I have tried multiple time through multiple channels and you have yet to respond to my request.
I am developing an App on xcode
APP Bundle ID: garymdmd.MediaPace
Apple ID: 6740823496
Apple has granted me distribution use of the Family Control/Screentime module for my main app.
According to your engineer's post here:
https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/764919
That permission should be extended to your extensions that are part of the app.
When you try to setup the extension identifiers they do not show the "added capabilities" column that sow sup when getting permission for the main app so you are not able to endow the extension with these permissions which seem to be needed to work with the app.
I am trying to add these bundle identifier extensions:
garymdmd.MediaPace.ScreenTimeMonitorDuo
garymdmd.MediaPace.DeviceActivityReport
Can you please tell me how to get this to work or to add permissions to these extensions. I have sent in the request form multiple times (here - https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/family-controls-distribution) and Apple simply writes back that I have permission after a few weeks but nothing changes for the extension capabilities.
Prevent access to the Screen Time API without guardian approval and provide opaque tokens that represent apps and websites.
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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.
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
Hello,
I already have got approval from Apple for com.apple.developer.family-controls entitlement
When I am building my app, there is one part where I need to check the list of applications which I have blocked with my app.
To get the list I have to have com.apple.developer.managed-settings entitlement ...
Now how and where show I get hold of it ?
I already got permission for Family Control, how do I get hold of this now ?
Hi there!
I've been getting this error when I've checked multiple times that I've included the right entitlements as well as provisiong profile. My one concern is that perhaps I'm unable to submit to internal or external TestFlight with Family Controls (Development) and need the one for distrubution, but have yet to submit my appplication for this ability. If anyone has any inisght into this issue lmk!
Hello community,
I'm new here, so please excuse my blunt question. I'm trying to understand how everything works and the logic behind it.
I have an idea for an app which requires the FamilyControl entitlement. Now I am not sure if the idea even works, so I wanted to test it on my own device.
Am I correct, that I cannot even test an App with such entitlements without paying for the ADP? Not even on my own device?
I completely understand I need to be a member in the ADP if I want to distribute my app, but I'm not there, yet, and I just want to do a proof-of-concept.
I thought I can't be the first one with that question, but couldn't find a past topic on this, so I'm posting it.
Regards,
Niklas
I already waited 4 weeks to get family control entitlement for my bundle ID :
com.company.my-cool-app
While trying to distribute the app, Its forcing me to have provisioning profile for com.company.my-cool-app.ReportExtension and when I create the provisioning profile it says :
doesn't include the com.apple.developer.family-controls entitlement.
Topic:
App Store Distribution & Marketing
SubTopic:
General
Tags:
Extensions
Entitlements
Family Controls
I’m attempting to run Apple’s ScreenTime API while my app is in the background
When debugging on a device my background restrictions functionality works, but on TestFlight it does not. This is the error message when analyzing the device in XCodes Console
BackgroundTaskSuspended. Background entitlement: NO
When the proper entitlements are added this error doesn't allow for the build to be uploaded to TestFlight.
Provisioning profile "iOS Team Provisioning Profile: com.xxx.xxx" doesn't include the UIBackgroundModes entitlement.
I have the proper entries in the “Signing and Capabilities” of the project, but my functionality will not run in the background when the app is not launched. I just need a function to run that calls Apple's ScreenTime API while my app is in the background. Other apps have achieved the functionality I’m looking for so I know it’s possible, but this is the roadblock I’m running into.
Hi Apple Developer Community,
I'm experiencing an issue with Family Controls entitlements for my iOS app that I'd like to discuss and see if others have encountered similar problems.
Background:
My app (BrightStart) uses Family Controls to help users build healthy morning routines by temporarily blocking distracting apps until they complete a sunlight exposure session. The core functionality relies on automatic time-based blocking (e.g., block social media apps from 6-8am daily).
The Problem:
I have Family Controls working perfectly in development builds, but I'm blocked from distributing via TestFlight due to entitlement issues with my Device Activity Monitor extension.
Technical Details:
Main app bundle ID: app.brightstart.app
✅ Has both "Family Controls (Development)" and "Family Controls (Distribution)" options available
Extension bundle ID: app.brightstart.app.BrightStartMonitorExtension
❌ Only shows "Family Controls (Development)" - no Distribution option
Error when archiving for TestFlight:
❌ Provisioning profile failed qualification
Profile doesn't support Family Controls (Development).
Family Controls (Development) feature is for development only.
Please use Family Controls (Distribution) for distribution.
