How to put parental controls on iPhones

With over 95% of US teens using smartphones, keeping children safe online is more important than ever. Many parents rely on iPhone parental controls to manage what their children see and do on their devices.

Apple's built-in parental control tools, such as Screen Time, Family Sharing, and Content Restrictions, help parents block harmful websites, set app limits, and track screen time. These tools give parents more control and help children develop healthier online habits.

In this guide, I'll show you how to set up parental controls on iPhones to create a safer digital experience for your child.

Setting up Screen Time on iPhone

The iPhone’s Screen Time feature helps you manage your child's app usage, set limits, and track how much time they spend on their device. Here's how to set up Screen Time and customize it for better control.

1. Enable Screen Time

Enabling Screen Time allows you to set up restrictions and monitor your child's iPhone usage. Follow these steps to set up

1. Open Settings on your child's iPhone.
2. Tap Screen Time and select Turn On Screen Time.
3. Choose This is My Child's iPhone.
4. Set a Screen Time passcode to prevent them from changing the settings.

2. Set up App Limits

You can restrict how long your child can use specific apps. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits.
2. Click Add Limit and select categories like social media, games, or entertainment.
3. Set a daily time limit and tap Add.

3. Use Downtime to schedule breaks

Downtime prevents access to apps during set hours, such as bedtime or school hours. You can set up Downtime using these steps:

1. Open Settings > Screen Time > Downtime.
2. Turn it On and set start and end times.
3. Only allowed apps (like Calls or Messages) will be accessible.

4. Set Content & Privacy Restrictions

Follow these steps to block adult content, explicit music, or in-app purchases:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
2. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
3. Adjust settings to limit websites, block explicit content, and prevent unauthorized app downloads.

5. Monitor across devices

Here’s how to track your child's activity across multiple Apple devices:

1. Open Settings > Screen Time on your iPhone.
2. Tap Share Across Devices and sign in with your iCloud account.

Setting up content restrictions

If you're worried about what your child is watching or downloading on their iPhone, you can set content restrictions to ensure they only see age-appropriate content.

1. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions

To start, you'll need to enable Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time:

1. Open Settings on your child's iPhone.
2. Tap Screen Time and select your child's device under Family (if you're using Family Sharing).
3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and enter your Screen Time passcode.
4. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions at the top.

2. Set age limits for apps, movies, and music

You can prevent your child from accessing content unsuitable for their age by setting age limits. Here’s how to do this:

1. In Content & Privacy Restrictions, tap Content Restrictions.

2. Under Allowed Store Content, set age limits for:

• Apps (e.g., allow only apps rated 9+ or 12+).
• Movies (e.g., block R-rated films).
• TV Shows (e.g., allow only TV-Y or TV-PG shows).
• Music, Podcasts, & News (turn on Explicit Content to block songs with mature lyrics).

3. Block or limit websites

You can control which websites your child can visit by following these steps:

1. Go to Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions.

2. Tap Web Content and choose one of the following:

• Unrestricted access (no limits on browsing).
• Limit adult websites (blocks most adult content automatically).
• Allowed websites only (you can pick approved sites they can visit).

3. You can also manually add websites to Always Allow or Never Allow lists.

4. Prevent in-app purchases

Here’s how to prevent your child from making purchases within apps:

1. Go to Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases.
2. Tap In-App Purchases and set it to Don't Allow.
3. Under Require Password, choose Always Require to ensure any purchases need approval.

5. Restrict game features

If your child plays games using Game Center, you can set limits to protect them:

1. Under Content Restrictions, scroll to Game Center.

2. Choose options like:

• Multiplayer Games (prevent playing online with strangers).
• Adding Friends (block adding new friends in Game Center).
• Screen Recording (stop them from recording gameplay and sharing videos).

