Am showing daily screen-time of a user in my app in Device Activity Report Extension. The only way to get that is to sum up all the activityDuration of apps/categories/domains. But it differs a lot from phone's settings screen-time, why?
I have debugged in details and counted manually the time spent on each app and it turned out that the calculation is appearing correctly in my app but Phone settings showing quite less time on top (Day).
Device Activity
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After setting up all permissions, family members not showing up on the device list
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
General
Tags:
Family Controls
Device Activity
Managed Settings
Screen Time
This is more a general question of whether it is possible to share persistent/coredata from the main app to Screentime-related extensions such as DeviceActivityReportExtension.
I've set my code up (e.g., App Groups, files to different targets, using nspersistentcontainer with app group url, etc.) in a way that it builds, and the extension seems to recognize my CoreData schema (able to query using fetchrequest). But the data returned is always null. So i'm wondering if it is even possible to READ app data from the extension.
I understand it is not possible to write or pass data from the extension back to the app. I've also been able to read data that was saved in main app from UserDefaults in my extension.
I am encountering an issue after transferring an app that uses the FamilyControls framework to a different app account. After releasing a new version of the app post-transfer, the following problems arose:
ApplicationTokens obtained in the pre-transfer version no longer function when used with ManagedSettingsGroup.ShieldSettings in the post-transfer version.
Using the same ApplicationTokens with Label(_ applicationToken: ApplicationToken) does not display the app name or icon.
These issues did not occur in the pre-transfer version and everything worked as expected. We suspect that ApplicationTokens obtained prior to the transfer are no longer valid in the updated app released under the new app account.
We are seeking guidance on the following:
Is this expected behavior after transferring an app to another app account?
What steps should we take to ensure that ApplicationTokens obtained before the transfer remain functional in the post-transfer environment?
If these tokens are invalidated due to the transfer, what are the recommended procedures for regenerating or updating ApplicationTokens for existing app users?
Maintaining a seamless user experience after transferring the app is critical. We would greatly appreciate any insights or guidance. Please let us know if additional information or logs would assist in investigating this issue.
Thank you!
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
General
Tags:
Family Controls
Device Activity
Managed Settings
I am working on a SwiftUI app using the Screen Time API and the DeviceActivityReport view to display app usage data. My current implementation successfully shows daily app usage using a DeviceActivityFilter with the .daily(during:) segment. However, I need to filter this data to show app usage only for a specific time period during the day, e.g., 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
I created a DeviceActivityFilter with a .daily(during:) segment and passed a DateInterval for the desired time range:
let now = Date()
let startTime = calendar.date(bySettingHour: 16, minute: 0, second: 0, of: now)!
let endTime = calendar.date(bySettingHour: 17, minute: 0, second: 0, of: now)!
let timeInterval = DateInterval(start: startTime, end: endTime)
let filter = DeviceActivityFilter(
segment: .daily(during: timeInterval),
users: .all,
devices: .init([.iPhone])
)
I applied this filter to the DeviceActivityReport view:
DeviceActivityReport(context, filter: filter)
Even with the DateInterval set for the specific time range, the report still shows the total daily usage for each app, instead of restricting the results to the specified 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM range.
Hello
I am wondering how and if it even is possible to grab the amount of times a user has opened a specific app. Of course these apps will be selected for tracking by the user through the FamilyControls API, but is it possible to then list those selected apps and their amount of openings?
I know Screen Time API is very strict with giving developers control of this information outside of just displaying a view so I don't know if this is possible.
I saw that DeviceActivityData.ApplicationActivity has a value called "numberOfPickups" but I'm not sure how to access that value and display it in my app.
Thank you
Hi everyone,
I've been going through the forums and documentation, but I'm still unsure about how the Screen Time API works or whether it can achieve what I have in mind.
Specifically, I want to display the current screen time value on a widget. Additionally, I’d like to use that screen time value for some calculations and represent the results in a different way within the widget.
