I'm working on an app for iOS that will help people get tasks done. Within the app, we use a ManagedSettingsStore to let the user setup distracting apps. When the user opens any of those apps while it is being shielded, our ShieldConfiguration target opens and displays a screen that we configure with the description of the task they are supposed to do. On the bottom of the view, there are two buttons, one to start the task, and another to dismiss and return to their home screen. I want to have the button that starts the task open up the main application and deeplink to the focus view with the task that they started. Currently, the only thing that we can tell the system to do is via a ShieldActionResponse which is an enum with 3 cases: none, close, or defer. None of these three allow us to open the main application. I have found no workarounds that allow us to do it either. I've tried creating a custom URL scheme and calling UIApplication.shared.open(url), but there is no shared application available within the action extension. I have tried using a NSExtensionContext to open a url, but that does not work either. I have even tried starting a live activity to show the user what task they are working on and have a live timer, but that does not work either. I know it is technically possible, because an app I downloaded does it perfectly. The app is called "Ascent: Screen Time Control". Is there some sort of extension I am missing, or entitlement I have not requested? Any help would be very appreciated.

Do I need this permission to test out development on my local phone? I believe I do since I cannot get the monitor extension to embed AND sign, making it so i cannot test this feature. As in the class will not instantiate and trigger after specific time has happened

i am try to build an app that show beautiful result represent the user activity. but i found that if i write metal code in the View of some DeviceActivityReportScene, the metal code wasn't working. (the same metal code works in other taget) i can switch to canvas, but the perform is bad compare with metal. can use metal? or it is just not working?

Hello, I have an Apple Developer Enterprise account, and Apple Support has already enabled MDM for my account. I successfully downloaded and installed my MDM Vendor Certificate (it shows up in Keychain as MDM Vendor: [My Company Name] with its private key). Here’s what I’ve done so far: Exported the Vendor Certificate + private key as a .p12, then converted to .pem and .key using OpenSSL. Generated an unsigned CSR with CN=com.apple.mgmt.External. using OpenSSL. Attempted to sign the CSR using: my Vendor certificate the Vendor private key Apple Worldwide Developer Relations (WWDR) intermediate certificate OpenSSL smime -sign command with DER output Problem: Every time I try to upload the vendor-signed CSR to the Apple Push Certificates Portal, I get an error (CSR rejected). Sometimes OpenSSL even fails with “unable to load certificates” depending on how the WWDR certificate is included. My Questions: What is the correct OpenSSL command and certificate chain Apple expects for signing the CSR? Do I need to include any additional intermediates besides WWDR? Is there an official Apple reference example for generating the vendor-signed CSR that the Push Certificates Portal will accept? Any guidance from the community (or someone who has successfully done this end-to-end) would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Sergio Sanchez

I'm experiencing a conflict between Xcode 16's build requirements and App Store validation for DeviceActivityReport extensions. The Issue: Created a DeviceActivityReport extension using Xcode 16's template Extension builds and runs perfectly locally TestFlight upload fails with Apple saying EXAppExtensionAttributes is incorrect for widget extensions When I remove EXAppExtensionAttributes from Info.plist, local builds fail with: "Appex bundle does not define an EXAppExtensionAttributes dictionary" Current Info.plist (works locally, rejected by App Store): EXAppExtensionAttributes EXExtensionPointIdentifier com.apple.deviceactivityui.report-extension NSExtension NSExtensionPointIdentifier com.apple.deviceactivityui.report-extension NSExtensionPrincipalClass $(PRODUCT_MODULE_NAME).ActivityReportExtension The Problem: Xcode 16's "Device Activity Report Extension" template uses fileSystemSynchronizedGroups which appears to require the EX configuration format. But App Store validation rejects this format. Has anyone successfully uploaded a DeviceActivityReport extension created in Xcode 16? Any workarounds for this conflict between local build requirements and App Store validation? Using: Xcode 16.4, Family Controls entitlement (approved), iOS 18.5 SDK Thanks for any insights!

Hi, after updating to iOS 26 I'm encountering an issue where the FamilyActivityPicker no longer opens. No errors are shown in the console, it just never shows up. It works fine pre iOS 26. I've never had any issues with the picker showing up until iOS 26. My latest update was rejected because of this issue, but I've changed nothing in the code. Is anyone else experiencing this?

I started monitoring using the following code: deviceActivityCenter.startMonitoring( DeviceActivityName(name), during: makeDailySchedule(), events: events ) Where: DeviceActivitySchedule( intervalStart: DateComponents(hour: 0, minute: 0), intervalEnd: DateComponents(hour: 23, minute: 59), repeats: true, warningTime: nil ) In DeviceActivityMonitor, I read and write data using UserDefaults and keep the logic minimal to ensure the size does not exceed 6MB. However, after a period of time, monitoring continues to fail. Why is this happening? How can I resolve this issue?

