How to set up Screen Time on a Mac

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-set-up-screen-time-on-a-mac/ · Checked 2 October 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

3 of 6 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

3 of 6 steps

Checked

2 October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings and click Screen Time

   Click the Apple menu, then System Settings, then Screen Time in the sidebar.

   Done

2. 

   Turn on App & Website Activity

   Click App & Website Activity, then click Turn On App & Website Activity. From now on the Mac records how long each app and website is used.

   Done

3. Set Downtime

   Downtime is a schedule for time away from the screen, for example in the evening.

   Done

4. Set App Limits

   App Limits set a daily time limit for apps and websites.

   Done

5. 

   Set Content & Privacy

   Here you restrict explicit content, purchases, downloads and privacy settings.

   Done

6. For a child

   Click the Family Member menu at the top of the Screen Time page and choose the child. This needs Family Sharing, and you must be signed in to your Apple Account.

   Done

What we saw on our device

• Open Screen Time and click Manage Screen Time: On our MacBook Neo the App & Website Activity switch is no longer on the main Screen Time page; it sits under Manage Screen Time.
• Click Screen Time Schedule: On our MacBook Neo macOS 27 uses this name for what macOS 26 called Downtime.
• Turn on Schedule: On our MacBook Neo it was off, with Allowed Every Day set to All Day, 00 – 23:59.

About this guide

Screen Time shows how long the Mac is used and for what. It can also limit apps and block content. You can use it for yourself, or for a child in your Family Sharing group.

These steps are for recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings. The pictures are our own screenshots from macOS Tahoe 26 on a MacBook Pro.

Good to know

The reports only become useful after a few days of use.

For a child, switch on Lock Screen Time Settings and choose a passcode that the child does not know. Otherwise the limits can simply be switched off.

To keep the Mac from sleeping during a long task while Downtime is off: how to stop a Mac from going to sleep.

The same on an iPhone: How to turn on Screen Time on iPhone.

In short: System Settings > Screen Time > Manage Screen Time > App & Website Activity on > Turn on Screen Time Activity, then Screen Time Schedule, Time Allowances, Content & Privacy Restrictions.