Screen Time on a Mac shows how you spend time in apps and websites, helps you set app-use limits, schedules periods of reduced access, and applies content restrictions. To open it, choose Apple menu > System Settings > Screen Time. Older versions of macOS may use System Preferences instead of System Settings.
Quick Answer
To use Screen Time on a Mac:
- Open Apple menu > System Settings.
- Select Screen Time in the sidebar.
- Turn on App & Website Activity to collect usage reports.
- Review your daily or weekly activity by selecting See All App & Website Activity.
- Use App Limits to restrict selected apps or categories.
- Use Downtime to schedule a period when only permitted apps are available.
- Open Content & Privacy to restrict websites, purchases, and other content.
- Turn on Share across devices if you want Screen Time data and limits to work across your Apple devices.
Screen Time is useful for personal habits, family supervision, and managing distractions, but its reports can be affected by multiple users, shared accounts, browser tabs, or incorrect device settings.
Open Screen Time on a Mac
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Screen Time in the sidebar.
- If you have more than one user account, confirm that you are viewing the intended account.
- Turn on App & Website Activity.
On older macOS versions, open Apple menu > System Preferences, then select Screen Time.
Turning on App & Website Activity allows macOS to record app and website usage for reports and limits. If you do not enable this setting, Screen Time will not provide complete usage statistics.
View Mac Usage Statistics
Screen Time organizes activity into categories such as apps, websites, notifications, and device pickups. The exact information displayed can vary depending on your macOS version, account configuration, and whether Share across devices is enabled.
See a daily or weekly report
- Open System Settings > Screen Time.
- Select See All App & Website Activity.
- Use the date control to view Day or Week.
- Select a user or device, if macOS presents those options.
- Review the charts and lists for app and website activity.
Reports can show:
- Total time spent using the Mac
- Time spent in individual apps
- Time spent on websites
- Frequently used apps and categories
- Number of notifications
- Times the Mac was picked up, when data from supported Apple devices is included
- Activity trends over the selected period
Select an app, category, or website to see more detail when that option is available. Usage is generally grouped by the account or device that generated it, so shared accounts can make the report less personal or less precise.
Understand what the report means
Screen Time measures activity based on how macOS and supported apps report usage. It is not a stopwatch for every action you take. For example, an app may remain open while you are reading, downloading something, or away from the Mac. A browser can also show time associated with a website even when several tabs are open.
Use the report as a general picture of your habits rather than an exact record of every minute.
Set App Limits in macOS
App Limits restrict how long you can use selected apps, websites, or categories during a day. You can set a limit for a group, such as Entertainment, or choose individual apps.
Add an app limit
- Open System Settings > Screen Time.
- Select App Limits.
- Click Add Limit.
- Select one or more categories, apps, or websites.
- Click Next.
- Set the allowed time.
- Choose which days the limit applies to, if macOS provides day-specific controls.
- Click Done.
You can create different schedules for different days. For example, you might allow more time on weekends than on weekdays.
Edit or remove an app limit
- Open System Settings > Screen Time > App Limits.
- Select the limit you want to change.
- Adjust the apps, websites, schedule, or time allowance.
- Save the change.
To remove a limit, select it and choose the delete or remove control shown by macOS.
What happens when a limit is reached?
When you reach an App Limit, macOS can restrict access to the selected app or website. Depending on your settings, you may be able to request or allow additional time. If a Screen Time passcode protects the settings, the passcode may be required to change the limit or approve more time.
Warning: Changing or removing an App Limit changes how the Mac restricts access. If another person uses the Mac, confirm that you have permission before changing their limits.
Schedule Downtime
Downtime creates a scheduled period when most apps and notifications are unavailable. Apps that you specifically allow remain available.
Downtime can help create a work, study, bedtime, or family schedule without manually closing every distracting app.
Turn on Downtime
- Open System Settings > Screen Time.
- Select Downtime.
- Turn on Scheduled.
- Choose Every Day or Custom.
- Set the start and end times.
- Review the apps that should remain available during Downtime.
With Custom, you can set different times for individual days.
Allow important apps during Downtime
Screen Time can allow selected apps during Downtime. Choose apps that are necessary for communication, work, school, accessibility, or safety.
If Downtime is active and you need an app that is not available, you may be able to request more time. A Screen Time passcode can prevent changes without authorization.
Warning: Downtime may block apps you need, including communication or work tools. Check the allowed apps before the schedule begins, and save open documents before testing a restrictive schedule.
Use Content & Privacy Settings
Content & Privacy settings limit access to content, websites, purchases, and privacy-related changes. The available controls can vary by macOS version and account permissions.
Turn on Content & Privacy
- Open System Settings > Screen Time.
- Select Content & Privacy.
- Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Review each available section.
Common controls may include:
- Restrictions for web content
- Limits on explicit content
- Restrictions for purchases and downloads
- Controls for app installations or deletions
- Privacy-related changes
- Game Center features
- Other account or device settings
Restrict websites
To limit websites:
- Open System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy.
- Select the web-content option.
- Choose the restriction level available on your Mac.
- Add specific websites to an allowed or blocked list when the option is provided.
Use the strictest setting only when you understand what it blocks. Website restrictions can affect legitimate pages, embedded services, sign-in screens, and school or work resources.
Limit purchases and downloads
Content & Privacy settings can help control actions such as downloading apps or making purchases, depending on the Mac and account configuration.
Review these settings before giving someone access to the account. Restrictions may prevent normal software installation or account activity.
Share Screen Time Across Devices
If you use the same Apple Account on multiple Apple devices, Share across devices can combine activity and synchronize Screen Time settings across those devices.
Turn on Share across devices
- Open System Settings > Screen Time.
- Turn on Share across devices.
