Among the parental control options that Apple makes available, there is one related to the Apple Watch. There are many children who have smart watches with them next to an iPhone and it is necessary to carry out a control especially at school. Avoiding distractions by taking away the possibility of using it at set times is what the class mode pursues. We tell you all the details about this mode below.
What you should know about Class Mode
Before starting to use the class mode on the Apple Watch, keep in mind that it is limited to certain conditions. You also have to know exactly what you are activated to have all the information on whether it is worth applying it to your sons or daughters.
What is it for?
The class mode has different uses that are quite relevant. The first of them is the most remarkable and for which this mode was developed, which is related to parental control. The Apple Watch can be a distraction when in class and unfortunately there is no physical control by parents here. To prevent the little ones from using the watch while in class, parents can activate this mode from their iPhone. In this way, always within the school hours that have been established in the initial configuration. In this way, at all these hours, the clock cannot be manipulated beyond checking the time. But as we will see if you can leave momentarily to consult the activity rings, although it will always be registered.
But this is not the only application that can be given to the class mode. Apple has not designed it exclusively for the Apple Watch of minors but it can also be used by adults to concentrate. If you are working or studying and you need to avoid any type of distraction, it is also possible to activate it on your personal watch as an adult. This way you will not have that distraction temptation on your own wrist where it is very easy to end up falling and getting distracted.
Requirements to activate it
To be able to use this mode on the Apple Watch, it must be taken into account that certain requirements must be met. The configuration and therefore its use cannot always be carried out. The first thing to keep in mind is that you need to have an Apple Watch Series 4 or higher that has the watchOS 7 version installed . In addition, to be able to perform the configuration it is always necessary to have an iPhone linked limited to an iPhone 6s or higher . As an operating system you should always have iOS 14 or a higher version installed .
It is also important to note that to configure this mode, an Apple Watch must be configured in the appropriate mode. By this we mean that Apple allows the smallest of the house to have an Apple Watch for them, but it can always be controlled from the parents’ iPhone. In short, as we have mentioned before, this is a parental control mode for the little ones. That is why it is necessary to configure it for the guardian to have the child’s clock set in this way in their own Clock application.
Steps to follow to configure it
Once you have all the data regarding compatibility as well as the main characteristics in this way, the configuration can be carried out. We show you all the details about it as well as the reports that can be received.
Activation on iPhone
As we have commented previously, to activate in this way it is not done from the child’s Apple Watch. It must always be done from the iPhone of one of the tutors where the watch is linked. In order to carry out the configuration, you will simply have to perform the following steps:
- Open the Clock application on the iPhone.
- In the list of watches, the device linked to a children’s account will appear. Click on this.
- Access the ‘Class mode’ section.
- Activate the class mode at the top and click on ‘Edit schedule’.
- Choose the days on which you want the class mode to be active as well as the time slot.
Keep in mind that Apple allows you to be totally flexible with the schedules you set. They should not always be fixed hours, but within the same day you can configure different hours, such as from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. In this way, the rest period that can be had in the middle of school hours can be respected.
Exit this mode
When class mode is activated, a deactivation can be performed temporarily. This is done on the Apple Watch itself so the child who is using it can go out whenever they want. To do this, you must make a simple turn on the digital crown and press Exit. This is basically designed to be able to consult some characteristics such as the activity rings in a comfortable way. But keep in mind that you can always know when the class mode has been unlocked.
But if you are still in the class mode schedule, when you lower your wrist and the watch locks when it starts up again, the class mode dial will appear again. To completely get out of this mode, the established hours must always be met. Once the final set time arrives, the class mode will be deactivated automatically and the device will be able to use the device normally.
As we have commented previously, all the activity that exists with respect to the temporary exits of the Apple Watch are registered. At any time in the Clock application you can make the query, you will see the exact hours in which the clock has been unlocked. At first this information is intended for the guardians of minors but they can also consult it on their watches comfortably. In this way many more parental control tools are given.
Wearing it on an adult watch is also possible
As we have said before, the class mode is not limited only to minors in order to avoid distractions in class. It can be found natively on all watches regardless of the Apple account with which it is linked. With this mode it is possible to have the sphere completely clean and not receive any type of notification, thus avoiding the temptation to be easily distracted when you are at work or studying for university.
In order to activate it, you will find the option in the control center. It is true that it is somewhat hidden but if you open the control center of your Apple Watch you will see at the end of all the icons, one especially distinguishable from a person with a raised hand. At the moment of giving it, the sphere will change to one in which you can only see the time. To remove it, you will have to follow the same steps above, turning the digital crown.