Stop the Mac being used at night with Screen Time Downtime

Why it happens

Downtime switches off apps outside the hours you choose, apart from the ones you always allow. Without a Screen Time passcode it's only a reminder, and anyone can tap past it. With the passcode and Block at Downtime on, apps stay blocked until the time is up or the passcode is entered.

How to fix it

1. Sign in to the Mac account you want to limit, open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Screen Time. If you manage a child through Family Sharing, choose their name from the menu at the top of Screen Time instead.

2. If Screen Time isn't on yet, click App & Website Activity and turn it on first. The limits below stay greyed out until you do.

   macOS 26 Tahoe Screen Time›App & Website Activity

   macOS 27 Golden Gate Screen Time›Manage Screen Time›Turn On App & Website Activity

3. Click Downtime and set Schedule to Every Day for the same hours each night, or Custom to set different hours on school nights and weekends. Then enter the start and end times.

   Screen Time›Downtime

4. Go back to Screen Time and turn on Lock Screen Time Settings. Pick a passcode the person being limited doesn't know.

   Screen Time›Lock Screen Time Settings

5. Open Downtime again and switch on Block at Downtime. Now apps stay locked during those hours unless someone enters the passcode.

6. To check it, wait until the start time. Your Mac gives a warning a few minutes before, then blocked apps show a Downtime message.

On macOS 27 the first button in Screen Time may read Manage Screen Time, then Turn On App & Website Activity. Downtime itself is in the same place. For children in Family Sharing, macOS 27 also moves these limits to Family, where they're called Screen Time Schedule.

Still not fixed?

1. Some apps should keep working at night, like Phone or a music app for sleep? Add them in Always Allowed.

   Screen Time›Always Allowed

2. On macOS 27, if you manage a child through Family Sharing, open Family, click their name and set Screen Time Schedule there. Every device in the family needs version 27 for this.

   Family

3. If a child gets around Downtime, check their Mac account is a Standard user, not an administrator. Turn off Allow this user to administer this computer for their account in Users & Groups.

   Users & Groups

4. If Downtime blocks on the Mac but not on their iPhone or iPad, turn on Share across devices so the same limits apply everywhere they're signed in.

   Screen Time›Share across devices

5. If Downtime still never starts with Block at Downtime on and the clock set correctly, restart the Mac and check again. If it keeps failing, contact Apple Support.