![](https://help.apple.com/assets/65A8106E7C69B635140E606E/65A81072C0272B1FFA02DE51/en_GB/9e0f3a6f19abd4d82f43d53a96d61e97.png)
Set up Communication Limits in Screen Time on Mac
In Screen Time on your Mac, you can set limits for communications during screen time and downtime. The limits you set apply to phone calls, FaceTime, Messages and iCloud contacts. A parent or guardian can also request permission to manage a child’s iCloud contacts.
Before you can set up Communication Limits, you need to turn on Screen Time. See Set up Screen Time for yourself or Set up Screen Time for a child.
![Communication Limits settings in Screen Time with options for allowing communication during screen time and downtime selected.](https://help.apple.com/assets/65A8106E7C69B635140E606E/65A81072C0272B1FFA02DE51/en_GB/43c9ed4e242e1365c07dd3b09960c7c2.png)
On your Mac, do one of the following:
If you’re using Family Sharing: Log in to your Mac user account, then make sure you’re signed in with your Apple ID.
If you aren’t using Family Sharing: Log in to a family member’s Mac user account.
Choose Apple menu
> System Settings, then click Screen Timein the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
If you’re a parent/guardian in a Family Sharing group, click the Family Member pop-up menu on the right, then choose a family member.
Click Communication Limits.
Go to During Screen Time, then select an option below “Allow communication with”.
Everyone: Allow one-on-one and group conversations during screen time with anyone, including unknown numbers.
Contacts only: Allow one-on-one and group conversations during screen time only with people in the family member’s contacts.
Contacts and groups with at least one contact: Allow one-on-one conversations during screen time only with people in the family member’s contacts and allow group conversations that include at least one person in the family member’s contacts.
Go to During Downtime, then select an option below “Allow communication with”.
Contacts Only: Allow one-on-one and group conversations during screen time only with people in the family member’s contacts.
Specific contacts: Allow one-on-one and group conversations during downtime only with specific people in the family member’s contacts. To specify the allowed contacts, click Select Contacts, then use the Add
and Remove
buttons to modify the list.
Note: The available options vary, depending on the current settings for allowed communication during screen time.
If you want to manage a child’s iCloud contacts, turn on Manage [child’s] iCloud Contacts.
To manage a family member’s iCloud contacts, click Edit, then add, remove or edit contacts.
You don’t see the Edit button until your family member accepts the request to manage their contacts. Until then, Pending is displayed. See Respond to contact management requests in Screen Time.
If your family member denies the request to manage their contacts, the Pending status is no longer displayed.