I’d really appreciate any guidance or insights. Thanks in advance! 😊
let schedule = DeviceActivitySchedule(
intervalStart: startInterval,
intervalEnd: endInterval,
repeats: false,
warningTime : DateComponents(hour : 0 , minute: 0 , second: 30)
)
```
I hope it will only be executed on the same day, but the monitoring is still there the next day. My system version is 18.2
Bellow I created Manager to be easier for me to handle app limits, but for some reason It never reached callbacks function, I have permission for screen time, I added the capabilities for it also, I'm sure, I send correctly the appTokens, categoriesTokens ... and the time limit and it also reach ✅ Monitoring started for..., I don't know what to do anymore:
import SwiftUI
import DeviceActivity
import FamilyControls
import ManagedSettings
@MainActor
class AppUsageManager: DeviceActivityMonitor, ObservableObject {
static let shared = AppUsageManager()
private let deviceActivityCenter = DeviceActivityCenter()
private var monitoringSelections: [DeviceActivityName: (selection: FamilyActivitySelection, timeLimit: DateComponents)] = [:]
private var resetTimer: Timer?
private override init() {
super.init()
print("🟢 AppUsageManager initialized.")
}
// MARK: - Public Methods
/// Configures monitoring for a selection with a specific event name and time limit.
func configureMonitoring(
for selection: FamilyActivitySelection,
timeLimitInMinutes: Int,
activityName: String,
eventName: String
) {
let activityName = DeviceActivityName(activityName)
let eventName = DeviceActivityEvent.Name(eventName)
monitoringSelections[activityName] = (selection, DateComponents(minute: timeLimitInMinutes))
setupMonitoring(for: activityName, with: eventName)
}
/// Stops monitoring for a specific event.
func stopMonitoring(for activityName: String) {
let activityName = DeviceActivityName(activityName)
Task {
print("🛑 Stopping monitoring for \(activityName.rawValue).")
deviceActivityCenter.stopMonitoring([activityName])
monitoringSelections.removeValue(forKey: activityName)
}
}
/// Stops all monitoring.
func stopAllMonitoring() {
print("🛑 Stopping monitoring")
deviceActivityCenter.stopMonitoring()
}
// MARK: - Private Methods
/// Sets up monitoring for a specific event.
private func setupMonitoring(
for activityName: DeviceActivityName,
with eventName: DeviceActivityEvent.Name
) {
stopAllMonitoring()
guard let (selection, timeLimit) = monitoringSelections[activityName] else {
print("⚠️ No selection configured for \(activityName.rawValue).")
return
}
print("🛠 Setting up monitoring for \(activityName.rawValue).")
print("📋 Monitoring Details:")
print("- Time Limit: \(timeLimit.minute ?? 0) minutes.")
let warningThreshold = DateComponents(minute: 3)
let timeZone = TimeZone.current
let schedule = DeviceActivitySchedule(
intervalStart: DateComponents(timeZone: timeZone, hour: 0, minute: 0, second: 0),
intervalEnd: DateComponents(timeZone: timeZone, hour: 23, minute: 59, second: 59),
repeats: true,
warningTime: warningThreshold
)
let events: [DeviceActivityEvent.Name: DeviceActivityEvent] = [
eventName: DeviceActivityEvent(
applications: selection.applicationTokens,
categories: selection.categoryTokens,
webDomains: selection.webDomainTokens,
threshold: timeLimit
)
]
do {
try deviceActivityCenter.startMonitoring(
activityName,
during: schedule,
events: events
)
print("✅ Monitoring started for \(activityName.rawValue) with time limit \(timeLimit.minute ?? 0) minutes.")
} catch {
print("❌ Failed to start monitoring \(activityName.rawValue): \(error.localizedDescription)")
}
}
// MARK: - DeviceActivityMonitor Overrides
override func intervalDidStart(for activity: DeviceActivityName) {
print("🟢 Interval for \(activity.rawValue) started.")
