What to Do If Your iPhone Shows Incorrect Screen Time

As a mom of two who’s constantly juggling work, family, and my own wellness, I rely heavily on Apple’s Screen Time feature. It helps me keep track of my iPhone usage and, more importantly, set healthy limits for my kids when they’re using their iPads. But lately, I noticed something strange—my iPhone Screen Time numbers didn’t add up. It was reporting way more hours than I actually spent on apps like Instagram or Safari, and sometimes it even showed usage when I wasn’t touching my phone at all.

If you’ve run into similar issues, you’re not alone. Incorrect Screen Time data is a fairly common frustration, but thankfully, there are several ways to troubleshoot it. Let’s walk through why this happens and what you can do to fix it.

Why Is My iPhone Screen Time Wrong?

Before jumping into fixes, it’s important to understand possible causes:

• Multiple devices sharing the same Apple ID – Screen Time adds usage from all devices tied to one Apple ID. So if you share your account with kids or use an iPad for work, it can inflate the numbers.
• Background activity from apps – Certain apps refresh in the background (like Messages or Mail), and Screen Time sometimes counts that as active use.
• Glitches after iOS updates – Occasionally, iOS updates introduce bugs that throw Screen Time tracking off.
• Family Sharing mix-ups – If you’ve set up Screen Time for your children, sometimes their activity gets added incorrectly to your own report.
• Time zone or clock errors – If your device clock isn’t set correctly, Screen Time reports can be skewed.

Now let’s dive into the fixes.

1. Check for Multiple Devices on Your Apple ID

The first thing I did was check if Screen Time was combining data from my iPhone and iPad.

• Go to Settings > Screen Time.
• Look under All Devices at the top of the report.
• If more than one device is listed, that’s why your usage seems inflated.

👉 Solution: If you don’t want combined usage, sign out of iCloud on the secondary device or disable Screen Time there.

2. Restart Your iPhone

Sometimes the simplest step works wonders. A quick restart can clear out temporary glitches in reporting.

• Press and hold the side button + volume button.
• Slide to power off.
• Wait a few seconds and turn your iPhone back on.

After restarting, give it a day and check if Screen Time starts reporting correctly.

3. Update iOS

Apple often fixes bugs related to Screen Time in newer updates.

• Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
• If an update is available, tap Download and Install.

Updating iOS not only improves accuracy but also enhances parental controls and downtime settings.

4. Turn Screen Time Off and On Again

This was the fix that worked for me when my reports showed late-night browsing even though I was asleep.

• Go to Settings > Screen Time.
• Scroll down and tap Turn Off Screen Time.
• Restart your iPhone.
• Go back and enable Turn On Screen Time.

This resets Screen Time’s tracking and often resolves glitches.

5. Adjust Background App Activity

Background app refresh can trick Screen Time into thinking you’re actively using apps.

• Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
• Either turn it off completely or limit it to Wi-Fi only.

I personally keep it limited, so apps don’t constantly refresh and inflate my usage.

6. Check Family Sharing Settings

As a mom, I use Family Sharing to manage my kids’ Screen Time. Sometimes, though, their device activity accidentally shows up under mine.

• Go to Settings > Screen Time > Family.
• Double-check that the correct reports are being assigned to each family member.

👉 If your kids use your Apple ID on their devices (a common shortcut), it will completely mess up Screen Time reports. They should each have their own Apple ID.

7. Verify Time & Date Settings

Incorrect time zones or manually set clocks can cause Screen Time to misreport daily and weekly totals.

• Go to Settings > General > Date & Time.
• Enable Set Automatically.

This ensures Screen Time logs usage within the right 24-hour cycle.

8. Reset All Settings

If Screen Time is still off, a deeper reset may be needed. This won’t delete your data but will reset Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and system preferences.

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
• Choose Reset All Settings.

Afterward, re-enable Screen Time and check reports again.

9. Reinstall Problematic Apps

Sometimes a single app is the culprit. For example, Safari or social media apps may show usage even when idle.

👉 If you notice Screen Time attributing excessive hours to one app, try uninstalling and reinstalling it.

10. Contact Apple Support

If nothing works, it may be an Apple bug affecting your device model or iOS version.

• Visit Apple Support Screen Time Page.
• Or use the Apple Support app to chat or book a repair.

Extra Tips for Parents Like Me

Since I use Screen Time not only for myself but also for my kids, here are some extra best practices I follow:

• Set App Limits with Flexibility – I give my kids 1 hour for YouTube Kids, but I add 15 extra minutes if they finish their homework early.
• Downtime Schedules – I set downtime at 8:30 pm so the kids’ iPads lock automatically before bed.
• Weekly Reviews – On Sundays, we sit together as a family and look at our Screen Time reports. It’s a great way to teach them balance.

Final Thoughts

Screen Time is a powerful tool when it works properly, but glitches can be frustrating—especially for parents trying to manage kids’ digital habits. In my case, simply turning Screen Time off and back on fixed the inflated numbers. For others, updating iOS or checking Family Sharing settings might be the solution.

If your iPhone is still showing incorrect Screen Time, don’t stress—it’s usually a small glitch, not a permanent issue. By walking through these fixes step by step, you should be able to get accurate reports again and focus on building healthier screen habits for yourself and your family.