{"id":896,"date":"2023-02-13T12:00:17","date_gmt":"2023-02-13T11:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timingapp.com\/blog\/?p=896"},"modified":"2026-10-02T08:58:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T06:58:39","slug":"screen-time-for-mac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timingapp.com\/blog\/screen-time-for-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"Screen Time for Mac: Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Image source: <\/em>Damian Patkowski<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Being aware of how we spend our time can help us be more productive and focused. By revealing patterns of behavior, it can also help us to find a balance between the time we spend on different activities. But how do we know where our time is going? Using a time tracking tool such as Screen Time for Mac is a useful place to start. (But, it\u2019s not the only option!)<\/p>\n

Screen Time was an iPhone and iPad feature first, but it\u2019s been available across all Apple devices, including Macs, for some time. Mac Screen Time first came out with macOS 10.15 Catalina, and has continued to be available on all subsequent versions, up to macOS 27, where Apple redesigned the Screen Time settings.<\/p>\n

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Table of Contents<\/h2>\n

TOC<\/p>\n

What is Screen Time for Mac?<\/h2>\n

\"\"Image source: <\/em>Trust \u201cTru\u201d Katsande<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Screen Time Mac is a built-in feature that tells you how much time you spend on your device every day and which apps you use the most.<\/p>\n

This information can be surprising, even shocking, to some of us \u2014 and if we use it correctly, it can also be lucrative. Do we really<\/em> spend that much time on social media, for example? And what about all those hours we\u2019re on our email? Are there billable hours<\/a> hidden in that time that we could be charging for?<\/p>\n

Screen Time\u2019s high-level overview of where our time goes is just the beginning, however. This useful tool shows your daily average, breaks your time down by app, website and category, and lists the apps and websites you use most.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Perhaps most importantly, Screen Time allows you to schedule time away from your screen with a Screen Time Schedule, and to limit the time you spend on apps with Time Allowances. Having some downtime, particularly at night, can help to improve the quality of your sleep<\/a>. And limiting your apps can help you avoid those you find particularly distracting.<\/p>\n

You can even set detailed limits so that you can\u2019t use certain apps or websites during your working hours. This is handy if you\u2019re prone to shopping on Etsy when you should be sending invoices, or editing your photos when you should be writing a proposal. Make these apps available after 5pm and give your productivity a boost.<\/p>\n

Time Allowances set a daily limit per category:<\/p>\n

\"Time<\/p>\n

A Screen Time Schedule sets the hours when apps are available:<\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/p>\n

(And yes, you can add more screen time to a Time Allowance when it expires. When you hit your limit, Screen Time will give you the option to \u201cIgnore Limit\u201d. You can either choose to have your time again, get a reminder in 15 minutes, or ignore your limit for the rest of the day.)<\/p>\n

How do I set up Screen Time on Mac?<\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re on your Mac, your iPhone or your iPad, Screen Time can always be found under your System Settings. If, when you click on \u201cScreen Time,\u201d you find that it isn\u2019t tracking your activity yet, click \u201cManage Screen Time\u201d at the bottom and turn on \u201cApp & Website Activity\u201d so that you can start tracking your time.<\/p>\n

Once Screen Time is activated and you\u2019ve been using it for a while, a lot of the most useful time-tracking data you\u2019re looking for will be found on the usage page that opens when you click the \u201cDaily Average\u201d chart. You can switch between Day and Week at the top, and a \u201cMost Used\u201d list sits below the chart. This will give you:<\/p>\n