How to Fix iOS 18 Screen Time Bug in 7 Troubleshooting Methods

Restarting your iPhone is how to fix the iOS 18 Screen Time bug in an easy way. Other than that, you can try hard resetting your iPhone as well.

Since the release in August, many users have complained about known problems with the iOS 18. One of those issues is the Screen Time bug not working. So, is there a fix, and does it cause major issues? We'll tell you what happens when iOS Screen Time has issues and explain the reasons behind those programs. We'll also show you a few troubleshooting methods that are known to fix the iOS 18 Screen Time bug. So, let's get started.

Why Is My Screen Time Not Working on iOS 18

Some of the primary reasons behind this problem persisting in iPhone with iOS 18 include:

• Incorrect configuration of the Screen Time settings;
• Family Sharing issues, i.e., troubles with synchronization issues between the devices;
• User disabling restrictions, like changing the device's time;
• Incompatibility of the beta iOS 18 with apps like YouTube, Snapchat, etc.;
• The Screen Time passcode is forgotten or disabled by users;
• And downtime settings allow users to access apps even during Screen Time.

These are some of the primary reasons behind these recurring issues in the latest iOS version. So, tackling the problem at its root is known to fix it. However, as always, there are ways to fix the iOS 18 Screen Time bug. Let's keep going to show you how to fix these.

How to Fix Screen Time Not Working by Repairing iOS 18 Bugs

When you update to iOS 18, there may be some error and issues when you use the device. Normally, you can reset or re-enable the Screen Time settings or restart your iPhone to fix some temporary iOS glitches. But if it's still nor working, you can try EaseUS MobiXpert - a reliable iOS system repair software to fix and solve any stuck, frozen, unreaponsible, apps not working, white/black screen, or other problems caused by the iOS operating system software.

The EaseUS iOS system repair program provide two fix mode, you can try the basic repair mode, and then try to repair your system with deep mode. Here's how

Step 1. Launch EaseUS MobiXpert on your computer, choose "System Repair" from the Home page.

Step 2.  Then, choose "iOS/iPadOS System Repair" from the new screen.

Step 3. Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer and choose "Standard Repair." If you want a thorough repair, you can choose "Deep Repair."

Step 4. Confirm your device model and click "Next" to move on. Then, EaseUS MobiXpert will download a firmware for you, which will take a while. If you have installed a firmware before using this software, you can directly click "Verify" to continue.

Step 5. Then, click "Repair Now" to start the repair process. After the repair completes, you can check your device and restart it for use. 

7 Troubleshooting Methods to Fix iOS 18 Screen Time Not Working

Now, let's show you how to fix the iOS 18 Screen Time bug with the help of 7 fixes. These methods will help you reset the settings or simply restart your iPhone to fix the bug that prevents Screen Time from working correctly. Here's what you'll have to do:

Method 1: Restart your iPhone:

Restarting your iPhone is a straightforward solution to this problem. After updating the iPhone to iOS 18, many users complain about a variety of issues. However, they are fixed as soon as the users restart their phone.

So, chances are it'll fix your problem, too. Here's how you can restart various iPhone types easily:

Step 1. Unlock your iPhone, and do the following depending on your iPhone:

Step 2. Now, slide the Power Slider all the way through to turn off your phone.

Step 3. Wait for 10 seconds and then press the site/top button to start the iPhone again.

Once done, wait for the iPhone to restart completely and check whether the problem still persists. If it does, try the next fix.

Further Reading: How to Fix iOS/iPadOS 18 Update Bugs

Method 2: Re-enable Screen Time Limits

Another simple way of fixing this problem is by simply resetting your Screen Time. In other words, you will have to turn it off and then turn it on again to get rid of the problem. It's quite a simple fix and is said to work for a lot of users with iOS 18. Here's what you need to do:

Step 1. Head into the iPhone Settings app and find the "Screen Time" options.

Step 2. Under Screen Time, find and tap on the "Downtime" option. Now tap "Turn Off Down" time.

Step 3. Now, turn it back on again, and also turn on "App Limit" on specific apps like YouTube, Facebook, etc.

You might have to turn it on again for individual apps. So, make sure you go through each of the apps that you wish to monitor after doing this.

Method 3: Reset the Screen Time Settings

Resetting the Screen Time settings is another fix that works for some users. This method requires you to reset the Screen Time recordings, and after that, it works just fine. It's pretty easy to do as well, and here's what it entails:

Step 1. Head into the Screen Time section in your iPhone's settings app.

