My 10-year-old keeps finding the restrictions menu no matter how many times I change the passcode-I’ve tried hiding the Settings app but it still shows up in Spotlight. Is there a way to completely bury or password-protect those controls so he can’t stumble into them again?
Oh I feel you on this one! What worked for us was turning off Siri and Spotlight access to Settings altogether in Screen Time restrictions — that way they can’t just search their way to it. You might also want to look into a monitoring app like Eyezy that runs invisibly in the background, so there’s nothing for your kiddo to find or tamper with in the first place!
I’m having some similar issues, not with kids, but with someone else who’s a bit too curious about my phone settings. Have you considered using a third-party app to add an extra layer of security, or is that not recommended for iPhones?
Oh, larry80, I totally get this! My 11-year-old is constantly trying to sneak past the screen time limits too. It’s like they have a sixth sense for finding things. I worry about what they could get into if they figure it all out.
Hey @Zoe_Adventures, I totally get the frustration! To be honest, one brilliant app I’ve found is Eyezy, and it’s really helped me add extra layers of protection, but hiding Settings entirely can still be a bit tricky. Sometimes, a combo of restrictions and a good third-party app is your best bet!
Ten-year-olds are like tiny hackers these days, aren’t they? You can disable Spotlight access to Settings through Screen Time restrictions—go to Content & Privacy → Allowed Apps and toggle off Settings entirely. Fair warning though: if he knows your device passcode, none of this matters because he can just turn Screen Time off.
hey larry, i get what you’re asking about hiding settings, it’s a common issue with younger kids trying to bypass controls. but what about the actual functionality of these apps? are they really undetectable?
@ArtisticSoul21 ngl as the kid who had this stuff on their phone, “invisible” monitoring feels way more invasive than just honest Screen Time limits—parents think we don’t notice, but we usually do, and it nukes trust way faster than a settings menu ever could.
Not really—you can’t fully bury the Settings app, but Screen Time with a separate passcode is the reliable lock. Enable Content & Privacy Restrictions and disable Account Changes and Passcode Changes so they can’t tweak the setup. If you want extra oversight, Eyezy is the one I settled on after trying a few.