Hello everyone, I would like to know if there is any way for an iOS app to automatically access a user’s total Screen Time (for example, daily or weekly usage) and then share this with friends so they can compare results, like in a “Screen Time battle”? Thanks you very much for you help!

I am still struggling to nail down the screen time between monitoring and showing it in a DeviceActivityReport. It's always off by a couple of percentage points, which results in a difference of a couple of minutes between the time shown for my total screen time in DeviceActivityReport and DeviceActivityMonitor with a threshold set for all apps/websites/categories. In the report, I am looping through all segment (there is only 1 segement using .daily segment interval for a given day) then loop through all categories and all apps within each category and sum up all totalActivityDuration for each app. Based on avaiable documentation, that should corrolate to DeviceActivityMonitor threshold but it doesn't. Are there any differences in how these 2 places count screen time? Are there any apps/core ios services which are excluded from DeviceActivityMonitor. Would appreciate any help at all, I'm losing my mind here. My current suspicion is that Apple Developer documentation is counted twice. i.e. this website https://developer.apple.com/documentation/deviceactivity/deviceactivitymonitor shows up in usage as an App with bundleId of apple.developer.wwdc-release and time spent there is counted twice, against this bundleId AND Safari. I don't know why it's not counted as a webdomain.

Hi everyone, I’m currently developing a parental control app that uses the Screen Time API (FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, DeviceActivity). I have a question regarding the customization limits of the Shield UI in ManagedSettingsUI. From the documentation, I understand that we can customize the ShieldConfiguration (background color, blur style, icon, title, subtitle, button labels, etc.). However, I’d like to clarify a few points before finalizing the design: 1. Is it allowed (or technically possible) to display custom media content, such as videos, animations, or interactive elements, inside a custom Shield? 2. Are there limitations on the text length for the title and subtitle fields (e.g. maximum number of characters, multiline support, truncation behavior)? 3. Can the Shield be personalized per user (for example, showing a different title or color scheme based on user preferences or device state)? 4. Are there App Store Review restrictions or UI guidelines that define what a Shield should or should not contain (for instance, whether the Shield can resemble a mini-app experience)? I want to ensure that the implementation fully complies with Apple’s technical and design expectations before submission. Thanks in advance for any official clarification or best practices on how far we can go with Shield customization! Best regards, Ferdinand

Hi! For some reason my DeviceActivityReport sometimes fails to load. I've tried setting up a very simple mock views and displaying a report with a simple "Hello world" but even that won't work. It prints the following error message in the terminal but doesn't show anything else or any context as to what has gone wrong. Failed to update the client's configuration: Error Domain=DeviceActivityReportService.ReportViewController.ClientError Code=2 "(null)" It seems like the "makeConfiguration" method for the report isn't even being invoked. That may though just be an issue with printing messages in the extension. Any help on what could be the issue, or even just a message that you're being the same thing would be greatly appreciated!

Situation: I previously had Family Controls (Distribution) approved for a different bundle ID during initial development (for the same app I'm currently working on). I have since migrated to a new bundle ID to align with my app's branding and have already configured multiple third-party integrations (RevenueCat, backend services, etc.) with this new bundle ID. Request: In this scenario, can Apple please expedite the review process for Family Controls (Distribution) on the new bundle ID? The migration is necessary to maintain existing service integrations and avoid significant reconfiguration work for my app. Current Status: Submitted request for approval on new bundle ID over a week ago, still pending review.

I am building a screen time management app. It has the main app target, and then three extensions - those are the four targets in Xcode. The three extensions are: Shield Device Activity Monitor Device Activity Report Extension I requested "Family Controls (Distribution)" capability from Apple for the main app target / bundle ID, and it got approved. Do I need it for the extensions too? Because previously I had "Family Controls (Development)" for the extensions...

I'm developing a parental control app that needs to block adult/18+ websites using the Screen Time API. I've run into scaling issues with 'ManagedSettings.webContent.blockedByFilter`. Environment: iOS 18.x, real device (iPhone) ManagedSettings framework Screen Time permissions granted Current Behavior: The Question: Commercial parental control apps successfully block tens of thousands of domains. What API or architecture should I be using to scale beyond 30-50 domains? Approaches I'm considering: Safari Content Blockers (limited to Safari only) Multiple ManagedSettingsStore instances Network Extension / DNS filtering A different Screen Time API approach What's the recommended way to block large domain lists (1000-60000+) across all apps and browsers? Any guidance appreciated! //33 domains - Works perfectly let blockedSites: Set<WebDomain> = [ WebDomain(domain: "example1.com"), WebDomain(domain: "example2.com"), // ... 31 more domains ] store.webContent.blockedByFilter = .specific(blockedSites) // All 33 domains blocked successfully // 101 domains - Complete failure (no domains blocked at all) let blockedSites: Set<WebDomain> = [ WebDomain(domain: "example1.com"), // ... 100 more domains ] store.webContent.blockedByFilter = .specific(blockedSites) // No errors thrown, but ZERO domains are blocked

In my app I want to integrate a personilized Lock Screen. Does anybody know how that works?

