My child says they can't use their device during allowed time

If your child is in what should be Free Time but the device is still showing the locked or blocked screen, here are the usual reasons.

1. The Parent App still has them in Locked mode

Open the Parent App. Look at the device card — does it still say Locked? If you tapped Lock now earlier and forgot to release it, that overrides every schedule.

Tap the device → Unlock, enter your parent PIN, and the device returns to schedule-driven mode.

2. Bedtime or Homework is still running

The current mode is whatever the schedule says right now. Even if you meant free time to start at 4:00 PM, if the schedule has Homework running until 5:00 PM, Homework wins.

Check Schedule in the Parent App for the child profile. Adjust the window if needed — changes apply within a minute.

3. The device clock is off

Schedules depend on the device's clock. If a Windows PC has the wrong time zone, free time at 4:00 PM your time might be 6:00 PM device time.

Set Windows time to automatic: Settings → Time & language → Date & time → turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically.

4. The device just came back from offline

If the device was offline for a while and is now reconnecting, give it a minute to sync. The rules it had cached may be stale until the first heartbeat completes.

5. They've earned a screen-time cap

If you've set a daily screen-time limit and they've hit it, that blocks the device even during Free Time. Check Limits in the Parent App.

Still stuck?

Open the Parent App, tap the device, then Diagnose. Send us a screenshot at support@koodos.app if it doesn't make sense.