A tanning session in Shade is a timer you start when you lie down in the sun. It counts down to your estimated burn time, reminds you to turn over so both sides get even time, and warns you before the countdown runs out.
How a session runs
- Start: tap start when you go into the sun. Shade uses your skin type, your protection and where you are.
- Count down: the timer follows the hourly UV forecast, so it speeds up as UV climbs towards midday and slows as it falls.
- Turn over: a cue tells you when to switch sides for an even tan.
- Heads-up: you get a warning before your estimated burn time, so you can move into the shade or cover up.
- End: stop the session whenever you like. The time you spent counts towards the rest of the day.
Sessions add up
If you go back out after lunch, Shade remembers the morning. Time already spent in the sun today is taken off your remaining estimate, so a second session doesn’t start from zero.
Wearing sunscreen?
If you choose sunscreen as your protection, Shade adds a reapply reminder every two hours, as the WHO recommends. See sunscreen reminders for how it works.
Free and Plus
Your first sun session is free with everything included. After that, Shade Plus adds unlimited sessions, turn-over and reapply cues, the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island countdown, and session controls on Apple Watch. The live UV index and your burn-time estimate stay free.
What a session is not
Shade isn’t built to speed up or deepen your tan. The session works inside your estimated burn time, which follows WHO UV Index guidance with UV data from Apple Weather. It’s an estimate, and how your skin actually reacts can differ.
Frequently asked questions
How does a tanning session work in Shade?
Tap start when you go into the sun. Shade counts down to your estimated burn time using the hourly UV forecast, your skin type and your protection, and gives you a heads-up before the time runs out.
Is the session timer free?
Your first sun session is free with everything included, so you can try it properly. Unlimited sessions and the turn-over and reapply cues come with Shade Plus.
Will Shade speed up my tan?
No, and it doesn’t try to. It keeps time while you tan and tells you when your skin has likely had enough, based on your estimated burn time.