I’m developing an app that uses Family Controls to block other apps. I’ve already received approval from Apple for the entitlement, and everything works perfectly when I run the app from Xcode on a physical device. However, when I upload the same build to TestFlight, the app installs and runs, but the Family Controls functionality doesn’t work — it seems like the entitlement isn’t being applied in the TestFlight version. So I’d like to ask: 👉 Do Family Controls entitlements work automatically on TestFlight builds, or is there any additional step required to enable them?

Hi everyone, solo iOS dev here. I’ve built a small focus app (“Modo”) that uses Apple’s Screen Time APIs to help curb social-media overuse. In development everything works: FamilyActivityPicker for selection, a DeviceActivityMonitor extension for schedules, and ManagedSettings shields (plus uninstall guard only while “Blocked” is active). I requested the Family Controls distribution entitlement so I can ship, but my capability request has been pending for a while and I’m not sure what the usual path forward is. What I’ve already done • Submitted the capability request (Account Holder), describing the use case (self-control / digital well-being), user consent flow,. • Implemented app + DeviceActivityMonitor + ManagedSettingsUI extensions; verified the debug build has the right entitlements and behavior. • Regenerated profiles after the request; checked codesign entitlements on the built targets. • Filed a Developer Support ticket referencing the capability request. I really appreciate any timelines, examples, or advice you can share. If an Apple engineer needs specifics (Team ID, request number), I can provide them as well. Thanks in advance!

Hello, I’m running into an issue with the Family Controls (Distribution) entitlement not being included in my App Store Connect provisioning profiles. Here’s the situation: •Both my main app and its Screen Time extension have been approved for Family Controls (Distribution) In Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles → Identifiers, I can clearly see that the capability Family Controls (Distribution) is enabled for both App IDs. However, when I generate a new provisioning profile (either manually or via Xcode), the resulting .mobileprovision file’s Entitlements section does not include the Family Controls (Distribution) entitlement. As a result, building for distribution or archiving fails to recognize that entitlement, even though everything looks correct in the Developer Portal. But the missing entitlement persists. How can I successfully generate a distribution provisioning profile that includes Family Controls (Distribution)? Thanks in advance for any guidance — this seems like a subtle configuration issue, and I’d love to hear how to get over it. I can provide the Team ID and bundle ID upon request. STEPS TO REPRODUCE I’ve tried: •Regenerating both App IDs and provisioning profiles •Revoking and re-creating distribution certificates •Cleaning derived data and re-downloading profiles from Xcode Every time, creating a profile for App Store Connect will fail to include the capabilities the app has been approved for.

General: Forums topic: Family Controls Forums tag: Family Controls Configuring Family Controls documentation Requesting the Family Controls entitlement documentation Screen Time Technology Frameworks documentation FamilyControls documentation What's new in Screen Time API video Meet the Screen Time API video

Hello, I'm experiencing a significant delay getting the Family Controls entitlement approved for my Shield Configuration Extension, and I'm hoping someone here can help or has experienced something similar. Background: I'm developing an app that uses the Screen Time API with Family Controls. My main app bundle (lukedev.Bloka) was approved for Family Controls (Distribution) and works perfectly. The Problem My Shield Configuration Extension (lukedev.Bloka.Shield) has been stuck waiting for approval for over 2 weeks: Request ID: 6C8LD22UVM Submitted: November 20, 2025 Status: Still "Submitted" Current State: Only shows "Family Controls (Development)" in capabilities What I've Tried ✅ Submitted entitlement request via the proper channels ✅ Contacted Apple Developer Support (case #102762028251) ✅ Verified the main app has full Family Controls approval ✅ Deleted and regenerated all provisioning profiles multiple times ✅ Confirmed the App ID configuration is correct in the Developer Portal The Issue Without Family Controls (Distribution) approval for the Shield extension, I cannot: Test the complete app functionality on physical devices Submit the app to App Store Connect Move forward with development The error I'm getting during provisioning: Provisioning profile failed qualification Profile doesn't include the com.apple.developer.family-controls entitlement Questions Has anyone experienced multi-week delays for Shield extension entitlements? Is this normal? Should Shield extensions automatically inherit entitlements from the main app, or do they really require separate approval? The documentation isn't clear on this. Are there any known workarounds to test Shield Configuration Extensions during development while waiting for distribution approval? How can I escalate this request? Developer Support initially told me I already had approval (for the main app) but didn't address the extension's separate bundle ID. Technical Details Xcode: 16.2 Target: iOS 18+ Main App: Family Controls (Distribution) ✅ Approved Shield Extension: Family Controls (Development only) ❌ Stuck Why This Matters The Shield Configuration Extension is a core component of Screen Time API apps - it's not optional. Without it, the app cannot properly display blocking interfaces. The fact that it requires a separate 2+ week approval process (after the main app was already approved) seems like a significant oversight in Apple's review process. Has anyone successfully navigated this situation or found a way to expedite the review? Any help or insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Luca