Hi Apple Developer Support, I am writing to escalate an urgent unresolved request regarding our app BetterUs (Team ID: TK8M23SECQ, Bundle ID: com.dalesidebottom.betterus). Timeline of attempts: ~1 May 2026 — Submitted FamilyControls Distribution entitlement request via the official form at developer.apple.com/contact/request/family-controls-distribution for bundle IDs com.dalesidebottom.betterus.shield and com.dalesidebottom.betterus.report. No confirmation number received, no response. ~20 May 2026 — Raised support case 102892887667 via developer.apple.com/contact. Received acknowledgement from Eugene. ~21 May 2026 — Replied with all requested information (date of submission, business need, bundle IDs). Today — Still no approval and no further response. It has now been over 3 weeks since the original request. What I need: The FamilyControls Distribution entitlement is already approved on my account for: com.dalesidebottom.betterus ✅ com.dalesidebottom.betterus.monitor ✅ I simply need it extended to these two sub-extensions of the same app: com.dalesidebottom.betterus.shield (Shield Configuration extension) com.dalesidebottom.betterus.report (DeviceActivity Report extension) These are not new use cases — they are part of the same approved parental screen time app. Without this, BetterUs cannot be submitted to the App Store at all. I have active testers waiting and this delay is significantly impacting our launch. I would greatly appreciate urgent attention on this matter. Thank you, Dale Sidebottom

Hi, I am experience bad customer service from Apple not answering, or updating anything about my request for family controls. Is there a way we can speed up things?

Ive spent nearly one month to develop my first app, and now its done. but i am stuck with getting Family Controls Distribution entitlement. i`ve request that one month and half ago. but still get no response. I tried connect the apple developer support、send post on Forum、send code-level support on appstoreconnect. All completely disappeared into a black hole. I understand that you may be facing a significant backlog, waiting for nearly two months without any response or update regarding the Family Controls Distribution entitlement is extremely difficult for me to understand. I genuinely cannot understand why Apple’s review process is operating with such low efficiency.

Just curious if there is anyway to expedite the FamilyControl entitlement. I have seen few people stuck in this step for few days. I submit mine on the 4/18, and my Case ID: 102874096254 Just want to see if I can see any estimate time for my request. Thanks, Jing

When FamilyActivityPicker is used as an embedded view (not via the .familyActivityPicker sheet modifier), the search bar that normally appears at the bottom is not rendered on iPad. The same code shows the search bar correctly on iPhone. Environment Frameworks: SwiftUI, FamilyControls Device: iPad (reproduces on multiple models / iPadOS versions — 26.2, 26.5) iPhone: search bar appears as expected Usage The picker is placed directly inside a SwiftUI view hierarchy: import SwiftUI import FamilyControls struct ContentView: View { @State private var selection = FamilyActivitySelection() var body: some View { FamilyActivityPicker(selection: $selection) } } Expected A search field is visible at the bottom of the sheet (same as iPhone), allowing the user to search for apps/categories/websites. Actual On iPad, no search field is rendered. The picker only shows the category/app list. There is no way to search. Notes I would like the embedded FamilyActivityPicker to show the same search affordance on iPad that it shows on iPhone, so apps that rely on custom surrounding UI don't have to give it up to gain search.

With the ScreenTime API Apple talks a lot about their focus on privacy and the data not leaving the device. Does that mean there would be a problem with an app where the users ScreenTime data is shared to a custom backend? Could this potentially cause an app to be rejected from the AppStore?

Issue: The search functionality in FamilyActivityPicker has disappeared on iPadOS 26.0+. This feature was working in previous versions but is now missing. Framework: FamilyControls Expected: Search bar should be available in FamilyActivityPicker to help users find apps quickly. Actual: Search functionality is completely missing. Impact: Makes app selection difficult for users with many installed apps. Is this a known issue? If it's a bug, please address it in an upcoming update. If intentional, guidance on alternatives would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hey . So i'm building a screentime app whereby users can add an accountability partner who will be able to see their total screentime.(no app breakdowns included) . This will require me to send the data to firebase realtime database and retrieve for the accountability partner to see. Problem is , I've literally tried everything but the screentime still shows 0m on the accountabiliy partner's end. I need the data to be displayed rounded down to the nearest 0.5 e.g 1hr43mins ->1.5hrs+ ,2.0hrs+ ,3.5hrs+ , meaning it only moves when a threshold is crossed by the user. (this is to save database costs). Anyway i'd really appreciate if someone could help me out here. Thanks

Hello, I'm an iOS developer currently working on an application in Xcode. I submitted a Capability Request for Family Controls (Distribution) through App Store Connect, but the status has remained "Submitted" with no approval to date. My oldest request was filed on April 21, 2026, so it has now been almost a month. Approval of this request is essential for releasing my application, and the length of this review process has become a significant source of stress. Based on what I've seen from other developers, most requests are approved within four weeks at the latest. I would like to know when I can expect a decision on my requests. The Request IDs in question are the following five: AS9LZVLSRX, 2UB9RY7AJF, LJ5TWZ6HH3, DGA3UBV6W9, ANZD3T8X23 Please note that some of these are duplicate submissions for the same identifier, so I'd appreciate it if you could check and consolidate them as needed. Thank you in advance for looking into this. Best regards, Tomo

