Setup Guide

Apple Account Setup

ScreenKin works alongside Apple's Family Sharing and Screen Time parental control features. If your child already uses their iPhone, then they've already setup an Apple account. It's important that the child's Apple account's birthdate is appropriately set for the child's account. Birth dates can be updated by following the steps outlined in this Apple article.

* Once your child's Apple account turns 18, they're an adult and cannot be managed the same way as younger children. ScreenKin can still work, but it's effectiveness will be limited. Upon turning 18, they are granted the ability to bypass Screen Time settings configured by their parents.

Family Sharing and Family Groups

If you haven't already done so, click here to setup Family Sharing with your child's Apple account. This allows the parent to manage their child's ScreenTime settings.

* If the parent doesn't have an iOS or Mac device, they won't be able to use Family Sharing. ScreenKin can still work to monitor the child's iOS device, but it will be less effective.

ScreenKin Installation

⚠️️ WARNING: Make sure to set Trusted Contacts as outlined in the Communication Limits section, otherwise messages and Face Time will be blocked. ⚠️

Install ScreenKin on Your Child's Device

1. On your child's iPhone, install the ScreenKin app from the Apple App Store. Or you can search the App Store for "ScreenKin - Kid's App". (since it's a new app, you may need to scroll a bit before you find it)

2. Open the ScreenKin app.

3. Click Add Device to Account.

   
   

4. Enter the parent's ScreenKin account email address. Choose a device name (ie, "Cam's phone"). Click Add Device to Account.

   
   

5. Have the parent login on ScreenKin's website (this can be done from any device).

6. Once logged in, the parent will see an invitation to add the device to your account. Click "Accept". If the prompt does not appear, refresh the page.

   
   

7. The added device should now show up on the parent's account.

   
   

8. Grab your child's phone again and click "Check if Granted".

   
   

9. You should now be presented with a screen that looks like the following image. Click "Request Permission". ScreenKin needs Screen Time access in order to limit the usage of apps and websites.

   
   

10. Click "Continue".

    
    

11. Enable Screen Time access.

    If Family Sharing is set up for the child's account, and the child is younger than 18, the parent needs to enter their Apple account credentials. Otherwise, Face ID or an unlock passcode should enable it.

    
    

12. You have now made it to the main ScreenKin application.

    
    

13. To make sure that the Apple Account and Family Sharing settings are set as expected, navigate to "Settings" by clicking the gear icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

    
    

14. Once there, click on "Account Information".

    
    

15. On the Account Information screen, you will see a section called "Apple Account Type". It's best if this is set to "Child". If you see that it reads "Adult", that means the child's Apple account is considered an adult as a result of the birthdate, and ScreenKin won't be as effective. (If you wish to fix this, you must uninstall ScreenKin and complete the section above entitled Apple Account Setup)

    
    

16. Navigate back to settings by clicking the "< Settings" link in the top left of the screen.

    
    

17. ScreenKin on iOS works by blocking access to all apps until the child enables monitoring. When the child wishes to use an app, they must first open the ScreenKin app and start a broadcast, which enables monitoring. If the screen turns off, the broadcast will end and all apps will be blocked again. If you wish your child to have access to certain apps all the time (allowing them to be used without any monitoring), you need to add those to the Always Allowed application list.

    NOTE: Through Family Sharing, parent's can also allow apps via Apple Screen Time's Always Allow list. This is outlined in the After ScreenKin Installation instructions.

    NOTE: By default, kids can make changes to this list, however when they do an alert will be sent to the parent indicating a change was made. If desired, parents can enable the "Block Tamper" setting from the device settings page which will prevent the child from making changes to this list.

    
    

18. You will be presented a warning screen, this warns the user that modifying the list will alert the parents of changes made to ScreenKin's settings. Click "Proceed".

19. Select the apps or categories of apps you wish your child to be able to use without restriction, then click "Done".

    
    

After ScreenKin Installation

ScreenKin Device Settings

Once ScreenKin is set up on your child's device, the parent can adjust their child's device settings from the device settings page.

Find your child's device and click to expand the settings.

We recommend enabling the "Block Tamper" setting if your child may tamper with the app. This will prevent further editing of the "Always Allowed Application List" that you configured in previous steps in this guide. Read carefully through each of the available options and configure them to best meet you and your child's needs. Make sure to hit "Save" before leaving the page when you are done.

Screen Time Settings

We recommend you adjust screen time settings as outlined below. Screen time settings can be adjusted via the parent's MacOS or iOS (iPhone/iPad) device.

Other notes

Unblock apps delay

ScreenKin allows full device wide screenshots. The only way to accomplish this on iOS (iPhone/iPad) is using the broadcast permission. Apple control's the broadcast permission popup, and requires a 3 second delay.

Music apps / background players

Music apps / background players won't be able to play in the background unless they're added to an "Always allowed" list. Music apps will still function while connected to a car via CarPlay even if they aren't on an "Always allowed" list. Before you add these apps to an always allowed list, please note that there is visual and audible pornography found in music apps.

Snapchat

Since ScreenKin monitors using a screen recording broadcast, Snapchat will report that your child is recording the screen to anyone they're receiving Snapchat's from. If you wish Snapchat to be monitored, the child must put up with this. If you trust your child with Snapchat, you can add Snapchat to one of the "Always Allowed" lists (either in the ScreenKin app, or Screen Time setting).

Compatibility

ScreenKin requires iOS 18+ on the iPhone or iPad (if the phone was newly purchased after 2019, you should be good to go).