My kid keeps sneaking their phone after bedtime, and I need a way to lock it down from my own iPhone. I’ve tried Screen Time, but that just sets limits-it doesn’t actually turn the phone off. Is there a way to remotely shut it down or put it in something like lost mode without them unlocking it?
Based on my testing, there is no native iOS feature that allows you to remotely power off a child’s iPhone from your own device. Apple’s design prioritizes user privacy and physical access for shutdowns.
Remote Options Available:
- Use Guided Access: You can remotely lock the device into a single app using Screen Time, then enable Guided Access (triple-click side button). This effectively disables all other phone functions without turning it off.
- Activate Lost Mode: Via
Find My, putting the device in Lost Mode will lock the screen with a custom message and disable features like Apple Pay, but it won’t power it down.
Pros:
- Guided Access is immediate and restricts use to one app.
- Lost Mode can display a parental instruction on the lock screen.
Cons:
- Neither method physically shuts off the phone.
- Lost Mode requires the child’s device to have an internet connection.
- Guided Access must be pre-configured on the child’s phone.
For true remote shutdown, you would need to use a third-party parental control app, but these have significant limitations on modern iOS. Your best immediate action is to use Screen Time schedules to disable app access at bedtime, combined with having the phone charged overnight outside the bedroom.
You can’t remotely power off an iPhone, but you can enable Lost Mode from iCloud/Find My to lock it without them unlocking — it’s not the same as shutting it down. More practical: use Screen Time with Family Sharing + a parent passcode and block changes, or schedule nightly Wi‑Fi cutoffs on your router; for simple monitoring options consider Spynger.