Family Controls

RSS for tag

Prevent access to the Screen Time API without guardian approval and provide opaque tokens that represent apps and websites.

Posts under Family Controls tag

188 Posts

Post

Replies

Boosts

Views

Activity

FamilyControls API access
I’m requesting access to the Family Controls API for an iOS app currently in development. I’ve submitted the request through the official form here: https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/family-controls-distribution However, after submitting, I receive no confirmation email or support ticket ID. The page only shows a “Thank you for requesting the API” message, and I’m left without a way to track or confirm the request. This entitlement is essential for my app’s functionality, and I need to move forward with development and testing. Can someone from the Apple team please confirm receipt of the request and provide guidance on the next steps or estimated timelines?
0
0
425
May ’25
FamilyActivityTitleView Label has wrong text color when app is using different than system theme
Hello, In a new app I am working on I noticed the FamilyActivityTitleView that displays "ApplicationToken" has wrong (black) color when phone is set to light mode but app is using dark mode via override. We display user's selected apps and the labels are rendered correctly at first, but then when user updates selection with FamilyActivityPicker, then those newly added apps are rendered with black titles. The problem goes away when I close the screen and open it again. It also doesn't happen when phone is set to dark theme. I am currently noticing the issue on iOS 18.4.1. I have tried various workarounds like forcing white text in the custom label style, forcing re-render with custom .id value but nothing helped. Is there any way how to fix this?
0
0
156
May ’25
Clarification on ManagedSettings Shield Precedence (Application vs. Category)
I'm encountering what appears to be a specific precedence behavior with ManagedSettingsStore.shield and would appreciate some further clarification. My current understanding is that category-level shields take precedence over individual app allowances. My test involved... Using FamilyActivityPicker to select a single target application (e.g., "Calculator," which falls under the "Utilities" category). Using FamilyActivityPicker again to select the category of that target application. I applied shields using ManagedSettingsStore (named .individual): store.shield.applicationCategories = .specific(Set([utilitiesCategoryToken])) store.shield.applications = Set([calculatorApplicationToken]) Result: The calculator app remains shielded, suggesting that the category-level shield on Utilities overrides the attempt to allow the individual app. I also tried this using a single picker, but received only the category token instead of all application tokens in that category. Is this observed precedence (where store.shield.applicationCategories effectively overrides store.shield.applications for apps within the shielded category) the intended behavior? If so, are there any mechanisms available within the main app's capabilities (potentially using a Device Activity Report Extension or Shield Extension) to allow a specific ApplicationToken if its corresponding ActivityCategoryToken is part of the store.shield.applicationCategories set? Essentially, can store.shield.applications be used to create "allow exceptions" for individual apps that fall into an otherwise shielded category? Additionally, I mentioned that selecting an entire category in the picker only returns the opaque category token, not any application tokens. Is there any way in which I could return both the category and all application tokens by just selecting the category? Any insights or pointers would be greatly appreciated!
0
0
160
May ’25
Recently used applications on guardian phone - FamilyControls, DeviceActivityReport
For an iOS app that runs in both child and parent mode across iOS devices. On the child device, with Family Controls enabled using .child permissions via AuthorizationCenter.requestAuthorization(for: .child). Is any way to display a list of recently used apps by the child on the parent (guardian) device, in a privacy-preserving and Apple-compliant way?
1
0
175
May ’25
StoreKit2, IAP not instantly shared with Family
Hey folks! In one of our apps we're using the FamilyControls framework to manage the screentime for the child. The app requires the Guardian to activate a subscription on his/her device to enable the functionality for the Child on the child device. We're currently using StoreKit 2 to get notified when there is an active subscription. The issue we're seeing (and our users) is that an activated subscription isn't instantly propagated to the Family members, in this case the device belonging to the child. Is this a known bug, and are the possible any workarounds? Currently we have to ask our users to "Restore Purchase" or wait minutes/hours for the app to active, which isn't a viable solution. We want it to "just work" :) Sincerely, César Pinto Castillo Ambi Studio
3
0
134
May ’25
Error Domain=FamilyControls.FamilyControlsError Code=2 "(null)"
An error was reported when requesting permissions on devices with iOS 16.2 16.3. It is not an emulator. Through the log records, the following Error message appears Error Domain=FamilyControls.FamilyControlsError Code=3 "(null)" Error Domain=FamilyControls.FamilyControlsError Code=4 "(null)" Error Domain=FamilyControls.FamilyControlsError Code=5 "(null)" func requestScreenTime() async -> Bool { do { try await AuthorizationCenter.shared.requestAuthorization(for: .individual) return AuthorizationCenter.shared.authorizationStatus == .approved } catch { print("\(error)") return false } }
1
0
129
May ’25
Family Control Entitlements not recognized when distributing
I have been approved for family controls entitlements and see them in my apple certificates for my bundle identifier. I see them listed for Distribution in my Runner, however, when I try to distribute I get the error that I do not have the right permissions. Do I need to get the entitlements for each extension I have as well? I have three extensions that use the family controls.
1
0
180
May ’25
FamilyControls API access
