![](https://help.apple.com/assets/605932B4A1B7A93F492858E8/605932C0A1B7A93F492858FF/en_AU/8d0a8d23f1e7efc5d1a1ed8fbb02454f.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.
![The Screen Time Communication pane with communication options selected.](https://help.apple.com/assets/605932B4A1B7A93F492858E8/605932C0A1B7A93F492858FF/en_AU/cb557deb011af71cd06f3dd80cbfd1ef.png)
On your Mac, do one of the following:
If you’re using Family Sharing: Log into your Mac user account, then make sure you’re signed in with your Apple ID.
If you aren’t using Family Sharing: Log into a family member’s Mac user account.
Choose Apple menu
> System Preferences, then click Screen Time.
If you’re a member of a Family Sharing group, click the pop-up menu in the sidebar, then choose a family member.
Click Communication in the sidebar.
Select an option below “During screen time, allow communication with.”
Contacts Only: Allow one-on-one and group conversations during screen time only with people in your family member’s contacts.
Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact: Allow one-on-one conversations during screen time only with people in your family member’s contacts, and allow group conversations that include at least one person in your family member’s contacts.
Everyone: Allow one-on-one and group conversations during screen time with anyone, including unknown numbers.
If you want to allow a child to edit their contacts in the Contacts app, select “Allow contact editing.”
Leave this option unselected if you want to prevent your family member from editing their contacts.
Select an option below “During downtime, allow communication with.”
Specific Contacts: Allow one-on-one and group conversations during downtime only with specific people in your family member’s contacts. To specify the allowed contacts, click Edit, then use the Add
or Remove
buttons to modify the list.
Contacts Only: Allow one-on-one and group conversations during downtime only with people in your family member’s contacts.
Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact: Allow one-on-one conversations during downtime only with people in your family member’s contacts and allow group conversations that include at least one person in your family member’s contacts.
Everyone: Allow one-on-one and group conversations during downtime with anyone, including unknown numbers.
If you want to manage a child’s iCloud contacts, click the Turn On button.
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 on Mac.
If your family member denies the request to manage their contacts, the Pending status is no longer displayed.