Screen Time

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Share and manage web-usage data, and observe changes made to Screen Time settings by a parent or guardian.

Posts under Screen Time tag

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Activity log app on iPhone?
Hey. Is there any app that shows a precise activity log? When I was using Android I had an app Quality Time which keeps the track of what are you doing minute by minute. It has a log which shows 13:24 PM Open Facebook, 13:45 Open Instagram etc. Is there any app on iPhone that tracks your activity like this and stores it into a log or something? I need an app like this or something similar Thank you.
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729
Dec ’23
AuthorizationCenter.shared times out and makes my ScreenTime App Unusable
Any way that I try requesting authorization for family controls is incredibly inconsistent. The line of code that hangs is **let center = AuthorizationCenter.shared ** I've looked at other posts and I saw someone recommended declaring let center = AuthorizationCenter.shared outside the main thread and somehow get the status on the main thread. I've tried that approach with no success. I've scoured GitHub to see how other people approach the request but it's all pretty similar. The following code sometimes works great for a few minutes and then I rebuild and run and it hangs on AuthorizationCenter.shared.requestAuthorization(for: FamilyControlsMember.individual). Would love any suggestions!!! .onAppear { Task { do { print("try requestAuthorization") try await AuthorizationCenter.shared.requestAuthorization(for: FamilyControlsMember.individual) print("requestAuthorization success") switch AuthorizationCenter.shared.authorizationStatus { case .notDetermined: print("not determined") case .denied: print("denied") case .approved: print("approved") @unknown default: break } } catch { print("Error requestAuthorization: ", error) } } }
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639
Dec ’23
How to use Screen Time API
Hi guys, I am trying to build an app that blocks access to a set of apps defined by a user. Pretty typical app blocking functionality, but I can't find any info about the Screen Time API. I've narrowed it down to DeviceActivity and MangedSetting frameworks but am unsure of which to use. Also, is there a way to get a list of the installed apps on a user's device, or will I have to manually set that?
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437
Dec ’23
Screen Time API fails to unblock the apps, and leaves an hourglass shield that doesn't allow unshielding
DL;DR: Sometimes the API fails to unblock the app and leaves an hourglass shield on the restricted apps, which is not set by us. Even worse, if we remove authorization of our app from Settings, the restricted apps remain locked until we restart the phone or re-run our app from Xcode. Our app monitors the usage of selected apps from the current time until the reset time at 4:00 a.m. When the given threshold is reached, the selected apps are shielded. After the user taps the close button on the shield view, we attempt to remove the shield, set up a new threshold monitoring and close the app. The issue is that: sometimes the shield removal fails, and after the app closes itself, it remains shielded, and displays an hourglass shield view that was never in our shield configuration. Additionally, regardless of what we do-removing the shielding from our apps or removing the authorization of our app from Settings, the restricted apps remain shielded until we restart the phone or re-run our app from Xcode. Code I use for un-shielding: warningUsageStore.clearAllSettings() Code I use for scheduling the threshold: var warningMinute = userDefaults.integer(forKey: .warningMinute) if warningMinute <= 0 { warningMinute = 5 } let selection = familyActivitySelection() let now = Date.now let start = Calendar.current.dateComponents([.hour, .minute, .second], from: now) var end = AppConfig.resetEndTime // use twenty minutes later as the end time if the before reset time is too near e.g. warning start at 3:55 but reset time is 4:00 if let endDate = Calendar.current.nextDate(after: now, matching: end, matchingPolicy: .nextTime), endDate.timeIntervalSince(now) <= 15*60 { end = Calendar.current.dateComponents([.hour, .minute, .second], from: now.addingTimeInterval(20*60)) } // add inidividual event according to the hash value to dintinguish between apps. var events = [DeviceActivityEvent.Name : DeviceActivityEvent]() for application in selection.applications where application.token != nil { events[.init(application.hashValue.description)] = .init(applications: [application.token!], threshold: .init(minute: warningMinute)) } for category in selection.categories where category.token != nil { events[.init(category.hashValue.description)] = .init(categories: [category.token!], threshold: .init(minute: warningMinute)) } for webDomain in selection.webDomains where webDomain.token != nil { events[.init(webDomain.hashValue.description)] = .init(webDomains: [webDomain.token!], threshold: .init(minute: warningMinute)) } try deviceActivityCenter.startMonitoring(.usageWarning, during: .init(intervalStart: start, intervalEnd: end, repeats: false), events: events) The issue happens on my iPhone11 iOS17.1.2 Any insight would be much appreciated. Thank you!
