What Is Share Across Devices on iPhone? [Screen Time]

What Does "Share Across Devices" Mean on iPhone?

When "Share Across Devices" is turned on in your Screen Time settings, it syncs your Screen Time settings and reports across all your devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) that use the same Apple Account.

• For instance, if you spent 30 minutes on "Safari" using your Mac, that activity will show up on your iPhone's Screen Time report.

• Similarly, if you hit a 15-minute App Limit for "YouTube" on your iPhone, the same limit applies to your Mac.

Warning: It's Recommended to Turn It Off

Unfortunately, Apple's Screen Time feature has had ongoing issues. The "Share Across Devices" setting can sometimes be unreliable and cause more frustration than it's worth. For example, third-party Screen Time apps like Refocus, which enhance your phone's Screen Time features, may encounter problems if this setting is turned on.

Why do these problems occur? Because software engineering is challenging. Screen Time is already a technically complex feature, and adding a syncing capability across multiple devices makes it even more complicated. Generally, the more complex a solution is, the more likely it is to have issues.

Troubleshooting

Important: Follow these steps exactly as listed (even if they seem inconvenient). Do not skip steps.

If you experience issues:

1. Turn off "Share Across Devices" on all your devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac).

2. Turn off all settings within Apple's "Screen Time" on all your devices.

3. Restart all your devices.

4. Update the software on all devices, if an update is available (e.g., update iOS).

After completing these steps, you can re-enable your Screen Time settings. However, it is recommended to keep "Share Across Devices" turned off.