Does your child have an Apple Watch? Since the watchOS 7 update, it is possible to limit distractions from the smart watch with the School Time function. That is how it works.
Tip: This is how School Time works on the Apple Watch
watchOS 7 brings many new functions and families also benefit from this. By means of Family Configuration it is now possible to connect an Apple Watch of a family member to your iPhone. Handy if, for example, your child or an older family member does not have an iPhone.
Read also → How to set up Family configuration on the Apple Watch
Part of the watchOS 7 Family Configuration feature is School Time. With this function you can set your child’s school hours, so that the functions of the Apple Watch are limited at these times. That way, your child won’t be distracted by his or her Apple Watch when it’s time to pay attention. First of all, make sure you have watchOS 7 installed. This is how you set School time:
- Open the Apple Watch app on the iPhone with which you set up the Watch;
- Tap ‘All Apple Watches’ and under ‘Apple Watches from Family’, tap your child’s smart watch;
- Tap ‘Done’ and then ‘School time’;
- Turn on the switch behind ‘School time’;
- Then tap ‘Change schedule’;
- Here you can indicate at what times the School time function should be active.
To set multiple schedules in one day, for example for the morning and after lunch break, tap Add Time. If you want to change the schedule at a later time, follow the steps above again and tap ‘Change schedule’ again.
It is also possible to activate School time mode outside the set schedules. Handy if you have extra lessons after school, for example. To turn it on, hold your finger on the bottom of the screen and swipe up to open Control Center. Then tap the School Time icon (a puppet with his arm in the air) to enable the mode.
It is also possible to temporarily close School Time mode when it is active. To do this, tap the screen, turn the Digital Crown and tap ‘Exit’. As soon as you lower your wrist or enter shutter speed, School Time will become active again. Parents can check this: when your child closes School Time, you will receive a report on your iPhone stating when and for how long School Time is closed. To view this report:
- Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone that you use to manage the Watch and choose your child’s watch;
- Tap ‘Done’ and then ‘School time’;
- Swipe up to view the reports.
More about watchOS 7
WatchOS 7 is the latest major update to the Apple Watch. The update brings a lot of improvements, such as a sleep tracker and new watch faces.
We have now tested the major update and you can read our findings in our watchOS 7 review. You can read what’s new on the watchOS 7 overview page. Prefer to watch? We discuss all the innovations in the video below.