I’m requesting access to the Family Controls API for an iOS app currently in development. I’ve submitted the request through the official form here: https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/family-controls-distribution However, after submitting, I receive no confirmation email or support ticket ID. The page only shows a “Thank you for requesting the API” message, and I’m left without a way to track or confirm the request. This entitlement is essential for my app’s functionality, and I need to move forward with development and testing. Can someone from the Apple team please confirm receipt of the request and provide guidance on the next steps or estimated timelines?
Replies
0
Boosts
0
Views
425
Activity
May ’25
FamilyActivityTitleView Label has wrong text color when app is using different than system theme
Hello, In a new app I am working on I noticed the FamilyActivityTitleView that displays "ApplicationToken" has wrong (black) color when phone is set to light mode but app is using dark mode via override. We display user's selected apps and the labels are rendered correctly at first, but then when user updates selection with FamilyActivityPicker, then those newly added apps are rendered with black titles. The problem goes away when I close the screen and open it again. It also doesn't happen when phone is set to dark theme. I am currently noticing the issue on iOS 18.4.1. I have tried various workarounds like forcing white text in the custom label style, forcing re-render with custom .id value but nothing helped. Is there any way how to fix this?
Replies
0
Boosts
0
Views
156
Activity
May ’25
Clarification on ManagedSettings Shield Precedence (Application vs. Category)
I'm encountering what appears to be a specific precedence behavior with ManagedSettingsStore.shield and would appreciate some further clarification. My current understanding is that category-level shields take precedence over individual app allowances. My test involved... Using FamilyActivityPicker to select a single target application (e.g., "Calculator," which falls under the "Utilities" category). Using FamilyActivityPicker again to select the category of that target application. I applied shields using ManagedSettingsStore (named .individual): store.shield.applicationCategories = .specific(Set([utilitiesCategoryToken])) store.shield.applications = Set([calculatorApplicationToken]) Result: The calculator app remains shielded, suggesting that the category-level shield on Utilities overrides the attempt to allow the individual app. I also tried this using a single picker, but received only the category token instead of all application tokens in that category. Is this observed precedence (where store.shield.applicationCategories effectively overrides store.shield.applications for apps within the shielded category) the intended behavior? If so, are there any mechanisms available within the main app's capabilities (potentially using a Device Activity Report Extension or Shield Extension) to allow a specific ApplicationToken if its corresponding ActivityCategoryToken is part of the store.shield.applicationCategories set? Essentially, can store.shield.applications be used to create "allow exceptions" for individual apps that fall into an otherwise shielded category? Additionally, I mentioned that selecting an entire category in the picker only returns the opaque category token, not any application tokens. Is there any way in which I could return both the category and all application tokens by just selecting the category? Any insights or pointers would be greatly appreciated!
Replies
0
Boosts
0
Views
160
Activity
May ’25
Recently used applications on guardian phone - FamilyControls, DeviceActivityReport
For an iOS app that runs in both child and parent mode across iOS devices. On the child device, with Family Controls enabled using .child permissions via AuthorizationCenter.requestAuthorization(for: .child). Is any way to display a list of recently used apps by the child on the parent (guardian) device, in a privacy-preserving and Apple-compliant way?
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
175
Activity
May ’25
Screen Time hata
Cannot convert value of type '[ApplicationToken]' (aka 'Array<Token>') to expected argument type 'Binding'
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
86
Activity
May ’25
StoreKit2, IAP not instantly shared with Family
Hey folks! In one of our apps we're using the FamilyControls framework to manage the screentime for the child. The app requires the Guardian to activate a subscription on his/her device to enable the functionality for the Child on the child device. We're currently using StoreKit 2 to get notified when there is an active subscription. The issue we're seeing (and our users) is that an activated subscription isn't instantly propagated to the Family members, in this case the device belonging to the child. Is this a known bug, and are the possible any workarounds? Currently we have to ask our users to "Restore Purchase" or wait minutes/hours for the app to active, which isn't a viable solution. We want it to "just work" :) Sincerely, César Pinto Castillo Ambi Studio
Replies
3
Boosts
0
Views
134
Activity
May ’25
Error Domain=FamilyControls.FamilyControlsError Code=2 "(null)"
An error was reported when requesting permissions on devices with iOS 16.2 16.3. It is not an emulator. Through the log records, the following Error message appears Error Domain=FamilyControls.FamilyControlsError Code=3 "(null)" Error Domain=FamilyControls.FamilyControlsError Code=4 "(null)" Error Domain=FamilyControls.FamilyControlsError Code=5 "(null)" func requestScreenTime() async -> Bool { do { try await AuthorizationCenter.shared.requestAuthorization(for: .individual) return AuthorizationCenter.shared.authorizationStatus == .approved } catch { print("\(error)") return false } }
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
129
Activity
May ’25
Family Control Entitlements not recognized when distributing
I have been approved for family controls entitlements and see them in my apple certificates for my bundle identifier. I see them listed for Distribution in my Runner, however, when I try to distribute I get the error that I do not have the right permissions. Do I need to get the entitlements for each extension I have as well? I have three extensions that use the family controls.
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
180
Activity
May ’25