}
override func intervalWillStartWarning(for activity: DeviceActivityName) {
print("⚠️ Warning: \(activity.rawValue) is about to start.")
}
/// Handles warnings for approaching the time limit.
override func eventWillReachThresholdWarning(
_ event: DeviceActivityEvent.Name,
activity: DeviceActivityName
) {
super.eventWillReachThresholdWarning(event, activity: activity)
print("⚠️ Warning: \(activity.rawValue) is about to reach its time limit.")
print("⚠️ Event: \(event.rawValue)")
}
/// Handles when the time limit is reached.
override func eventDidReachThreshold(
_ event: DeviceActivityEvent.Name,
activity: DeviceActivityName
) {
super.eventDidReachThreshold(event, activity: activity)
print("🟢 Limit reached.")
Task { @MainActor in
print("🕒 \(activity.rawValue) has reached its time limit.")
print("🕒 Event: \(event.rawValue)")
guard let (selection, _) = monitoringSelections[activity] else {
print("⚠️ No selection configured for \(activity.rawValue).")
return
}
blockApps(for: selection)
}
}
// MARK: - Blocking Logic
/// Blocks the selected apps/categories.
private func blockApps(for selection: FamilyActivitySelection) {
print("🔒 Blocking apps/categories for selection.")
print("- Applications: \(selection.applicationTokens)")
print("- Categories: \(selection.categoryTokens)")
let store = ManagedSettingsStore()
store.shield.applications = selection.applicationTokens
store.shield.applicationCategories = .specific(selection.categoryTokens)
print("🔒 Apps/categories blocked successfully.")
}
}
I am getting this error when I try to show device activity report view by this
DeviceActivityReport(appsContext, filter: filter)
Attempt to map database failed: permission was denied. This attempt will not be retried.
I have taken access by this way.
AuthorizationCenter.shared.requestAuthorization(for: .individual)
Hello, we are building an app to limit children's screen time and using Screen Time API. We found bug on the screen where the user selects app category and apps, if the user selects Other category, the screen will crash (he will be empty, but if you reload screen, it will show apps again as usual). We hope that Apple will fix it someday, but we are trying to notify our users about this problem, and the problem is that we don't know what the user selects on Apple screen with apps till the user clicks Save or Done. But we need to notify him either when he clicks on the Other category or when he faces crash of this screen. We want to show a pop-up to user with explanation why screen crashed.
When I use the screen time API, the app occasionally crashes in the morning. I mean the UI freeze lasts for more than ten seconds.
But the weird thing is that I work normally during the day, that is, in the morning, when I just woke up. (There is no Do Not Disturb mode). This problem has been bothering me for several days, please help.
The specific crash log is as follows, and the specific code is as follows.
Model: iPhone 15 Pro, iOS: 18.1.1
Thanks for your help!
Code:
private func startAppMonitoring(application: ApplicationToken, seconds: Int, isFromNow: Bool) {
let schedule = DeviceActivitySchedule(
intervalStart: isFromNow ? Calendar.current.dateComponents([.hour, .minute, .second], from: Date()) : DateComponents(timeZone: TimeZone(identifier:TimeZone.current.identifier), hour: 0, minute: 0, second: 0),
intervalEnd: DateComponents(timeZone: TimeZone(identifier:TimeZone.current.identifier), hour: 23, minute: 58, second: 59),
repeats: true,
warningTime: DateComponents(minute: 1)
)
let event = DeviceActivityEvent(
applications: Set([application]),
threshold: DateComponents(second: seconds)
)
let center = DeviceActivityCenter()
do {
try center.startMonitoring(DeviceActivityName("\(application.hashValue)Usage"), during: schedule, events: [DeviceActivityEvent.Name("\(application.hashValue)Event"): event])
} catch {
print("Error starting monitoring schedule: \(error)")
}
}
Crash report:
Hi everyone, I need to display a Graph based on Screen-time of apps per hour, from 12Am to 11PM. Am able to get the screen-time data for whole day with each app's total screen-time value.