Hi everyone, I submitted my Family Controls (Distribution) entitlement request on April 19 and it's been stuck on "Submitted" for over 4 weeks now, no approval, no rejection, nothing. My app is an anti-doomscrolling app that uses the Screen Time API to block distracting apps until the user completes a workout. Individual use, not parental control. I have Family Controls (Development) approved on all targets, but Distribution is still stuck on Submitted for all of them: com.kmgzora.replock com.kmgzora.replock.MORADeviceActivityMonitor com.kmgzora.replock.MORAShieldAction com.kmgzora.replock.MORAShieldConfig The app is fully ready to ship, this is my last step. I've seen a few threads here where DTS engineers helped people in similar situation, hoping someone can take a look. Thanks in advance.

Hi Apple DTS, FivePrayer is a live App Store app and we are blocked by Family Controls (Distribution) after an app transfer. Bundle ID: com.fiveprayer.app Current team: FivePrayer LLC Previous team: Gansoft Inc. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fiveprayer/id6755536905 This same app previously had Family Controls (Distribution) approved under Gansoft Inc. After the transfer to FivePrayer LLC, the capability did not carry over, so we had to request it again. It has now been pending for almost one month, and we cannot ship critical updates because Family Controls is a core dependency of the app. Is there a way to re-associate the previously approved entitlement with the transferred App ID, or route this to the correct Managed Capabilities / Entitlements team? Thank you.

Hello, Between April 20 and April 25 of this year, I submitted a request for the Family Controls Distribution entitlement through the following page: https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/family-controls-distribution After submitting the request, I clearly saw the message: “Thank you for your submission. We’ll review your request and contact you soon with a status update.” However, I have not received any further update or feedback since then. Afterward, I contacted Apple multiple times. Unfortunately, the responses I received consistently indicated that the relevant teams were unable to check the status or progress of the entitlement request, and no clear timeline or follow-up commitment was provided. Eventually, I was informed via email that the issue had already been escalated to the operations team for handling. However, many more days have now passed without any progress or update. At this point, it has been nearly one month since I submitted the entitlement request, yet I still have not received any result, status update, or meaningful feedback. I genuinely do not understand why the tracking and communication process for this entitlement request is so unclear and slow. I would sincerely appreciate it if the relevant team could provide a clear update regarding the current status of my request and the expected next steps. Thank you.

It has been 20 days since we applied for Family Controls (Distribution) permission, but the status still shows as Submitted. Is there any way to expedite the review process?

Hello, I submitted a request for Family Controls (Distribution) approval, and it has now been over 12 days without any update on the status. I understand that review times can vary, but I wanted to check if this delay is expected or if there’s anything I might need to do on my end to help move the process forward. Could anyone from the Apple team or the community provide insight into: Typical processing times for Family Controls distribution requests Whether delays beyond a few days are common Any steps I should take to follow up or expedite the review For reference: Status: Submitted Submission time: April 29, 2026 Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hello, Between April 20 and April 25 of this year, I submitted a request for the Family Controls Distribution entitlement through the following page: https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/family-controls-distribution After submitting the request, I clearly saw the message: “Thank you for your submission. We’ll review your request and contact you soon with a status update.” However, I have not received any further update or feedback since then. Afterward, I contacted Apple multiple times regarding this issue through Case ID: 102881595688. Unfortunately, the responses I received consistently indicated that the relevant teams were unable to check the status or progress of the entitlement request, and no clear timeline or follow-up commitment was provided. Eventually, I was informed via email that the issue had already been escalated to the operations team for handling. However, many more days have now passed without any progress or update. At this point, it has been nearly one month since I submitted the entitlement request, yet I still have not received any result, status update, or meaningful feedback. I genuinely do not understand why the tracking and communication process for this entitlement request is so unclear and slow. I would sincerely appreciate it if the relevant team could provide a clear update regarding the current status of my request and the expected next steps. Thank you.

Hello, Between April 20 and April 25 of this year, I submitted a request for the Family Controls Distribution entitlement through the following page: https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/family-controls-distribution After submitting the request, I clearly saw the message: “Thank you for your submission. We’ll review your request and contact you soon with a status update.” However, I have not received any further update or feedback since then. Afterward, I contacted Apple multiple times regarding this issue through Case ID: 102881595688. Unfortunately, the responses I received consistently indicated that the relevant teams were unable to check the status or progress of the entitlement request, and no clear timeline or follow-up commitment was provided. Eventually, I was informed via email that the issue had already been escalated to the operations team for handling. However, many more days have now passed without any progress or update. At this point, it has been nearly one month since I submitted the entitlement request, yet I still have not received any result, status update, or meaningful feedback. I genuinely do not understand why the tracking and communication process for this entitlement request is so unclear and slow. I would sincerely appreciate it if the relevant team could provide a clear update regarding the current status of my request and the expected next steps. Thank you.