Impact:
Cannot upload to TestFlight for beta testing
Native FamilyActivityPicker falls back to mock UI in distributed builds
Automatic scheduled app blocking (via DeviceActivityMonitor) doesn't function in production
Questions for the community:
Has anyone successfully gotten "Family Controls (Distribution)" enabled for a Device Activity Monitor extension?
Is this a known limitation, or should I expect this option to be available?
Are there alternative approaches for time-based automatic app blocking that work in distribution builds?
Should I contact Apple Support directly about enabling this entitlement for the extension?
Btw, Cursor wrote this summary above, so it could be just hallucinating the issue? Would really appreciate anyone's thoughts here.
Hello everyone,
I'm hoping to find a solution for a critical issue that is blocking my app's submission to the App Store.
My app uses the Screen Time API and therefore has a main app and a DeviceActivityMonitor extension.
The main app has been successfully granted the Family Controls (Distribution) entitlement. However, the DeviceActivityMonitor extension is stuck with only the Family Controls (Development) entitlement.
This mismatch causes my build to fail during the archive/distribution process with the error:
"Provisioning profile failed qualification. Profile doesn't support Family Controls (Development)."
This is a hard blocker, as the extension is a mandatory part of the API. I have already filled out the entitlement request form and also contacted Developer Support (Case #102666581576), who confirmed they could not assist and directed me here.
My question is:
What is the correct procedure to escalate or resolve the issue of a required extension not receiving the distribution-level Family Controls entitlement after the main app has already been approved?
Has anyone else encountered this specific "Development" vs. "Distribution" mismatch and found a definitive way to resolve it? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
I work at a school in NYC and have a software idea that could better support the new NYC phone ban law than current market options (i.e. Yondr pouches).
Right now at my school, students and staff scan a QR code upon entering the building to indicate that they are in the building. They scan again on the way out to indicate they've left the building. This is super helpful for attendance, particularly in emergency situations (fire drills, etc).
Imagine if when students scanned their QR code, it also activated an app similar to Opal or ScreenZen, but with an admin preset whitelisted apps. The idea is that this app would default deny access to all apps on students' phones except the admin preset whitelisted ones such as Phone, Calculator, etc. Depending on the age/needs of the student, other apps like Spotify, or medical apps could also be whitelisted.
My question is -- is this idea possible to create?
We would need admin preset controls to create the preset whitelist. We can't have students picking their own restrictions, as we know most would opt to not restrict at all.
We would need an admin dashboard so teachers/admin can see which students have activated the app in the building, and which may be trying to sneakily avoid it.
We would ideally need to be able to whitelist both system apps like Phone and Calculator, as well as non-system apps such as Spotify (and medical apps -- we have some students who manage/monitor their Diabetes with an app).
I don't have a background in software. I'm a math and health teacher. I've experimented with trying to have friends who majored in CS to create this app for me, but they've all either struggled/lost interest. So I'm also looking for a business partner in this venture.
If anyone has any guidance here, it would be so helpful! My boss (Head of School) is super interested in this idea and significantly prefers it to every other alternative that he has encountered. The problem is this idea does not exist yet!
Note: I know this is a super similar idea to the app and product "Brick". Notably, though, Brick does not have the ability for admin preset controls, or the admin dashboard. We reached out to the company to see if they're create this for us and they said it's a back burner idea that they're aware of, but it's not a priority for them right now.
Thank you for any guidance!
Topic:
Business & Education
SubTopic:
Device Management
Tags:
Community Management
Bundle ID
Device Management
Family Controls
I'm stuck in an impossible situation with DeviceActivityReportExtension on iOS 18.
THE ISSUE:
Configuration that works on device (iOS 18.2):
Info.plist has only NSExtensionPointIdentifier
Swift code uses u/main attribute
App installs and runs perfectly
Extension works correctly
App Store validation FAILS: "Missing NSExtensionPrincipalClass"
Adding NSExtensionPrincipalClass (as validation requests):
Device installation FAILS with Error 3002
Error says: "NSExtensionPrincipalClass key is not allowed for this extension point"
Cannot test on device
Validation would likely pass
ENVIRONMENT:
Xcode 16.2
iOS 18.2
Extension point: com.apple.deviceactivityui.report-extension
EVIDENCE IT'S WIDESPREAD:
Apple Forums (3 days ago): https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/812380
Stack Overflow (1+ year): https://stackoverflow.com/questions/77866230/
ROOT CAUSE:
iOS 18 changed this extension to use u/main pattern (no NSExtensionPrincipalClass needed). App Store validation hasn't been updated and still expects iOS 17 configuration.
