the notifications received on your Mac from the notifications received on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Pickups
See how many times you picked up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and which app you checked first after picking up the device.
See how many times you picked up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and which app you checked first after picking up the device.
Limit usage
Use the Downtime, App Limits, Communication Limits, Always Allowed, and Content & Privacy features in the Screen Time sidebar to schedule downtime and set limits on apps and websites. Limits apply to this Mac and all of your other devices that are using Screen Time and have ”Share across devices” turned on.
To set limits for a child account, choose the child's name from the menu in the upper-left corner, then set up each feature. Or do it from each of your child's devices.
Downtime
Schedule periods during which you can use only the apps that you've allowed. A downtime notification appears 5 minutes before downtime starts. After downtime starts, the app shows a message saying that you've reached your limit on the app.
Schedule periods during which you can use only the apps that you've allowed. A downtime notification appears 5 minutes before downtime starts. After downtime starts, the app shows a message saying that you've reached your limit on the app.
- Click OK to close the app and honor the limit you've set. Or click Ignore Limit, then choose One More Minute, Remind Me in 15 Minutes, or Ignore Limit For Today.
- If you've set a Screen Time passcode, Downtime includes an additional setting: Block At Downtime. When this setting selected and you click Ask For More Time when downtime starts, entering the passcode allows you to approve the app for 15 minutes, an hour, or all day. Child accounts can click One More Minute once, or click Ask For More Time to send their request to the parent account for approval.
App Limits
Set the amount of time you want to be able use apps. You can set limits on specific apps, or entire categories of apps.
Set the amount of time you want to be able use apps. You can set limits on specific apps, or entire categories of apps.
An app-limit notification appears 5 minutes before a limit is reached (expires). After the limit is reached, the app shows a window saying that you've reached your limit.
- Click OK to close the app and honor the limit you've set. Or click Ignore Limit, then choose One More Minute, Remind Me in 15 Minutes, or Ignore Limit For Today.
- If you've set a Screen Time passcode, App Limits includes an additional setting: ”Block at end of limit.” When this setting is selected and you click Ask For More Time when a limit is reached, entering the passcode allows you to approve the app for 15 minutes, an hour, or all day. Child accounts can click One More Minute once, or click Ask For More Time to send their request to the parent account for approval.
Communication Limits
Control who your children can communicate with throughout the day and during downtime. These limits apply to Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and iCloud contacts. Communication to known emergency numbers identified by your wireless carrier is always allowed. To use this feature, you must have Contacts turned on in iCloud preferences.
Control who your children can communicate with throughout the day and during downtime. These limits apply to Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and iCloud contacts. Communication to known emergency numbers identified by your wireless carrier is always allowed. To use this feature, you must have Contacts turned on in iCloud preferences.
Always Allowed
Allow use of certain apps even during downtime or when an app limit has been set for ”All Apps & Categories.” Phone, Messages, FaceTime, and Maps are always allowed by default, but you can change that here.
Allow use of certain apps even during downtime or when an app limit has been set for ”All Apps & Categories.” Phone, Messages, FaceTime, and Maps are always allowed by default, but you can change that here.
Content & Privacy
Restrict content, purchases, and downloads, or configure privacy settings. If you attempt to use one of the restricted items, you see a message explaining why you can't do it. For example, if you visit a blocked website, the message says that the website was blocked by a content filter. If you're using a Screen Time passcode, the message includes the option to click Add Website. You can then enter the passcode to allow the website. Child accounts can send a request for approval to the parent account.
Restrict content, purchases, and downloads, or configure privacy settings. If you attempt to use one of the restricted items, you see a message explaining why you can't do it. For example, if you visit a blocked website, the message says that the website was blocked by a content filter. If you're using a Screen Time passcode, the message includes the option to click Add Website. You can then enter the passcode to allow the website. Child accounts can send a request for approval to the parent account.
Approve Screen Time requests
The Screen Time sidebar shows Requests when you have unanswered requests from a child account. From here you can manage all requests from your child. Approve the request for 15 minutes, an hour, or a day. Or click Don't Approve.