6. Lock privacy settings

You can prevent apps from accessing sensitive data using these steps:

1. In Content & Privacy Restrictions, scroll to Privacy.

2. Choose settings to restrict, such as:

• Location Services (stop apps from tracking their location).
• Microphone & Camera (prevent apps from accessing these without permission).
• Photos & Contacts (block apps from viewing personal data).

7. Keep settings locked

You can prevent your child from changing these parental control settings by following these steps:

1. Go to Allow Changes To in Content & Privacy Restrictions.
2. Set options like Passcode & Face ID, Accounts, and Cellular Data to Don't Allow.

Enabling Family Sharing and ask to buy

Family Sharing lets up to six people share Apple subscriptions, apps, and purchases while keeping their accounts separate. Parents can also use Ask to Buy to approve or deny their children’s downloads and purchases. These settings are easy to set up.

To set up Family Sharing:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap [Your Name] > Family Sharing.
3. Follow the instructions to invite family members.
4. Once set up, you can share apps, subscriptions, iCloud storage, and more.

2. Add your child's Apple ID

Here’s how to add your child’s Apple ID to Family Sharing:

1. Open Settings and go to Family Sharing.
2. Tap Add Member > Create Child Account.
3. Enter your child's details and set up their Apple ID.
4. Now, your child is part of the family group, and you can manage their purchases.

3. Turning on Ask to Buy

Ask to Buy makes sure kids need permission before buying or downloading:

1. Go to Settings > Family.
2. Select your child's name and tap Ask to Buy.
3. Turn on Require Purchase Approval.

4. Approving or denying requests

When your child wants an app, movie, or book, you’ll get a notification. Here’s how to approve or deny such requests:

1. Open the request in Messages or Notifications.
2. Check what they want and Approve or Decline.
3. Approved purchases download automatically to their device.

5. Sharing and managing content

Family Sharing lets everyone access shared content. This means:

• Purchases are available to all family members.
• Parents can block or limit certain content.
• Each person keeps their own Apple ID for privacy.

Monitoring and adjusting parental controls regularly

It’s important to regularly update the parental control settings on your child’s phone to keep them safe online as they grow. Children’s internet habits change as they get older, so these settings must keep up. iPhone features like Screen Time allow you to see what your child is doing online. Checking their activity reports can show you which apps and websites they use the most.

As they get older, you might need to adjust content restrictions to match their age. Some sites or apps that you blacklisted before might be fine now, while others might need stricter limits. Updating App Limits and Downtime also helps manage Screen Time, so they don't spend too much time online.

Beyond these settings, it’s just as important to be involved in your child's digital life. Talk to them about online safety and encourage open conversations. This builds trust and helps them make smarter choices. By keeping parental controls up to date and having regular talks about safe internet use, you create a safer online space for your child.

Troubleshooting and common issues

Setting up parental controls can sometimes be tricky, but most issues are easy to fix.

If you forget the Screen Time passcode, tap "Forgot Passcode?" on the Screen Time settings page, then follow the steps using your Apple ID to reset it.

For iCloud syncing problems, ensure all devices use the same Apple ID and that iCloud is turned on for Screen Time. Restarting the devices and updating the software can also help.

If Content Restrictions aren't working, check that they are turned on under Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Try switching them off and back on.

To sync settings on family devices, go to Settings > Screen Time > Family and confirm that your child's device is properly linked. Keeping all devices updated ensures everything works smoothly. Regularly checking these settings helps ensure parental controls work as expected.

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Other parental control guides you might be interested in:

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Conclusion

Parental controls on an iPhone help keep your child safe online by managing Screen Time, blocking inappropriate content, and limiting app use. These tools encourage healthy screen habits.

As children grow, their online habits change. That's why it's important to check and update these settings regularly. Reviewing usage reports, adjusting content restrictions, and updating app limits helps to keep things balanced.

Most importantly, stay involved in your child's online life. Talk to them about online safety and encourage open conversations. With the proper settings and honest discussions, you can create a safe and healthy digital space for your child.

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