WHAT I'VE TRIED:
✅ All deployment targets set to iOS 18.3
✅ Code follows Apple's WWDC 2022 guidance
✅ All entitlements correct
✅ Info.plist validated
✅ Clean builds
✅ Works perfectly on device
No configuration satisfies both device runtime AND App Store validation.
Has anyone successfully uploaded an app with DeviceActivityReportExtension to TestFlight on iOS 18? Any workarounds?
This is blocking TestFlight deployment completely.
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
General
Tags:
App Store Connect
Debugging
Family Controls
Screen Time
Hi, Submitted Family Controls entitlement requests yesterday for a
digital wellness app (main app + 3 extensions).
For those who've been through this:
How long did approval take?
Did Apple ask for more info?
Any tips?
Thanks!
Hi,
I'm trying to make use of the Device Activity Labels where you supply an ApplicationToken. I can successfully get it to show the icon + title of the Application (twitter in my case) but I cannot get the styling to work.
// Works
.labelStyle(.iconOnly)
.labelStyle(.titleOnly)
.border(...)

// Does NOT work
.font(.largeTitle)
.foregroundColor(.blue)
I have checked the same style (or just modifiers) against a standard Label and they actually do work in the code below.
// This is an application token. Some style not applied.
Label(targetApp)
.labelStyle(MyStyle())
// Showing the same style using a simple label. All styles correctly applied.
Label("Twitter", systemImage: "video.square.fill")
.labelStyle(MyStyle())
Is changing the font + color of the title for this Label(_ applicationToken:) supported?
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
General
Tags:
Managed Settings
Family Controls
Device Activity
I'm currently working with the FamilyControls API and testing my app on two different devices. Both apps are in the same family-sharing network with one phone being the owner of the network (I'll call this A) and the other one being an adult in the network(I'll call this B).
When device A picks apps using the FamilyActivityPicker, it shares that selection with device B (via encoding, sending over network, and decoding on device B). However, interacting with the token (displaying it, using it in shield) throws an error saying the token is null.
From the documentation, I thought every token would be the same across all devices in the family sharing network. So my question:
How do I send the FamilyActivitySelection from A to B and have the tokens still be functional?
Does this functionality only work if A is a "parent" and B is a "child" in the family sharing network?
Also, side note:
If I reverse the process and send the tokens from B to A. Interacting with the token works exactly as expected. For some reason, it's only going from A to B where it doesn't work.
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
General
Tags:
Application Services
Family Controls
Screen Time
After transferring the App ownership to a different account, if you update the app on iOS, two identical apps will show up in Settings > Screen Time. Users can't control the blocking settings from before the update - the only fix is to restart the phone.
After the next execution of manageStore.shield.applications, users still can't manually disable the restrictions - their only option is to uninstall and reinstall the app. I believe this is related to how Screen Time API's authentication works - it's not just tied to the app's bundle ID, but also linked to the developer account's organization ID. Any suggestions for a clean solution that would allow smooth app updates after the transfer without running into these issues?
When we request auth from the AuthorizationCenter, it seems that we're only really able to allow users to control the apps on the parent's phone. Is there a way to allow us to let parents manage apps on the kid's device directly through our parent app?
For context, we have 2 different apps, one for the parent and one for the child. The child is able to purchase screen time and the parent can redeem them (activate those minutes) from their end.
The DeviceActivityReport view does not render immediately when added to the view hierarchy. Instead, it requires repeated navigation to the screen hosting the DeviceActivityReport view for it to appear.
Furthermore, there is no programmatic way to determine whether the view is being rendered for the user, leading to an inconsistent and often poor user experience.
I've created a sample project that demonstrates the issue.
I'm at my wit's end here with an iOS app I'm developing. I've applied for the Family Controls entitlement, and while my extensions (like Device Monitor) have been accepted, the main target entitlement for my app still hasn't been approved.
Here's the timeline:
Extensions (Device Monitor etc.): Accepted about a month ago. Main App Entitlement: Still pending - it's been over 6 weeks now. I'm looking for:
Anyone who has gone through this process and can share how long it took for their main app entitlement to get approved after the extensions were. Any tips on what might speed up the process or what I might be doing wrong. Experiences with contacting Apple Developer Support regarding this issue.
If you've been through a similar ordeal or have any advice, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks for any help or insight you can offer!
Hey everyone,
I have an app using the screen time api, I've had quite a few reports from users saying that our monitoring features stop working until they open our app. What happens is that activities and schedules set with the device activity monitor seem to disappear. This is something we check on app re-opens and so we schedule them again and that is why the monitoring starts working again.
Of course our current solution is not optimal since our app is mainly passive. Has anyone experienced these kinds of issue ?