Apple Watch SE apps stuck in downtime with Family Setup

I have an Apple Watch SE 3 GPS for my 11 year old. It’s set up as a family watch and not paired to a phone. It’s currently locked into downtime but I’m trying to set some things up for my daughter. I have turned off downtime via the family watch settings, screen time settings and setting screen time/downtime settings on my phone and the watch is still not letting me access apps. It’s incredibly frustrating and I genuinely think that Apple probably has someone without children working in the family watch dept.

its not the only issue ive had as my 1 year old se watch battery kept dying whilst on school mode, rendering the watch useless when she walked home from school as the battery was dead - but thats a separate issue.

Does anyone know the solution to getting the watch apps out of downtime? I’ve allowed the apps for anytime use also.

Posted on Nov 8, 2026 3:16 PM

1 reply

WheelieNick

Level 9 (74,110 points)

Nov 9, 2026 6:18 AM in response to Sibley14

Hi there

Please try this

If Screen Time or Downtime is enabled on another device tied to the child's Apple ID (like an old iPad or a secondary device), it can override your phone's changes.

On the child's secondary device (or via your Family Sharing settings), go to Settings > Family > [Child's Name] > Screen Time.
Make sure Share Across Devices is turned ON momentarily so settings push through, or check that it isn't forcing a schedule from another device, then turn Downtime completely OFF.

2. Force Screen Time Refresh via Family Settings on iPhone

Sometimes turning it off in the standard Watch menu fails to clear the Family Setup profile.

On your master iPhone, go to Settings > Screen Time > Family [Child's Name].
Tap Downtime and ensure it is turned off for both "Scheduled" and "On".
If it is already off, toggle it ON for one minute, restart your iPhone, go back in, and turn it OFF again to force an iCloud sync.
Check Always Allowed in that same menu to ensure your added apps aren't being blocked by a blanket restriction category.