Lap Time For Mac

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Nov 15, 2019 Time Machine is the built-in backup solution in macOS, automatically making backups of your Mac onto an external drive. It's easy to set up, and after that, you don't even need to worry about it. But if you want to customize your experience to fit more particular needs. On a Mac laptop: Shut down the MacBook. But if you wish you'd backed up your Mac then now is the time to see what you can salvage from the machine. For this, you'll need a second Mac.

You don't have to hover over your children's shoulders, watching their every move, to keep them safe. Apple has several parental control features for the Mac to help protect them as they browse the internet, use apps, and play games. You can even set time limits for your little ones' computer activities, so they don't overuse their allotted screen time. Here's how to set up and manage Parental controls on your Mac.

If you are looking for how to use parental controls on iOS, check out our ultimate guide to parental controls on iPhone and iPad. Mac app store for windows.

How to create a new user account on Mac

If you currently only have one user account (your administrator account), you'll need to create a new account for your kids.

Select System Preferences from the Mac Dock.
Choose Users & Groups.
Tap the lock at the bottom left.
Source: iMore
Enter your administrative username and password to unlock your accounts.
Tap the + at the bottom left.
Source: iMore
Toggle the type of account. Use Standard as your choice.
Enter the full name of the child that will be using the new account.
Create a password for the account.
Verify the password.
Add a password hint in case you forget it.
Click on Create User to create a new account.
Source: iMore
Repeat Steps 5 to 11 for additional children accounts.

Once you create an account for your child, you must set restrictions by activating Screen Time in macOS Catalina.

How to turn on Screen Time on macOS

Screen Time is located in System Preferences in macOS Catalina. To get started:

Click Screen Time in System Preferences. Make sure the administrator account is selected at the top left. By default, it is.
Select the Options button at the bottom left.
Mac os x 10.11 el capitan dmg download torrent. Click the Turn On button at the top right.
Source: iMore

You can now start using Screen Time on Mac. For further information on Screen Time for Mac, see:

How to use Screen Time on your Mac.

The following steps are exclusive to establishing parental controls on Mac using Screen Time.

How to set restrictions across all devices

Thanks to Screen Time, you can establish restrictions for your children across all of your devices. As changes are made on one device, they'll carry over to the others. However, they must be set up to do so.

On Mac:

Click Screen Time in System Preferences. Make sure the administrator account is selected at the top left. By default, it is.
Select the Options button at the bottom left.
Check the box next to Share across devices.
Source: iMore

How to add a passcode to Screen Time on macOS

So your child can't change restrictions, it's best to set a passcode on the account.

Click Screen Time in System Preferences.
On the left, toggle the child account.
Select the Options button at the bottom left.
Source: iMore
Check the Use Screen Time Passcode box.
Add a four-digit passcode
Re-enter the four-digit passcode
Source: iMore

How to schedule Downtime using Screen Time for macOS

During Downtime, only the apps you choose to allow will work for your child on Mac. To set up a Downtime schedule:

Click Screen Time in System Preferences.
On the left, toggle the child account.
Select Downtime on the left side.
Source: iMore
Click the Turn On button to activate Downtime.
Using the radio buttons, select Every Day or Custom depending on the schedule you'd like to set.

With Every Day selected, Downtime is enforced during the same time each day. With Custom picked, you can adjust the time for each day of the week or uncheck the box next to a day to turn Downtime off for that day.

You can also select Block at Downtime if you want the machine completely blocked to your child during Downtime.

How to set app limits using Screen Time for macOS

In Screen Time for Mac, you can also set app time limits.

Click Screen Time in System Preferences.
On the left, toggle the child account.
Select App Limits on the left side.
Click the Turn On button to activate App Limits.
Source: iMore
Select the + to add an app category.
Next, check the box next to the app category you'd like to limit.
Source: iMore
Tap the expand icon to see the apps affected by this limit. The list will include apps across all devices, when applicable.
With the app category highlighted, set the total limit using the radio buttons. You can set the limits Every Day or using a Custom schedule.
Repeat Steps 5-6 for each app category you'd like to limit.
Click Done to complete.
Source: iMore

To remove app limits:

In Screen Time for Mac, toggle the child account.
Select App Limits on the left side.
On the right, uncheck the box next to each app category you no longer want to limit.
To turn off app tracking, click the Turn Off button.
Source: iMore

How to set always allowed content in Screen Time for macOS

You might want specific processes available on the Mac at all the time for your child, regardless of other restrictions. This can include communication with certain people or apps.

To set always allowed content:

Click Screen Time in System Preferences.
Toggle the child account.
Select Always Allowed on the left side.
Check the box next to each of the items that you want always to allow.
Source: iMore

How to set content and privacy using Screen Time for macOS

Finally, you can restrict content and privacy using Screen Time.

Click Screen Time in System Preferences.
Toggle the child account.
Select Content & Privacy on the left side.
Click Turn On to activate Content & Privacy.
Source: iMore
There are four sections here: Content, Stores, Apps, and Other. Under each, check the box to restrict content and add privacy. See samples below.
Source: iMore
Source: iMore

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about setting up and customizing parental controls or enabling remote access to parental controls on a different computer? Let us know in the comments and we'll help you out.

macOS Catalina

Main

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How to turn on Screen Time

Make sure that your Mac is using macOS Catalina, then follow these steps:

Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Screen Time.
Click Options in the lower-left corner.
Click Turn On.
To see usage information for every device signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID, select ”Share across devices” on each Mac. On each iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > Screen Time and turn on the same setting.

