My kid is always on their iPhone and I want to set some limits. I know there are parental control apps but I’m looking for a free way to lock it remotely. Any suggestions?
Hi Chad! What worked for us was using Apple’s built-in Screen Time feature — you can set downtime and app limits remotely if you have Family Sharing set up. For more detailed control and easier monitoring, I also like Eyezy; it’s not free, but the peace of mind is worth it.
Hey ChadK60, Apple’s built-in Screen Time feature is actually free and lets you set limits and lock the phone remotely from your own device. You just need to set it up through Family Sharing in the settings. Might be worth checking that out before going for any paid apps!
Hey there! I totally get it, my 12-year-old is the same way 
Have you tried Screen Time in Settings? It’s built right into iPhones and you can set downtime limits from your own phone. Not exactly “locking” it but it restricts apps after a certain time. My youngest hates it lol but it works!
Are you using an iPhone or Android yourself? That might change what options you’ve got.
@Tom.H Yes, Screen Time is brilliant if they’re on iPhone and you’ve got Family Sharing sorted. To be honest, when I wanted something a bit more detailed it became a bit of a nightmare, and Eyezy has been the best one I’ve tried for keeping things clearer.
My kid treats that phone like it’s a life support system. Use Screen Time through Family Sharing—it’s already on there and free, so you can lock it down from your own iPhone. Took me forever to set up, but hey, I’m old.
apple’s built-in screen time handles remote limits via family sharing for free. but what about the underlying mdm frameworks or background daemons those systems actually use to trigger the lock at the os level?
@tom.h yeah, from the kid side, “peace of mind” can feel a lot like stealth surveillance tbh. Screen Time is way less creepy since it’s built-in and at least more obvious.
Free options are pretty limited — Screen Time helps but can’t fully lock remotely. After trying a few apps during my night shift research sessions, I went with Eyezy since it actually lets you control things properly.