Help controlling iPhone use

[scarecrow22]

Apple's screentime limits do not work on my daughter's phone. I have spent more than a year fighting this, with increasing failure. I know what you are meant to do, I've spoken to Apple help, I've been into stores and been on forums. It works for DS (11yo) but not for DD (just 14yo). Apparently teenagers have "privileges" on screentime. Apple are actually screwing up children by making it so apparently easy for her to breech the limits.

ANYWAY, what is the best 3rd party option for controlling smartphone use - which must work with iPhone as we all have them.

PLEASE do not tell me your children were given unfettered access to their phones and self regulated beautifully, volunteered for charity, got straight As and are polite, kind and active model citizens. I will hate myself more and it is not kind. That is a statistical sample of one (child/family) and Will Not Work.

I can set screen time limits for older teenagers iphone and iPad.
Are you going into settings - screen time?

If not, can you reset the device and put a younger date of birth in?

Just checked, 15 year old and I can set screen time limits on individual apps (30 mins a day for example) and can set times for downtime.
They can ask me for extra time and I can approve or decline. All app purchases come through me also (even free apps I have to approve).

@MilkToastHoney Thank you. I know what to do, and how to resolve some glitches, etc.. I used screentime successfully in the past, and still do for my son.

But this morning I woke at 3.30am and checked that the screen locks/blocks were on - they were. She got up and less than an hour later it was all reset so she just gets a question " Do you want to ignore the limit for 25m/1hr/all day?" Arghhhh!!

If I reset the phone, how can I do it so I don't lose her contacts and photos etc??? Thanks.

Has she definitely been set up on a child profile?

Does she know the screen time password? If she does she can unblock herself.

Just checked and you can sign into her iCloud account and change the date of birth.

I don't think that's changes the profile to child though.

Yes, think you are right. OP will still have to have it set as a child account with her as the parent/guardian.

I think there are additional restrictions with Apple when you are under 13 so might help with that?
If OP is struggling on older DC phone but working fine on younger one then changing DOB might be a quick and easy fix.

Change the password?

Apple's screentime does not work properly and is easy to bypass with hard reset. Try other options like Google's Family Link or ScreenTreat. There are also few paid apps as well like Our Pact, Bark if you are ready to pay some 8 pounds a month that helps you stay in control