Family sharing - child has app in screentime usage stats

I found this app on my child’s usage stats, and it states that Apple is the developer and has the same logo as other built-in Apple features/apps, such as User Authentication and EyeReliefUI (to prevent holding screen too close). He swears he never downloaded this app, and I cannot find this app on his phone or in the Apple Store. Is this a glitch from Apple?!

I found the same thing on my 13-year-old’s screen time list. She claims I have no idea what it is, but there’s no way. I’m really hoping someone can shed some light on what this is!

Same thing showing with my teen son. I setup screen time, app and websites limits, restrictions, every thing including the password and somehow he bypass everything. IOS parents control is not reliable, I’m pretty much frustrated with that and about to replace his iPhone, a million functionalities and the basics like parental controls don’t work well.

I just came across it as well because I noticed my kids were on some apps a lot longer than they should be. It’s by Apple, and I could be wrong, but I think it is what pops up on their phone to put in the screentime passcode to allow for more time. I checked the App Store and there isn’t an app like that. I’m going to try changing the screentime passcode to something I know they don’t know and see if that works.

As far as I've discovered, ScreenTimeUnlock is the standard iOS application designed by Apple that, generally speaking, shows the "Time Limit" screen with the "Ask For More Time" button and, probably, processes the "Approve..." actions. The presence of this app in the kid's "MOST USED" apps list (inside the "See All App & Website Activity" section) highly likely tells that someone except you knows your Screen Time Passcode and uses it to bypass the limits. Just for example, it may be your kid who figured out the passcode by using that simple hack: turning on Screen Recording and then asking you (or someone else who knows the passcode) to unlock his device.

P.S. You can also get known about a few more workarounds (not so powerful but still effective) that allows to bypass Screen Time limits by googling something like "how to hack screen time".

come on #Apple, will you do something about this??? I have the same issue. I tried everything. Changing the code, adding maximum restrictions… nothing works!

[Edited by Moderator]

Turns out: you are right! It would appear my son knew the code. That is why I always saw “Screen Time Unlock” in his list of activity when he bypassed the screen time. It’s not a kind of App or anything: he was just typing the code. I changed the code again, and this time I made sure to never enter the code on his iPad (he needs to send me a request that I accept on my phone). Since then, he has not bypassed the screen time. Good to know: when I modify the screen time code on my phone, it does not immediately change on his iPad, there is a certain delay.

So I guess he must have found a website that allowed a screen recording on which the code was visible. In his deleted photos folder, I found a video recorded from his screen while someone was typing the code. It was not visible on that video, but I guess he found a screen recorder on which it worked and made sure to delete that one, or perhaps the video stayed in a Projects folder in an account he created on the website or App (and did not appear in his Photos folders). I deleted all suspicious Apps on his iPad (like CapCut and VideoLeap); anything he did not need for school according to the list provided by the school. I made sure the settings do not allow him to install any App without my approval. I also restricted his access to websites: he can now only access a limited list of websites (needed for school) that I listed one by one myself. Tidious job, all that!

Hope this helps other parents.

Apple: I don’t think it’s safe to have one code that allows to modify anything and everything in the parental control. It should be one code to give extra screen time, and another code to change the settings.

My kid has a similar thing - ScreenTimeUnlock is one of the top used apps. Kid explained to me that they can go to another app, request “1 more minute” then app-switch back to the desired game/app/youtube as the 1 more minute is unlocking. Then the 1 more minute is provided on the switched-to app instead of the one they originally requested.

Doing this over and over again, 1 minute at a time, racks up lots of extra time on their desired app, and a bunch of time spent on the built-in UI ScreenTimeUnlock.

The same thing is happening on my end. It looks like it’s in a hidden browser and I’ve tried to add controls to minimize usage and or block it and nothing works!

I've spent some time trying to clear out the current situation with Screen Recording, and yes, this trick no longer works. But the main thing stays the same: the presence of the ScreenTimeUnlock app in the kid's "MOST USED" apps list tells us that someone except you knows your Screen Time Passcode and uses it to bypass the limits.

I have the same problem and it is really annoying. I noticed that the same "app" had some activity att my childs iPhone. My child is addicted to their phone and cannot put it down. At the same time, it is very difficult as a parent to take the phone away completely, there are so many functions they need to have such as bus card or making payments with Swish. What is Apple doing about it?

Yes, have you read my reply from February 5th?

In summary, ScreenTimeUnlook means the kid is using the code to unlock more time. He somehow found out what it was. Make sure to change the code, and then never again enter the code on his device in case he is using a screen recorder. Have him send you a request for more time and only enter the code on your own device without him around to look over your shoulder.

Yes, have you read my reply from February 5th?

In summary, ScreenTimeUnlook means the kid is using the code to unlock more time. He somehow found out what it was. Make sure to change the code, and then never again enter the code on his device in case he is using a screen recorder. Have him send you a request for more time and only enter the code on your own device without him around to look over your shoulder.

Have you found any soulution about this?! I am desperate!

Yes