We're here to help.
First off, we know this can be frustrating. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
If you're not receiving Screen Time notifications from Roots, or they're showing up inconsistently, here are some steps to get them working properly:
1) Turn off "Share Across Devices" on ALL iOS devices
This is the #1 cause of notification issues:
Open "Settings > Screen Time" on each device you own
Make sure "Share Across Devices" is turned "OFF"
Do this on ALL your Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, etc.)
Due to Apple limitations, having this enabled can interfere with how Roots tracks your usage and sends notifications.
Learn more about disabling "Share Across Devices" here.
2) Check your notification permissions
On your iPhone:
Go to "Settings > Notifications"
Find Roots in the list
Make sure "Allow Notifications" is turned ON
Ensure "Badges," "Sounds," and "Banners" are enabled
In your Roots account:
Go to "Roots > Profile > Account Settings" (top of screen) > Notifications"
Toggle ON the notifications you want to receive:
Time Limits
Downtime
Screen Time alerts
Marketing (optional)
3) Refresh your Screen Time data
Tap the refresh icon at the top-right of your Roots homepage
This ensures your usage data is current and notifications can trigger properly
What notifications should you receive?
When everything is working correctly, you should get notifications for:
Time Limits: 5 minutes before reaching your limit, and when you reach it
Downtime: When your scheduled blocks start and end
Screen Time alerts: Hourly updates on your usage
Block Now: When your manual blocks end
Need more help?
Get personal help from one of our founders here. We know this can be frustrating, and we appreciate your patience. We're happy to assist—and we'll even reward you for your valuable time!