Am kind of confused how can I get the per hour screen-time of apps. I have applied filter of day
DeviceActivityFilter(
segment: .daily(
during: Calendar.current.dateInterval(
of: .day, for: .now
)!
),
users: .all,
devices: .init([.iPhone, .iPad])
)
Am also using this data to display apps with their usage just like Apple's Screen_time in settings.
I need to display exact same graph just like Apple's screen in phone settings for a Day.
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
Health & Fitness
Tags:
Family Controls
Device Activity
Screen Time
I have a app with two targets: a main DeviceActivityApp target and a DeviceReport target. In the DeviceReport target, I have a TotalActivityReport struct conforming to DeviceActivityReportScene. Inside its makeConfiguration method, I update a dynamically generated list of AppReport items. The list updates correctly in the DeviceReport target.
// Define which context your scene will represent.
let context: DeviceActivityReport.Context = .totalActivity
// Define the custom configuration and the resulting view for this report.
let content: (MonitorDeviceReport) -> TotalActivityViewFirst
@ObservedObject var activityData:ActivityData
func makeConfiguration(representing data: DeviceActivityResults<DeviceActivityData>) async -> MonitorDeviceReport {
// Reformat the data into a configuration that can be used to create
// the report's view.
var appList:[AppsReport]=[]
let totalActivityDuration = await data.flatMap { $0.activitySegments }.reduce(0, {
$0 + $1.totalActivityDuration
})
for await _data in data{
for await activity in _data.activitySegments{
for await category in activity.categories{
for await app in category.applications{
let name=app.application.localizedDisplayName ?? "No Name"
let bundleId=app.application.bundleIdentifier ?? "nil"
let duration=app.totalActivityDuration
let appIcon=app.application.token
let app=AppsReport(id:bundleId,duration:duration, name:name, icon:appIcon)
appList.append(app)
}
}
}
}
DispatchQueue.main.async {
activityData.list=appList
}
return MonitorDeviceReport(duration:totalActivityDuration, apps:appList)
}
}
public class ActivityData:ObservableObject{
@Published var list:[AppsReport]=[]
public static let shared = ActivityData()
}. // This is in MonitorReport target
However, I need to access this dynamic list in my MyApp target, specifically in ContentView.swift. I tried using an ObservableObject (ActivityData) to share the data between targets, but the list always appears empty in the MyApp target.
Here’s what I’ve tried so far:
Created a shared ActivityData instance using @Published
Passed the ActivityData instance to TotalActivityReport
Used dependency injection and a singleton pattern for ActivityData
Verified that makeConfiguration updates the list correctly in DeviceReport
What could I be missing? How can I correctly share and access this data across targets?
I am working on the device activity report. and fetched data is loading on the chart. I am developing app using TabbarController. when I go to another tab and come back to the chart screen, it disappears.
Here, I am working on a storyboard using Swift language, and device activity reports can be fetched only with SwiftUI. So, the problem is with it? Following the current code.
@State private var context: DeviceActivityReport.Context = .init(rawValue: "Daily Activity")
@State private var report: DeviceActivityReport?
@State private var filter = DeviceActivityFilter(
segment: .daily(
during: Calendar.current.dateInterval(
of: .day, for: .now
)!
)
// users: .all
// devices: .init([.iPhone, .iPad])
)
@State var isReload: Bool = false
var body: some View {
ZStack {
if isReload {
LoadingView(title: "Data is loading...")
} else if let report = report {
report
} else {
DeviceActivityReport(context, filter: filter)
}
}
.onAppear {
DispatchQueue.main.async {
report = DeviceActivityReport(context, filter: filter)
}
}
}
struct LoadingView: View {
var title: String = "Please wait..."
var body: some View {
HStack {
ProgressView(title)
.font(.system(size: 14, weight: .medium))
.progressViewStyle(.horizontal)
.tint(Color(.darkGray))
.padding(8)
}
.background(Color(.white))
.cornerRadius(8)
.clipped()
}
}
When I try to load the device activity report, it takes too long to load data. Is this because of development time? Will the problem be solved when the app is live on the App Store?
