Many iPhone and iPad users have noticed that Screen Time is displaying inaccurate time estimates for apps and websites, often showing figures that are significantly off.

Frequently, the incorrect Screen Time data will reflect many hours for sites or web pages that might be opened as a tab in Safari or from within another app, or apps that are running in the background but not in use. Screen Time then mistakenly logs the time spent on these apps or websites as if they were actively used, making the Screen Time statistics unreliable and essentially useless.

Troubleshooting Incorrect Screen Time Data for Apps & Webpages in iOS & iPadOS

If you're experiencing problems with inaccurate time tracking by Screen Time, continue reading for some troubleshooting steps applicable to iPhone and iPad users.

Update iOS / iPadOS system software

The issue of incorrect time reporting by Screen Time is likely caused by a bug, especially since it has been observed after updating to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, or iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1. Some users claim the problem was resolved in iOS 15.2, which is currently in beta testing.

In any case, keeping your iPhone or iPad updated with the latest system software is always a good idea, as newer versions may include fixes for this issue.

Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update > and select Download & Install for any available updates.

Workaround: Applying Limits to Problematic Apps / Webpages

One possible workaround is to set usage limits on the websites and webpages that show up incorrectly, especially those that appear as inactive tabs or were accessed via apps like Facebook, Twitter, or Discord. You can also apply time limits to apps that are being tracked inaccurately by Screen Time.

Some users have found this helpful, although keep in mind that once an app reaches its time limit, you'll need to manually approve additional usage time for that app or website.

Resetting Inaccurate Screen Time Estimates

One way to address Screen Time errors is to reset the feature entirely, which will cause it to recalculate everything from scratch.

Bear in mind that doing this will erase all previously collected Screen Time data. Some users say the problem reoccurs quickly anyway, so if preserving your historical data is important, this may not be the best approach, as it seems to offer only a temporary fix for some people.

1. Open the “Settings” app and go to “Screen Time”
2. Scroll down and tap “Turn Off Screen Time”
3. Toggle “Turn On Screen Time” back on

This action will reset all Screen Time data, including app and website usage times, pickups, and other device activity metrics.

For some users, this completely resolves the issue, while others find that the problem returns soon after, with Screen Time once again misreporting data.

Since this appears to be a software bug, watch for future iOS and iPadOS updates, as it's likely that the bug will eventually be addressed and fixed in a future release.

Have you encountered issues with Screen Time showing inaccurate times for apps and websites? Did the solutions outlined above help resolve the issue for you? Did you discover another solution? Share your experiences in the comments below.

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