When enabled, usage from supported devices signed in to the same Apple Account may contribute to the combined Screen Time report. App Limits and Downtime settings can also apply across devices, depending on the devices and settings involved.
When sharing is useful
Sharing is helpful when you want one combined limit for an app or category across a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Without sharing, a person could use the same service on another device without that activity appearing in the Mac’s report.
When to turn it off
Turn off Share across devices if you want to review Mac activity separately.
- Open System Settings > Screen Time.
- Turn off Share across devices.
- Review the report again after macOS has had time to update the data.
Limitation: Shared reports may be confusing when several people use the same Apple Account. Each person should ideally use a separate account so activity, restrictions, and reports remain distinct.
Protect Screen Time Settings with a Passcode
A Screen Time passcode prevents other people from changing limits, disabling restrictions, or approving additional time without authorization.
Set a Screen Time passcode
- Open System Settings > Screen Time.
- Select Lock Screen Time Settings or the equivalent passcode option.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
- Create a passcode that is different from an easily guessed device or account password.
Keep the passcode private from anyone whose restrictions you manage. If the Mac asks for an Apple Account during setup or recovery, follow the onscreen instructions.
Remove or change the passcode
- Open System Settings > Screen Time.
- Select the option to change or turn off the Screen Time passcode.
- Authenticate when prompted.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
Warning: Removing the passcode can allow anyone with access to the account to change Screen Time settings. If you forget the passcode, use the recovery option shown in Screen Time rather than repeatedly guessing it.
Manage Allowed Apps
Screen Time may provide an Always Allowed section for apps that should remain available during Downtime or after a limit is reached.
- Open System Settings > Screen Time.
- Select Always Allowed.
- Select the apps that should remain available.
- Enter the Screen Time passcode if macOS requests it.
Choose carefully. An app allowed during Downtime may remain usable even when other apps are restricted.
Troubleshooting Inaccurate Screen Time Data
Screen Time reports are not always what you expect. Try these checks before changing limits.
Confirm that the correct account and device are selected
If multiple users or devices appear in Screen Time, make sure you are viewing the intended account and report. A shared Mac account can combine activity from different people.
Check Share across devices
If the report is higher or lower than expected:
- Open System Settings > Screen Time.
- Check Share across devices.
- Turn it off to view Mac-only activity, or turn it on to include activity from supported devices.
Allow time for the report to update after changing this setting.
Check the date range
A weekly report can look very different from a daily report. Select Day and inspect individual dates before concluding that the data is incorrect.
Restart the Mac
A restart can refresh system services that report app and website activity.
Warning: Save documents and close apps normally before restarting. A restart can interrupt downloads, file transfers, and unsaved work.
- Save open documents.
- Choose Apple menu > Restart.
- Reopen Screen Time after the Mac starts.
Update macOS
Install available macOS updates if Screen Time continues to display missing or inconsistent information.
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Select General > Software Update.
- Install an available update when convenient.
Warning: Save your work and make sure important files are backed up before installing a major system update. The Mac may restart and apps may close.
Check whether an app is simply left open
Screen Time may count time while an app remains active even if you are not continuously interacting with it. Quit apps you are finished using, especially video players, games, communication apps, and browsers.
Warning: Save your work before quitting an app. Quitting can close windows and discard unsaved changes.
Check browser tabs and websites
A website can contribute to usage while its browser tab remains open. Close tabs you are finished with, or quit the browser when you are done.
Warning: Closing a tab may discard information entered into a web form. Save or submit important information first.
Check automatic date and time settings
Incorrect date or time settings can make activity appear under the wrong day.
- Open System Settings > General > Date & Time.
- Turn on the option to set the date and time automatically, if available.
- Confirm the time zone is correct.
Check Focus modes and notifications separately
Screen Time reports notifications, but it does not replace Focus settings. If you are trying to reduce interruptions, review System Settings > Focus as well as Screen Time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Screen Time work on a Mac?
Yes. Screen Time is available in Mac system settings and can report app and website activity, set App Limits, schedule Downtime, and apply Content & Privacy restrictions.
Why is Screen Time not showing any activity?
Make sure App & Website Activity is turned on under System Settings > Screen Time. Also confirm that you are viewing the correct user and date range. Reports may take time to populate after the feature is enabled.
Can I limit a website on a Mac?
Yes, Screen Time can provide website controls through App Limits and Content & Privacy settings. The exact options depend on the macOS version and the type of restriction you choose.
Can I set different App Limits for different days?
In many Screen Time configurations, you can choose custom schedules and assign different limits to different days. Open the individual limit to see the controls available on your Mac.
Can Screen Time limit all devices together?
Turn on Share across devices to combine activity and apply Screen Time controls across supported Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account. Separate accounts are better when different people use the devices.
What is the difference between App Limits and Downtime?
App Limits restrict selected apps, categories, or websites after a specified amount of use. Downtime blocks most apps during a scheduled period, while apps marked as always allowed remain available.
Can I bypass an App Limit?
Depending on the configuration, macOS may offer a request-for-more-time option. A Screen Time passcode can prevent unauthorized changes or approvals.
Why does Screen Time show more time than I actually used an app?
An app may have remained open or active while you were away. Shared device reporting, multiple users, browser tabs, and delayed synchronization can also affect the total.
Can I use Screen Time without a passcode?
Yes, but without a passcode, someone with access to the account may be able to change or disable Screen Time settings. A passcode is recommended when restrictions need to remain in place.
Final Thoughts
Screen Time on a Mac combines usage statistics with practical controls. Start by enabling App & Website Activity, review the report for a few days, and then add App Limits or Downtime only where they solve a specific problem. Use Content & Privacy for account and content restrictions, and turn on Share across devices when you want one set of controls across your Apple devices. For the most accurate reports, use separate Mac accounts, check the selected date range, and remember that an open app is not always the same as active use.