iOS 18.5 Includes a Useful Change to Screen Time

Apple today shared release notes for iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, ahead of the updates being released to the general public next week. The updates are minor overall, but they do include a useful change for the Screen Time feature on iPhones and iPads.

Screen Time iOS 16
Specifically, Apple says that parents will now receive a notification when their Screen Time passcode is successfully entered on their child's device.

This change will allow parents to be alerted immediately if their child has correctly guessed or figured out the Screen Time passcode, which can allow the child to turn off or adjust the restrictions that were set by their parents.

Parents will also receive these notifications on a Mac running macOS 15.5, which should be released to the general public next week.

Screen Time launched in 2018 as part of iOS 12, providing parents with settings to remotely manage a child's device. For example, parents can restrict device usage to certain times, set time limits for apps, and block inappropriate content.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

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Top Rated Comments

TTTedP Avatar
2 weeks ago
the amount of times I've seen "how to disable screen time" or derivatives thereof, in my kid's search history is hilarious.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CalMin Avatar
2 weeks ago
I'm all for parents having these tools, but it must suck to be a teenager to tech-savvy parents in 2025.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scouser75 Avatar
2 weeks ago
I'd much rather Apple fixed all the glitches in screen time first. It's totally useless. The times are wrong. I told my eldest off thinking she'd been on the phone for 14 odd hours, then had confirmation here that there's a glitch in the total number of hours. I didn't tell my kid that though. Oh the shame ?

Then there's the limit in apps. I've set a 4 hour limit. Does it work? Like heck it does!

Like I said, absolutely useless.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Veinticinco Avatar
2 weeks ago
Snitches get stitches.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Veinticinco Avatar
2 weeks ago

but it must suck to be a teenager to tech-savvy parents in 2025.
My eldest says it's both a blessing and a curse ?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
socialwill Avatar
2 weeks ago
My BIGGEST request for Screen Time is to allow for the apps on the devices to be updated automatically via the store but still keeping the ability to not delete or install new apps. Just the option to allow to update what is already there.

Sometimes there will be an update option that shows up when going to a website or even in the app and it will update, but the App Store is not enabled. So this functionality could exist.

The number of times you turn off ST to update apps, then enable it only to find that another device did not "lock" happens often.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)