If it does not depend on the development profile, then please give me a solution for the fast data loading in the device activity report extension.
Thank you
Our app monitors device usage and applies a shield when the set time limit is reached. Multiple DeviceActivitySchedules can be present, each with different time limits. To display notifications at 50% of the total limit for each DeviceActivitySchedule, we set a warning time at half of the total time. However, we occasionally receive premature event callbacks.
For example, consider a schedule from 13:00 to 13:30 with a single event threshold at 10 minutes and a warning time of 5 minutes. The 'eventDidReachThreshold' callback is delivered prematurely, along with the 'eventWillReachThresholdWarning' callback, at 13:10.
Additionally, in some cases, when one DeviceActivitySchedule ends and the next begins immediately, DeviceActivityEvents registered for the new DeviceActivitySchedule are delivered prematurely along with the schedule start callback.
For example, consider there are two DeviceActivitySchedules from 12:00 to 13:00 and from 13:00 to 14:00, each with a limit of 10 minutes and a warning time of 5 minutes. When the first schedule ends and the next begins at 13:00, the 'eventDidReachThreshold' callbacks for the events registered in the second schedule are delivered prematurely, along with the 'intervalDidStart' callback.
I'm working with the Screen Time API in iOS and have successfully implemented the following:
Granted Screen Time Permission: The app asks for and obtains Screen Time permissions without any issues.
Blocked Specific Apps: Using FamilyActivitySelection, I can block access to certain apps.
Monitoring Device Activity: With DeviceActivityCenter().startMonitoring(), I’m able to successfully start monitoring.
DeviceActivityCenter().startMonitoring(.myActivity, during: schedule)
Now, I’m wondering if there’s a way to detect exactly which app the user opens, so I can fire an API from my own app based on that event.
Is this kind of real-time app usage detection possible with the Screen Time API? If so, how might it be implemented?
The data displayed about a child’s apps can be outdated (DeviceActivityReport), leading to misinformation for the user. When I access the “Screen Time” section (for child in the parent device) in the iPhone settings, I see there is an update functionality to force load the actual data.
I have tried various workarounds, such as attempting to force an update on the child’s device to call DeviceActivityReport and opening system settings, but none of these have been successful :(
How can I implement something similar? Is there a way to force update this data ?
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
General
Tags:
Xcode
Device Activity
Family Controls
Screen Time
I'd like to block the apps selected in FamilyActivityPicker individually when a certain threshold is met.
For example, let's say the threshold is 15 minutes, and I want to block both Photos and Freeform. If I spend 15 minutes on Photos, Photos should be blocked. Then, if I spend 15 minutes on Freeform, Freeform should also be blocked.
Currently, only Photos gets blocked after 15 minutes, but Freeform does not. How can I fix this problem so that each app is blocked individually when its respective 15-minute threshold is met?
