For families
Set up your kid's device.
About five minutes with both devices in hand. Most of it is one Apple step: your kid needs to be in your Family Sharing group.
Before you start
Two devices
Your iPhone, and your kid's iPhone or iPad. Charged, and in the same room.
Your Apple ID password
Apple asks for it on your kid's device. That's what stops them from deleting FocusFlow or switching it off.
Your kid in Family Sharing
Their device has to be signed into their own Apple Account, and that account has to be in your Family Sharing group. Step 1 checks.
Six steps.
1. Check Family Sharing
On your iPhone, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then Family. If your kid is listed, you're set: skip to step 3.
2. Add your kid if they're not there
In the same Family screen, tap Add Member. If your kid has no Apple Account yet, choose Create Child Account and follow Apple's steps, then sign their device into that account (on their device: Settings, then Sign in). If they already have their own Apple Account, choose Invite Others and accept the invitation on their device. The wording can differ a little between iOS versions.
3. Add your kid in FocusFlow
Download FocusFlow on your iPhone, choose "For my kids" on the first screen, and sign up with your own number. On the Family tab, tap Add a kid, then Set up their device. You'll get a code that works once, for 15 minutes.
4. Enter the code on their device
Download FocusFlow on your kid's device. On the first screen, choose "For my kids", tap "Enter a family code", and type in the code.
5. Approve Screen Time with your Apple ID
Apple shows its own screen on your kid's device. Sign in with your Apple ID, not your kid's.
6. Pick the apps to lock
Still on their device, choose the games and apps to lock until tasks are done. Then give them one task and approve it, so you both see the unlock happen.
If something goes wrong.
"This device needs to be signed into your kid's own Apple Account"
The device is signed into your Apple Account (common on a shared iPad), or your kid isn't in your Family Sharing group yet. Do steps 1 and 2, then try again.
"Another parental-control app is using Screen Time on this device"
Only one app can manage Screen Time on a kid's device. Remove the other app from their device, then try again.
"Apple's sign-in was cancelled"
Try again, and sign in with your Apple ID, the parent's, not your kid's.
The code doesn't work
Codes work once and expire after 15 minutes. On your iPhone, tap New code and type the new one in.
I approved a task, but their apps are still locked
Have your kid open FocusFlow on their device. Apple only lets the app lift a lock when it's awake, and opening it wakes it.
Still stuck?
Write to support@getfocusflow.app and Spencer will help you set it up.