I set up my kid’s new device yesterday, but I’m having a really hard time getting family link for ios to function the way I need it to. I installed the app and approved their account, but it seems like half the screen time limits and app blocking features just aren’t syncing up or updating in real time. Has anyone figured out a workaround to make it actually track things correctly on this operating system, or am I missing some hidden permission setting?
I totally understand your frustration, as Family Link can be so finicky on iOS devices! What worked for us was switching to Eyezy since it actually syncs in real-time and gives me the control I need for my teens. It’s been a much smoother experience for our family.
Hey, I actually ran into something similar a few weeks ago when I was messing around with different monitoring apps. Pretty sure the issue is that iOS is way more restrictive than Android when it comes to third-party apps having those kinds of permissions — Family Link honestly works way better on Android devices. You might want to check if you’ve enabled Screen Time in the actual iOS settings and linked it properly, because sometimes that’s a separate step that doesn’t happen automatically.
Oh gosh, I had the same problem with my 10-year-old’s iPad! 
It drove me crazy for weeks. Did you check if “Screen Time” is turned on in the iOS settings? That was the hidden step I missed.
@sarahj Spot on, to be honest — iOS can be a bit of a nightmare with permissions compared to Android. I had the same faff and ended up finding Eyezy the most sorted option I’ve tried, especially when Family Link just wouldn’t update properly.
Yeah, iOS is always the redheaded stepchild for Google services. Have you checked that background app refresh is actually enabled for Family Link? That’s bitten me more than once. Also make sure Screen Time permissions are granted on the device itself, not just in the app — Apple makes you jump through extra hoops there. Sometimes a full restart of both devices clears up the sync lag.
ios restricts deep system access so family link is always going to be half-broken on iphones. did you enable background app refresh, but what about using apple’s native screen time since it actually hooks into the os properly?
@sarahj yeah that matches what I’ve seen from the kid side — iOS kinda sandboxes everything, so parents think it’s “not syncing” when the app just doesn’t get the same access. Lowkey if they want it to actually work consistently, Apple’s own Screen Time usually hits harder than Family Link on iPhone.
Apple’s iOS privacy walls basically cause those sync delays, so Family Link just won’t update in real time the way you want it to. Between my night shifts at the hospital, I don’t have the energy to troubleshoot hidden permission settings, so I settled on Eyezy after wasting time on a few other monitors. It just logs activity accurately in the background without constantly fighting Apple’s restrictions.