Thank you in advance
File 1 :
class GlobalSelection {
static let shared = GlobalSelection()
var selection = FamilyActivitySelection()
private init() {}
}
extension DeviceActivityName{
static let daily = Self("daily")
}
@objc(DeviceActivityMonitorModule)
class DeviceActivityMonitorModule: NSObject {
private let store = ManagedSettingsStore()
@objc
func startMonitoring(_ limitInMinutes: Int) {
let schedule = DeviceActivitySchedule(
intervalStart: DateComponents(hour: 0, minute: 0),
intervalEnd: DateComponents(hour: 23, minute: 59),
repeats: true
)
let threshold = DateComponents(minute: limitInMinutes)
var events: [DeviceActivityEvent.Name: DeviceActivityEvent] = [:]
// Iterate over each selected application's token
for token in GlobalSelection.shared.selection.applicationTokens {
// Create a unique event name for each application
let eventName = DeviceActivityEvent.Name("dailyLimitEvent_\(token)")
// Create an event for this specific application
let event = DeviceActivityEvent(
applications: [token], // Single app token
threshold: threshold
)
// Add the event to the dictionary
events[eventName] = event
}
// Register the monitor with the activity name and schedule
do {
try DeviceActivityCenter().startMonitoring(.daily, during: schedule, events: events)
print("24/7 Monitoring started with time limit : \(limitInMinutes) m")
} catch {
print("Failed to start monitoring: \(error)")
}
}
@objc
static func requiresMainQueueSetup() -> Bool {
return true
}
}
FIle 2 :
class DeviceActivityMonitorExtension: DeviceActivityMonitor {
let store = ManagedSettingsStore()
var blockedApps: Set<ApplicationToken> = []
func scheduleNotification(with title: String) {
let center = UNUserNotificationCenter.current()
center.requestAuthorization(options: [.alert, .sound, .badge]) { granted, error in
if granted {
let content = UNMutableNotificationContent()
content.title = "Notification" // Using the custom title here
content.body = title
content.sound = UNNotificationSound.default
let trigger = UNTimeIntervalNotificationTrigger(timeInterval: 5, repeats: false) // 5 seconds from now
let request = UNNotificationRequest(identifier: "MyNotification", content: content, trigger: trigger)
center.add(request) { error in
if let error = error {
print("Error scheduling notification: \(error)")
}
}
} else {
print("Permission denied. \(error?.localizedDescription ?? "")")
}
}
}
// Function to retrieve selected apps
func retrieveSelectedApps() -> FamilyActivitySelection? {
if let sharedDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: "group.timelimit.com.zerodistract") {
// Retrieve the encoded data
if let data = sharedDefaults.data(forKey: "selectedAppsTimeLimit") {
// Decode the data back into FamilyActivitySelection
let decoder = JSONDecoder()
if let selection = try? decoder.decode(FamilyActivitySelection.self, from: data) {
return selection
}
}
}
return nil // Return nil if there was an error
}
override func intervalDidStart(for activity: DeviceActivityName){
super.intervalDidStart(for: activity)
scheduleNotification(with: "Interval did start")
scheduleNotification(with: "\(retrieveSelectedApps())")
}
override func intervalDidEnd(for activity: DeviceActivityName) {
super.intervalDidEnd(for: activity)
}
override func eventDidReachThreshold(_ event: DeviceActivityEvent.Name, activity: DeviceActivityName) {
super.eventDidReachThreshold(event, activity: activity)
// Notify that the threshold is met
scheduleNotification(with: "Threshold met")
// Retrieve the selected apps
if let selectedApps = retrieveSelectedApps() {
// Extract the app token identifier from the event name
let appTokenIdentifier = event.rawValue.replacingOccurrences(of: "dailyLimitEvent_", with: "")
// Iterate over the selected application tokens
for appToken in selectedApps.applicationTokens {
// Convert the app token to a string representation (or use its debugDescription)
let tokenString = "\(appToken)"
// Check if the app token matches the token identifier in the event name
if tokenString == appTokenIdentifier {
blockedApps.insert(appToken)
// Block only the app associated with this event
store.shield.applications = blockedApps
scheduleNotification(with: "store.shield.applications = blockedApps is reached")
break
}
}
} else {
scheduleNotification(with: "No stored data for selectedAppsTimeLimit")
}
}
override func intervalWillStartWarning(for activity: DeviceActivityName) {
super.intervalWillStartWarning(for: activity)
// Handle the warning before the interval starts.
}
override func intervalWillEndWarning(for activity: DeviceActivityName) {
super.intervalWillEndWarning(for: activity)
// Handle the warning before the interval ends.
}
override func eventWillReachThresholdWarning(_ event: DeviceActivityEvent.Name, activity: DeviceActivityName) {
super.eventWillReachThresholdWarning(event, activity: activity)
// Handle the warning before the event reaches its threshold.
}
}