To ensure Zenvy works optimally, it's important that children cannot disable the screen time permissions themselves. For security reasons, Apple does not allow apps like Settings to be blocked. The following steps provide an alternative way to prevent this. These instructions work best on iOS 26.4 or higher.

Prevent Disabling via Settings

With the instructions below, you can prevent a child from disabling Zenvy’s Screen Time access. Even when ‘Lock Screen Time Settings’ is enabled on iOS, this access can unfortunately still be revoked through another iOS setting.

This can be done via: Settings → Apps → Zenvy → Screen Time Restrictions. Only the device passcode or Face ID is required for this change. That is why Zenvy recommends additional automations as an extra layer of protection.

To set this up, you need the Shortcuts app. If it is not yet installed on the device, you can download it for free via the App Store (developed and provided by Apple).

Open the Shortcuts app
Click on Automation
Click on Create Personal Automation
Scroll through the list, find App and click on it
Click on Choose and select the Settings app from the list of apps
Deselect Is Opened and select Is Closed
Select Run Immediately
Keep Notify When Run turned off
Click on Next in the top right corner

Then click on Add Action under the Next tab
Type go to in the search bar and select Go to Home Screen
Click the blue checkmark to save

What Does This Do?

When the child closes Settings after making a change, they are immediately returned to the home screen. This prevents important settings, such as screen time access, from being disabled.

👉 Access to screen time can no longer be disabled.

Secure the Shortcuts App

Secure the Shortcuts app so that the child cannot disable the security set in step 1.

Open Zenvy and click on ZenRules
Click on Parent Access and enter your parent code
Click on App Limits and then click on + Add App Limit
Optionally rename the limit to something like Shortcuts
Click on Choose Apps to Limit and select the Shortcuts app
Click on the weekly schedule and set all days to 0:00
Then click on Save to activate the blocking

👉 The Shortcuts app is now blocked.

Tips:

Ensure that the Shortcuts app is not included in the Always Allowed list
Remove the Shortcuts app from the home screen so it is not directly visible on the home screen for your child.

Protect Screen Time After Restart

After restarting the device, it may take a moment for the automation from step 1 to become active. This poses a potential vulnerability: a child could disable screen time access during this short period. Follow the instructions below to add an extra layer of security to prevent this as well.

In this step, we create an additional automation using the iOS Shortcuts app. This will cause the device to respond immediately when screen time permissions are disabled.

Download the Shortcuts app
Go to Automation and click on Create Personal Automation
Scroll through the list, find App and click on it
Click on Choose and select all apps except Zenvy
Select Is Opened and Is Closed
Choose Run Immediately
Turn off Notify When Run
Click on Next in the top right corner

Click on Add Action
Search for Zenvy and select Zenvy Screen Time Permission
Type If in the search bar and select If
Click on the word Choose and select Not Granted
Click on the cross of the line Otherwise

Type Open app in the search bar and select Open app
Hold down Open app and drag it above End If
Click on App and select Zenvy
Click the blue checkmark to save

What Does This Do?

If a child disables the screen time permissions, the Zenvy app is automatically launched each time an app is opened or closed. This continues until the screen time permissions are re-enabled via Zenvy. This makes the device practically unusable, quickly making the child realize that disabling screen time permissions is pointless.

👉 Disabling restrictions is now futile.

By following these steps, you have effectively secured access to screen time settings. Ensure that only you know the code and keep a close watch on the settings. This way, you can keep your children's digital habits healthy and manageable.

Prevent Screen Time Permissions from Being Disabled (iOS)

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