Screen Time limit not working on iPhone? Here’s why

By default, a limit is a reminder

Apple’s iOS 26 documentation says: “By default, Screen Time limits can be ignored once reached.” When Block at Downtime is off, you see a reminder that it is Downtime, but you can continue to use the apps. This is expected behavior, not a bug.

When Block at Downtime is on, restricted apps cannot be opened during Downtime. They appear dimmed with an hourglass icon. Apple offers this choice only when a Screen Time passcode is set.

Check these settings on iOS 26

1. ⚙️ Settings → Screen Time: make sure App & Website Activity is on.
2. Set a Screen Time passcode. Without it, you cannot choose to block apps completely during Downtime.
3. Tap Downtime and turn on Block at Downtime.
4. Check Always Allowed. An app in that list stays available during Downtime and after its limit.
5. Open App Limits and check that the limit includes the right app or category, and the right days if you used Customize Days.

⚠️ Most “broken” limits are working as designed: without Block at Downtime and a passcode, a limit is only a reminder.

Check these points on iOS 27

iOS 27 replaces Downtime and App Limits with Screen Time Schedules and Time Allowances. Apple states that these features need iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27 or later on all your Apple devices. If one device in your setup is not updated, check it first.

Also check Always Allowed, and check that the category with the Time Allowance contains the app you want to limit. Time Allowances apply to categories such as Social Media, Entertainment and Games.

If you ignore limits you set yourself

A passcode that you know stops you only for the time it takes to type it. Some people ask another person to set and keep the Screen Time passcode. Others use an app blocker that decides what happens when they want more time, instead of offering an ignore option.

Bouncer has no ignore option. A blocked app shows a shield with no unblock button, and access goes through Bouncer. What happens next depends on the Rule’s Level: a short wait with Normal, a wait that grows after each successful unblock with High, or no temporary unblock until the window ends with Lockdown.

Changing or turning off an active Normal or High Rule also requires a wait, unless temporary access is already running. An active Lockdown cannot be edited. No app can promise that every workaround is impossible; all blocking depends on Apple system services. To set it up, follow how to block apps on iPhone.