How to Set Up Parental Controls on iPhone and iPad

Parental controls on iPhone and iPad allow parents to restrict access to inappropriate content, prevent accidental purchases, and create a safer device experience for children. Apple offers powerful tools that make it easy to ensure younger users have a secure experience on their devices. This guide will walk you through setting up parental controls on iOS.

How to Enable “Screen Time” on iPhone and iPad

The “Screen Time” feature is the primary tool for parental controls on iOS. With it, you can restrict app access, set time limits, and view usage statistics.

  1. Open “Settings” on the device.
  2. Select “Screen Time” and tap “Turn On Screen Time”.
  3. Follow the prompts to set up restrictions. You can specify that the device is for a child during setup.

Once enabled, you’ll have access to a range of additional settings to help you manage apps and content access.

Setting Limits on App Usage

To control access to specific apps, follow these steps:

  1. Go to “Screen Time” and select “App Limits”.
  2. Tap “Add Limit”, choose categories (like “Social Networking” or “Games”) or individual apps.
  3. Set a time limit for their use.

Now, the selected apps will automatically lock once the time limit is reached.

How to Restrict Content and Privacy Access

This feature allows parents to limit content based on age ratings and prevent changes to privacy and security settings.

  1. Go to “Screen Time” and select “Content & Privacy Restrictions”.
  2. Toggle on “Content & Privacy Restrictions”.
  3. Set content restrictions by selecting categories like “Apps,” “Movies,” “Music,” and others.

These settings help block access to content that may be inappropriate for certain age groups.

Restricting Access to Purchases and Subscriptions

To prevent accidental purchases and subscriptions, you can limit access to the App Store and in-app purchases.

  1. In the “Content & Privacy Restrictions” section, select “iTunes & App Store Purchases”.
  2. Adjust purchase settings to restrict or require approval for purchases.

The device will now prompt for a password or restrict purchases entirely.

Using the “Family Sharing” Feature

If you have multiple Apple devices, you can take advantage of the “Family Sharing” feature to monitor and manage devices for family members.

  1. Open “Settings”, navigate to “Family”, and select “Family Sharing”.
  2. Follow the instructions to add your child and set up the necessary controls.

With Family Sharing, you can remotely monitor device usage and manage settings for all family members.