Monitoring where your time goes on Apple devices has become easier over the past few years. If you’re keen to find out which apps you spend the most time on your Mac, Screen Time is an ideal tool.
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- Use Screen Time in macOS and Sync Your Mac to Other Devices
You can easily switch Screen Time on and off on your Mac. And in this article, you’ll learn how to turn the feature on.
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Which Mac Devices Can You Use Screen Time On?
If you have a Mac that supports macOS Catalina or later, you will have access to the Screen Time feature. At the time of writing in October 2022, that includes all MacBook models from early 2015 onwards.
MacBook Air and MacBook Pro computers from mid-2012 onwards also support macOS Catalina; ditto for iMacs and Mac minis from late 2012 and later.
Mac Pros from late 2013 and onwards, along with iMac Pros from 2017 and later, also support macOS Catalina. As a result, you can access Screen Time.
If your device also has versions of macOS software after Catalina, you can use Screen Time on Mac.
How to Turn on Screen Time on Mac
If you want to switch on Screen Time on Mac, the process is simple. All you need to do is follow the steps listed below.
1. Go to System Preferences. You have multiple options for doing so; you can do so by going to the Apple icon in the top left of your Mac’s toolbar, or you can look for the term via the search bar. Alternatively, you can access the feature from your dock if it’s pinned there.
2. In System Preferences, you will see a Screen Time icon. Select this; if you can’t see it, search for Screen Time in the search bar at the top.
3. Go to the Options icon at the bottom. Then, hit Turn On.
After switching on Screen Time, you can customize your options for cross-device sharing and more.
How to Schedule Screen Time Downtime on Mac
Once you’ve activated Screen Time, you can schedule downtime on your device. Follow the instructions below to turn this on.
1. Go to the Downtime tab while in the Screen Time section of your System Preferences.
2. Go to Scheduled: Off. Next to that, you’ll see a button titled Turn On; click on this.
3. Choose the times you’d like to schedule Downtime for. If you’d like it to vary day-by-day, go to Custom.
Once you’ve made your changes, they’ll take effect straight away.
Screen Time on Mac: A Very Useful Feature
If you spend much of your time working on your computer, Screen Time on Mac is a helpful tool for determining if you need to change your habits. It’s also a good barometer for determining how long it takes you to complete certain tasks, allowing you to optimize accordingly if you feel you need to.
Turning Screen Time on and off is simple. Now that you know how to switch it on, why not try the feature and find out whether it works for you?
Danny has been a professional writer since graduating from university in 2016, but he’s been writing online for over a decade. He has been intrigued by Apple products ever since getting an iPod Shuffle in 2008 and particularly enjoys writing about iPhones and iPads. Danny prides himself on making complex topics easy to understand. In his spare time, he’s a keen photographer.
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