User profile for user: chalowm
chalowm Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

App install not blocked via screen time

A couple days ago I realized that the screen time setting to not allow installing apps isn't working. The app store is not available, but if you use the search bar, it gives suggestions from the app store and the ability to download them. This is completely bypassing the app store and the restriction. I've tried turning the setting on and back off and restarting the phone but its the same. How do I fix this? I don't want to pay for an additional parental control app for my kid's phone just to monitor apps.

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Posted on Nov 17, 2025 9:02 AM

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3 replies
User profile for user: skilletboy
skilletboy
User level: Level 1
24 points

Dec 12, 2025 2:15 PM in response to chalowm

Same problem. Apple doesn't seem to care either. The parental controls on iPhone has gone downhill since they changed the search bar as something you couldn't block or turn off behind parental controls. You can search for images outside of parental controls as well and download apps. It makes the Parental Controls completely useless. "Search" used to be connected to Siri and you could turn that off. Now you can only turn this off by going to: settings > search and toggling "Show Related Content". But that setting is of course not behind the Parental Control lock and can just be turned right back on. All Apple has to do is put that search setting menu inside the Parental Controls and everything would work fine.

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App install not blocked via screen time

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