If you're using Family Sharing to manage a child account, you can turn on Screen Time from each of your child's devices. Or follow these steps to do it from your Mac:

Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Family Sharing.
Click Screen Time in the sidebar, then select your child's name from the list on the right.
Click the Open Screen Time button to return to Screen Time preferences.
Choose your child's name from the menu in the upper-left corner.
Click Options in the lower-left corner.
Click Turn On.

Before deciding whether to select ”Use a Screen Time Passcode,” learn about Screen Time passcodes.

How to track usage

Use the App Usage, Notifications, and Pickups features in the Screen Time sidebar to see how much time you spent using apps and websites.

Screen Time preferences

Each feature offers several views:

To see usage for only one of your devices, choose a device from the menu at the bottom of the window.
To switch between days, click within the weekly chart, or use the arrow buttons above the chart. To see total usage by week, including how much more or less time you spent compared to last week, choose This Week from the date menu at the top of the window.
To see usage for a child account, choose the child's name from the menu in the upper-left corner.

App Usage

See how much time you spent using each app. Click Categories to view usage by categories such as social networking, productivity, or entertainment. To see an app's category, click the information icon that appears when your pointer is over an app in the list. Or click the app limit icon to quickly create a new app limit for that app or category.

Notifications

See how many notifications you received from each app. Remember, you can use the devices menu at the bottom of the window to separate the notifications received on your Mac from the notifications received on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Pickups

See how many times you picked up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and which app you checked first after picking up the device.

How to limit usage

Use the Downtime, App Limits, Always Allowed, and Content & Privacy features in the Screen Time sidebar to schedule downtime and set limits on apps and websites. Limits apply to this Mac and all of your other devices that are using Screen Time and have ”Share across devices” turned on.

To set limits for a child account, choose the child's name from the menu in the upper-left corner, then set up each feature. Or do it from each of your child's devices.

Downtime

Schedule periods during which you can use only the apps that you've allowed. A downtime notification appears 5 minutes before downtime starts. After downtime starts, the app shows a message saying that you've reached your limit on the app.

Click OK to close the app and honor the limit you've set. Or click Ignore Limit, then choose One More Minute, Remind Me in 15 Minutes, or Ignore Limit For Today.
If you've set a Screen Time passcode, Downtime includes an additional setting: Block At Downtime. When this setting selected and you click Ask For More Time when downtime starts, entering the passcode allows you to approve the app for 15 minutes, an hour, or all day. Child accounts can click One More Minute once, or click Ask For More Time to send their request to the parent account for approval.

App Limits

Set the amount of time you want to be able use apps. You can set limits on specific apps, or entire categories of apps.

An app-limit notification appears 5 minutes before a limit is reached (expires). After the limit is reached, the app shows a window saying that you've reached your limit.

Click OK to close the app and honor the limit you've set. Or click Ignore Limit, then choose One More Minute, Remind Me in 15 Minutes, or Ignore Limit For Today.
If you've set a Screen Time passcode, App Limits includes an additional setting: ”Block at end of limit.” When this setting is selected and you click Ask For More Time when a limit is reached, entering the passcode allows you to approve the app for 15 minutes, an hour, or all day. Child accounts can click One More Minute once, or click Ask For More Time to send their request to the parent account for approval.

Always Allowed

Allow use of certain apps even during downtime or when an app limit has been set for ”All Apps & Categories.” Phone, Messages, FaceTime, and Maps are always allowed by default, but you can change that here.

Content & Privacy

Restrict content, purchases, and downloads, or configure privacy settings. If you attempt to use one of the restricted items, you see a message explaining why you can't do it. For example, if you visit a blocked website, the message says that the website was blocked by a content filter. If you're using a Screen Time passcode, the message includes the option to click Add Website. You can then enter the passcode to allow the website. Child accounts can send a request for approval to the parent account.

How to approve Screen Time requests

The Screen Time sidebar shows Requests when you have unanswered requests from a child account. From here you can manage all requests from your child. Approve the request for 15 minutes, an hour, or a day. Or click Don't Approve.

Requests for approval also arrive as notifications, and you can approve directly from the notification:

How to set a Screen Time passcode

Set a passcode so that only you can change Screen Time settings and allow more time when app limits expire. If you're a parent, use this feature to set up enforceable content and privacy limitations for your child.

If you're using Family Sharing to manage a child account, follow these steps:

Choose your child's name from the menu in the upper-left corner of Screen Time preferences.
Click Options in the lower-left corner.
Select ”Use Screen Time Passcode,” then enter a passcode when prompted.

If you're not using Family Sharing to manage a child account, follow these steps:

Make sure that you're on the same Mac used by the child, and are logged in to the standard account used by the child. If you're not sure what to do, just continue with the steps below: Screen Time will help you.
Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Screen Time.
Set up Downtime, App Limits, and Content & Privacy with all of the limitations that you want for your child.
Click Options in the lower-left corner.
Select ”Use Screen Time Passcode,” then enter a passcode when prompted.

If you're setting a passcode while logged in to your administrator account, an alert explains that you should do this from a standard account. If you haven't set up a standard account for your child, you can either do that and log into their account, or choose from these options:

Allow this user to administer this computer. If you choose this option, the passcode affects the current user, even though they're also an administrator of this Mac. This isn't recommended, because administrators have macOS privileges that could allow them to work around passcode restrictions.
Don't allow this user to administer this computer. If you choose this option, you're prompted to enter your account password in order to modify your configuration. You're then guided through the steps to create a new administrator account—for use by the parent. The administrator account you're currently logged in to is converted to a standard account—for use by the child.