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634
Dec ’23
Device Activity Report View Size and Background
Hello! I am a new developer and am attempting to use Apple's Device Activity API. However, I am struggling with the View of the Device Activity Report. For one, the view stretches to fill all available space instead of simply being the size of its content. Secondly, the background color seems fixed and I can't figure out how to remove it. The Screen Time API demo video shows this Device Activity API used with a clear background, so I know it is possible, I just can't figure out how to do it as it seems to be built into the Device Activity Report itself. Does anyone have any ideas? I'll attach a photo to show you what I mean. The black box is the Device Activity Report that I am trying to edit. Thank you for your help!
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1.4k
Dec ’23
Screen Time Api
Hi Folks, How to sheild or lock the apps in childs phone from the Guardians Phone. I got the opaque tokens from childs phone , but on the parents device there are only categories options but not the applications. so how to get the applications in parentsl device . when i try to authorisee the family controls with .individual option there are not the applications in family activity picker but only the categories and others. Thanks in advance
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437
Nov ’23
Multiple Days Schedules • Screen Time API
Hello, I wasn't able to figure out how to handle multiple days with DeviceActivitySchedule. For instance, let's say the user wants to block certain apps from 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM, every day except Saturday and Sunday, how my schedule should look like? I've tried different things... This schedule works for each day of the week, but that's not my goal: let schedule = DeviceActivitySchedule( intervalStart: DateComponents(hour: 9, minute: 00), intervalEnd: DateComponents(hour: 12, minute: 00), repeats: true) And if I specify the weekDay inside the DateComponents, like this: // Gregorian calendar // 2 -> Monday // 6 -> Friday let schedule = DeviceActivitySchedule( intervalStart: DateComponents(..., weekday: 2), intervalEnd: DateComponents(..., weekday: 6), repeats: true) the schedule will block the apps from Monday at 9:00 AM to Friday at 12:00 AM, which is also not my goal. The only workaround that came to my mind was to create a different schedule for each day of the week: enum WeekDays: String, CaseIterable { case sun, mon, tue, wed, thu, fri, sat var sortOrder: Int { switch self { case .sun: return 1 case .mon: return 2 case .tue: return 3 case .wed: return 4 case .thu: return 5 case .fri: return 6 case .sat: return 7 } } } func startMonitoring(weekDays: [WeekDays]) { for weekDay in weekDays { let day = weekDay.sortOrder let schedule = DeviceActivitySchedule( intervalStart: DateComponents( hour: 9, minute: 00, weekday: day), intervalEnd: DateComponents( hour: 12, minute: 00, weekday: day), repeats: true) let activityName = DeviceActivityName(weekDay.rawValue) do { try center.startMonitoring(activityName, during: schedule) } catch { print("DEBUG: Error: \(error.localizedDescription)") } } } This way I kinda get what I want, for example: I can specify 3 days of the week, let's say Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the time interval, let's keep 9:00 AM - 12:00 AM, and this function will block apps on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at that time interval, fine. However... What if I also want another schedule that blocks at a different time interval but same day? For example, I want to block certain apps Monday and Tuesday from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Following the example above the activityName would be overwritten, so the user ( for Monday and Tuesday ) would now have only the schedules that starts from 2:00 PM. Basically, I want the user to be able to select multiple days for a schedule and to let them create as many schedules as they want. Does anybody know the correct way to handle multiple days schedules?
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1.4k
May ’24
How to save FamilyActivitySelection in FirebaseFirestore
Hi, I'm developing an app like Opal which uses Screen Time API. So the user should be able to create modes to activate it later, like an alarm. There's a list of durations and mode names and there should be selected apps, so whenever the user turns the switch on, app restricting should be started. How can I save the selected apps in FirebaseFirestore, and then get that data to restrict the apps whenever the user turns the switch on? I've tried to save it as Strings, but I can't convert it later to ApplicationToken to insert it to Set.