Requests for approval also arrive as notifications, and you can approve directly from the notification:
Learn more
When you want to make sure that inappropriate websites aren’t accessed on your Mac, you have a few different ways to do it. Whether you have young children who share your Mac or a visitor that’s using it as a guest, you can easily block sites you don’t approve of.
In addition to blocking unsuitable websites, you might be interested in blocking sites that tempt you to play instead of work.
Here are three simple ways to block websites on Mac.
Related:
Contents
- 4 Are you ready to block those websites on Mac?
How to block websites using Parental Controls
If you have children, setting up Parental Controls on a shared Mac is the easiest way to keep your kids away from sites and apps they shouldn’t see or touch.
To block websites using Parental Controls, just follow these steps.
- Open your System Preferences from either the button in your Dock or by clicking Apple icon > System Preferences from the menu bar.
- Select Parental Controls.
- Click the lock button on the bottom left, enter your Mac user password, and click Unlock.
- If you have not turned on controls for a particular user, select them from the left and then click Enable Parental Controls. For additional help with the other Parental Control settings, check out our helpful guide.
- On the next screen, click the Web tab at the top.
- You’ll see that you have three options. The middle option is the one that allows you to block specific websites by URL. So, mark the radio button for Try to limit access to adult websites.
- Click the Customize.
- Below the section titled Never allow these websites, click the plus button and enter the URL for the site you want to block. Continue this process to add more sites to the list.
- When you finish, click OK.
How to block websites using Terminal
If you’re comfortable with using Terminal on your Mac for various commands, you can also set up a website block list with it. Just follow these steps.
- Open Terminal with Applications > Utilities from your Dock or with Finder open click Go > Utilities from the menu bar and choose Terminal.
- Copy and paste or type the command below and then hit Return.
- Enter your Mac user password and hit Return.
- Go to the bottom using your arrow key and type: 127.0.0.1 followed by a space and then the website you want to block. Hit Return. List each site on a separate line. (See screenshot below.)
- Press Control + O (capital letter O) and hit Return to save.
- Press Control + X to close nano.
- Close the Terminal window.
Now when you open a browser and go to one of the sites you listed in Terminal, you should be blocked from accessing it.
How to block websites using 1Focus
You can search the Mac App Store for a third-party app to help you block websites, but one recommendation is an app called 1Focus.
This is a perfect app for those situations where you want to make sure your mind and your eyes are focused on your work and not hitting up a social media or gaming website. The app is super easy to use, here’s a quick walk-through of how to block websites with it.
- Open 1Focus and click the Websites tab.
- Under Blocked Websites at the top, click the plus button to add one. You can also add Exceptions on the bottom right if you like.
Next, set up a schedule for when and how long you want to block the websites.
- Click the Schedule tab at the top.
- Click the plus button to add a time block in hours and minutes. You can also start a time block immediately by filling in the hours and minutes under Quick Start and then clicking the Schedule Blocking button.
When you or someone else tries to access a blocked website, they will see with a nifty quote instead of that website.
1Focus also gives you the ability to block categories like dating or gambling and set a repeating schedule daily or on specific days with an in-app purchase.
1Focus currently works with Safari, Chrome, and Opera. It’s available on the App Store for free with an in-app subscription purchase option for the additional features.
Are you ready to block those websites on Mac?
Each of these ways to block websites on Mac is easy and effective. You can make sure that sites you want to keep away from your children or those you want to remove from temptation as you work will be blocked.
Website App Mac Os
Will you try one of these methods to block websites on your Mac? Let us know which one you choose and how it works for you in the comments below!
Sandy worked for many years in the IT industry as a project manager, department manager, and PMO Lead. She then decided to follow her dream and now writes about technology full-time. Sandy holds a Bachelors of Science in Information Technology.
She loves technology– specifically – terrific games and apps for iOS, software that makes your life easier, and productivity tools that you can use every day, in both work and home environments.
Her articles have regularly been featured at MakeUseOf, iDownloadBlog and many other leading tech publications.