Step 2. Now, find and tap the "Change Screen Time Passcode" section. You'll be required to enter your password here.

Step 3. Tap the "Turn Off Screen Time Passcode" option. Enter your Apple ID to confirm your ID.

Note: If you forget the Screen Time passcode, you can refer to: How to Reset Screen Time Passcode Without Apple ID for more information.

Step 4. Redo the methods shown in "Re-enable Screen Time Limits" to set it up again.

This won't just remove the password but also reset the Screen Time settings. So, you will have to re-enable it once it's done.

Related Article: Forgot Your Screen Time Passcode? Here are the Fixes

Method 4: Update to the iOS 18 Main Version

Apple is constantly releasing new iOS versions, and you'll likely find the full version by the time you read this. Apple plans to release the finalized edition on the 20th of September, but beta versions are rolling out every day. If you are using iOS 18 beta version, here's how you can ensure staying up-to-date with that:

Step 1. Go into the Settings app from your home screen.

Step 2. Now head into "General" and then find the "Software Update" section.

Step 3. Tap on the "Update Now" button if it's available.

Once done, try redoing the Screen Time settings to check if it works well.

Method 5: Sign Out of Apple ID, Then Sign In Again

Signing out of Apple ID and then signing in again also seems to work for some users. This will simply reset your apps and require them to work again. So, you can try this fix by merely signing out and signing back in like this:

Step 1. Head into the iPhone Settings app and tap on your name/Apple ID.

Step 2. Find the "Sign Out" option on the bottom by scrolling all the way down. Tap it, and confirm when asked again.

Step 3. Do not check any fields of the "Keep a copy of:" section to avoid settings mishap. Re-sign in once done.

After this, you will have to set your Screen Time passcode once again.

Method 6:  Reset iPhone Settings

Resetting iPhone settings might be one of the few options left if nothing else works. While you wait for the primary iOS release, this is another fix that's worth trying. All you will do is reset the settings, not the entire iPhone. So, be careful when following these steps:

Step 1. Go into the Settings app on your iPhone once more. Under the "General" settings, find the "Reset/Restore" option.

Step 2. Now head into "Restore" and tap on "Reset All Settings." Enter your Apple ID and password if required.

Once more, you will be required to set up Screen Time from scratch.

Method 7: Factory-Reset Your iPhone

If nothing else works, resetting your iPhone might be the only option that's left. After all, it could be caused by other apps or settings. So, you can get rid of that doubt by resetting your iPhone.

However, it's imperative that you back up the critical data before proceeding. Once you do, here's how you'll factory reset your iPhone:

Step 1. Tap on the Settings app from your home screen and head into "General."

Step 2. Now, find and tap on the "Transfer or Reset iPhone" option. Then select "Reset."

Step 3. Now tap on "Erase All Content and Settings," and then "Continue." Lastly, tap on "Erase iPhone" when prompted.

Wait for the iPhone to reset and restart, then sign back into your Apple ID to set it up again.

Conclusion

This is how to fix the iOS 18 Screen Time bug using an iOS system repair tool and a few simple methods. Trying them all is suggested one after the other, as a simple restart might fix the issue. Therefore, you might not be required to factory reset your iPhone at all.

Related FAQs About iOS 18 Bugs

Here are some related questions to "How to fix iOS 18 Screen Time bug?" and their answers.

1: How do you check screen time on iOS 18?

You can do that by opening the Screen Time settings in the Settings app on your iPhone. Simply go into Settings > Screen Time> and under Family, tap on the name you wish to check. From here, you can see the "Daily Average" screen time. Scroll down below to see more details.

2: What is an unhealthy Screen Time on iPhone?

Aside from work and professional use, experts say that anything above two hours of screen time is excessive. So, if you're sitting in front of a screen at work for 8 hours or so, limit your iPhone Screen Time to 2 hours or less.

3: How to fix the Screen Time glitch?

You can restart the device to reboot the phone and the app and fix the problem. Aside from that, you can also turn off the "Low Power Mode" in power settings. Or you can try disabling and re-enabling the Screen Time feature to fix the glitch.

4: Does iOS 17 fix Screen Time issues?

Apple released iOS 17 version 17.1 in January of 2024, which is known to fix the Screen Time bug known in iPhones at the time. However, the latest beta release of iOS 18 has brought this problem back, but mainly because of incompatibility with older settings.

5: How do I fix my iPhone screen time out?

Head into iPhone settings and then select the "Display and brightness" section. Now find the "Auto-lock" option and tap on it > change the auto-lock time out from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, according to your requirement.