Some of our users encounter an issue after updating their iPhone/iPad to iOS 17.5.1. The tokens passed in the Shield Configuration extension don't match the tokens they selected in my app using the FamilyPicker before updating to iOS 17.5.1. It seems the tokens changed for no reason. My app can't match the token from the ShieldConfigurationDataSource to any tokens stored on my end, causing my shield screens to turn blank. The same applies to tokens in the Device Activity Report extension. The only workaround I've found is to tell affected users to unselect and reselect apps and websites to block in my app. This gets them new tokens from the FamilyActivityPicker, which solves the issue. However, for some users, the bug reoccurs a few days later. Tokens seem to change again, causing the same issue in the Shield Configuration extension. I am not able to reproduce the issue on my test devices so I have no sysdiagnose to attach. However, this issue is affecting other screen time apps: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/732845 https://forums.developer.apple.com/forums/thread/756440 FB14082790 FB14111223 A change in iOS 17.5.1 must have triggered this behaviour. Could an Apple engineer give us any updates on this?

Hoping to get visibility on a Family Controls (Distribution) entitlement request pending without status updates after an app transfer. Context: Digital wellbeing app, 500K+ active iOS users Previous team had Family Controls (Distribution) approved and shipping to production App transferred to new team (H2HM68H8PP) ~1 month ago; entitlement re-requested immediately Capability page shows "View Requests (6)" with no approvals, rejections, or updates Developer Support cases opened (102883853173, 20000112879750, 102875975624) — confirmed they cannot check entitlement status Impact: Core app feature depends on Family Controls. Production app for 500K+ users will break once transfer fully propagates at provisioning level. This is a continuity issue, not a new-app launch — entitlement was previously approved on the prior team. Questions: Recommended escalation path for post-transfer entitlement requests? Should I stop resubmitting to avoid queue deprioritization? Could the entitlements team provide a status update? Happy to share bundle ID, previous team ID, and request dates privately with Apple staff.

Subject: Family Controls (Distribution) — 2 pending requests for 9 days, no status update (WA2MPH4572 + HCQXH9P8VM) Tags: family-controls Body: Hello Apple Developer Forums and DTS team, I am requesting visibility on the status of two pending Family Controls (Distribution) entitlement requests submitted 10 days ago with no email confirmation or status update. REQUEST DETAILS App: SHIELD Bundle ID: app.shieldme Team ID: 4452N28RUS Request IDs (both submitted on May 6, 2026): WA2MPH4572 HCQXH9P8VM Status: Both showing "Submitted" in Identifiers → app.shieldme → Family Controls (Distribution) → View Requests USE CASE SHIELD is a Brazilian app focused on personal device usage management. The category covers the scenario the app addresses: device owners who want to apply additional access controls to their own apps in case of phone theft or loss, which are widespread concerns in Brazil. SHIELD is NOT a parental control app and does not facilitate management of devices belonging to other people. The device owner is the sole operator. The owner uses the system-provided picker to select which of their own apps should require additional access controls, configured and controlled exclusively by the owner. The use of FamilyControls + ManagedSettings is the iOS API path that allows a third-party app to offer this access-control layer on user-selected apps for the owner's own protection. Without this entitlement, the iOS version cannot offer parity with the Android version of the same product. ALIGNMENT WITH FAMILY CONTROLS USAGE TERMS Device owner is the sole operator (no third-party monitoring) Owner manages access to their own apps only Use case is personal device usage management No advertising or data broker use of device or usage data No organizational deployment Privacy disclosures complying with Brazilian LGPD law are included in-app at first launch ASK Could a DTS Engineer or the entitlements review team confirm whether the two pending requests are visible in the queue and share an approximate timeline? If additional clarification on the use case would help the review proceed, I will provide it the same day. The Android version of SHIELD is feature-complete and currently in beta testing, approaching public launch. The iOS version is designed to launch alongside Android, since the product relies on a referral mechanism where an existing user can invite a contact who may be on either platform. Releasing only one platform breaks the onboarding flow for invitees on the other. Family Controls (Distribution) is the single remaining blocker on the iOS side. If there is a recommended channel for aligning entitlement timing with a coordinated multi-platform release, please advise. Thank you for your time.

Hello, I have submitted multiple requests for the Family Controls Distribution Entitlement through this form: https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/family-controls-distribution After submitting my requests, I waited for about 1 week but did not receive any response. Since I heard nothing, I contacted Apple Developer Support by email. After that, I finally received a response from an advisor asking for additional information, including my follow-up number. I replied with all the requested information immediately, but it has now been 5 more days and I still have not received any further response. In total, I have been waiting for about 2 weeks for this entitlement request. My app is a Screen Time control / digital wellbeing application that helps users reduce screen time through exercise-based challenges and healthy habits. My app uses the FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, and DeviceActivity frameworks and requires the Distribution Entitlement for App Store release. Here are my details: Case Number: 102866460896 Request Type: Family Controls Distribution Entitlement I understand the team may be busy, but I would appreciate any help checking the status of my request or escalating it if possible. Thank you very much.