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816
Dec ’23
DeviceActivityMonitorExtension - intervalDidStart doesn't get called
Hello, I have an app that you can select apps and then start monitoring. When I restrict the apps by button click, and monitor the activity, the scheduled time works and intervalDidEnd cancels shielding apps. But when I schedule shielding apps, intervalDidStart doesn't start shielding. What am I missing here? I have already added FamilyControls capability. import SwiftUI @main struct TestingScreenTimeAPIApp: App { @UIApplicationDelegateAdaptor(AppDelegate.self) var appDelegate var body: some Scene { WindowGroup { ContentView() } } } import SwiftUI struct ContentView: View { @StateObject var model = MyModel.shared @State var isPresented = false var body: some View { VStack { Button("Select Apps") { isPresented = true } .familyActivityPicker(isPresented: $isPresented, selection: $model.selectionToDiscourage) Button("Start monitoring") { model.startMonitoring() } .padding() } } } struct ContentView_Previews: PreviewProvider { static var previews: some View { ContentView() } } import Foundation import FamilyControls import DeviceActivity class MyModel: ObservableObject { static let shared = MyModel() private init() {} var selection: FamilyActivitySelection? = nil var selectionToDiscourage = FamilyActivitySelection() { willSet { selection = newValue } } func startMonitoring() { let intervalStart = DateComponents(hour: 11, minute: 09) let intervalEnd = DateComponents(hour: 13, minute: 14) let schedule = DeviceActivitySchedule( intervalStart: intervalStart, intervalEnd: intervalEnd, repeats: true) let center = DeviceActivityCenter() do { try center.startMonitoring(.activity, during: schedule) } catch { print ("Error: \(error)") } } } extension DeviceActivityName { static let activity = Self("activity") } import UIKit import FamilyControls class AppDelegate: NSObject, UIApplicationDelegate { func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey : Any]? = nil) -> Bool { Task { do { try await AuthorizationCenter.shared.requestAuthorization(for: .individual) } catch { print("Error: \(error.localizedDescription)") } } return true } } import DeviceActivity import FamilyControls import ManagedSettings class DeviceActivityMonitorExtension: DeviceActivityMonitor { let store = ManagedSettingsStore() override func intervalDidStart(for activity: DeviceActivityName) { super.intervalDidStart(for: activity) let model = MyModel.shared if model.selection != nil { let applications = model.selection!.applicationTokens store.shield.applications = applications.isEmpty ? nil : applications } } override func intervalDidEnd(for activity: DeviceActivityName) { super.intervalDidEnd(for: activity) store.shield.applications?.removeAll() } }
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889
Jan ’24
Family Controls Request Form
I've heard family controls request forms can take up to weeks and even months... I'm currently developing an app that requires the main target and also the app extension to both use Family Controls. Does this mean I need to request forms for both app bundles separately or just the main app? If I have to wait weeks or even months for both then that's a bit painful tbh. Is there a way to distribute to testflight without getting approved for the family controls entitlement? Thanks
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1.4k
Apr ’24
Individual App Usage using Screen Time API
Hey everyone. My friend and I have an idea of creating an app that allows you to compete against others by seeing who can use certain apps the least. To do this, we need to get the statistics of every app's screen time usage. I looked at doing this through the Screen Time API. However, it isn't very clear to me what app developers can access. Can we access a time breakdown of all apps' screen time usage (similar to the information in the Screen Time Settings screen)? If not, would the best route to manually implement our own tracking system? Thanks!
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1.7k
Jan ’24
ApplicationTokens changing
We persist ApplicationTokens in a storage container that ShieldConfigurationExtension has access to. In rare, cases all the ApplicationTokens for a user seem to change. We know this because the Application parameter passed into configuration(shielding application: Application) -> ShieldConfiguration function has a Token that does not match (using == ) any of the ones we are persisting in storage. Interestingly, the persisted ones still work, so I don't believe storage has gotten corrupted or anything. We can use them to add or remove shields, we can use them to display labels of the apps they represent, etc. But they don’t match what’s passed into the ShieldConfiguration extension. If the user goes into the FamilyPicker at this point and selects an app of a token that we are already persisting, the FamilyPickerSelection will have a token matching the new one that is passed into ShieldConfigurationExtension, not the one we persisted when they last selected that app. This leads me to believe the tokens are updated/rotated in some cases. When and why does this happen, and how can we handle it gracefully?
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1.2k
Sep ’24
DeviceActivityCenter - couldn’t communicate with a helper application.
Hi there, In rare cases (about 0.2% of the time?), I'm seeing calls to startMonitoring on an instance of DeviceActivityCenter throw an error with localizedDescription "couldn’t communicate with a helper application." I am certain I am passing valid parameters to the startMonitoring call because sometimes a naive retry after a few seconds succeeds. Similarly, I am certain that FamilyControls permissions have been granted by the user. Was hoping to get more color from the systems team on what some causes of this error are and if it is avoidable by the programmer.
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1.4k
Mar ’24
Shield Customisation Not Applying
Hi, I've been attempting to implement a customised shield based on the WWDC contents and documentation; however, while my configuration appears correct only the default "Restricted - You cannot use X app because it's restricted" ever displays. A quick summary of what I have done: Created a ShieldConfigurationExtension Ensured suitable Info.plist values - below Defined custom Shield within the configuration() methods - application example below Any suggestions on what might not be implemented correctly? Info.plist <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>NSExtension</key> <dict> <key>NSExtensionPointIdentifier</key> <string>com.apple.ManagedSettingsUI.shield-configuration-service</string> <key>NSExtensionPrincipalClass</key> <string>$(PRODUCT_MODULE_NAME).ShieldConfigurationExtension</string> </dict> </dict> </plist> Configuration import ManagedSettings import ManagedSettingsUI import UIKit class ShieldConfigurationExtension: ShieldConfigurationDataSource {       override func configuration(shielding application: Application) -> ShieldConfiguration {     // Customize the shield as needed for applications.     return ShieldConfiguration(       backgroundBlurStyle: UIBlurEffect.Style.systemThickMaterial,       backgroundColor: UIColor.white,       icon: UIImage(systemName: "stopwatch"),       title: ShieldConfiguration.Label(text: "No app for you", color: .yellow),       subtitle: ShieldConfiguration.Label(text: "Sorry, no apps for you", color: .white),       primaryButtonLabel: ShieldConfiguration.Label(text: "Ask for a break?", color: .white),       secondaryButtonLabel: ShieldConfiguration.Label(text: "Quick Quick", color: .white)     )   } }
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1.8k
Aug ’24
I would like to create several schedules for an activity can I do that
currently when I try to set several schedules to the same activity the latest schedule I set is the only one I understand I can have only 1 schedule for activity. ? I thought about setting a new schedule on the intervalDidEnd but, I get no interval did start if the current time is in the middle of the interval I set For example, now it is 15:00, and my previous interval started at 14:00 and ends at 16:00 but the user sets a new interval from 14:30 - 16:40 I call the deviceActivityCenter.stopMonitoring([someActivityName]) and get noIntervalDidEnd event Then I set the new interval successfully with deviceActivityCenter.startMonitoring(someActivityName, during: deviceActivitySchedule) and get no intervalDidStartEvent So how can I achieve several intervals? If I had gotten the events of the start and end it would be possible Thanks for the help
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1.1k
Apr ’24
Weird NSCocoaErrorDomain errow when trying to autorize Screen Time API
Hello, we have rare case of AuthorizationCenter.shared.requestAuthorization(for: .individual) failing to autorize user on real device - iPhone XR (iOS 16.1.2). It does not throw the standard FamilyControlsError which we are handling, but NSCocoaErrorDomain. This is the entire po description: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4864 "The given data was not a valid property list." UserInfo={NSCodingPath=(), NSDebugDescription=The given data was not a valid property list., NSUnderlyingError=0x283af4d80 {Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=3840 "Cannot parse a NULL or zero-length data" UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=Cannot parse a NULL or zero-length data}}} The localized one says: "The data couldn’t be read because it isn’t in the correct format." This sounds like some error deep in iOS. The testing device has Apple ID logged in and uses passcode. Anything we can do on our end to solve this issue?
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1.6k
Jan ’24
Loading indicator until DeviceActivityReport renders?
There is frequently a delay of a few seconds before a DeviceActivityReport renders its view generated from the DeviceActivityReportExtension. It will also sometimes flash with zero data before hydrating with the real activity data (tested with extension code taken directly from XCode boilerplate) Is there a way to be notified when the DeviceActivityReport renders successfully or is still processing, i.e. so a loading indicator can be presented while the extension runs? Thanks!
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1.7k
Apr ’24