Key Takeaways
- iPhone parental controls are built into iOS through Screen Time, free on every iPhone and iPad, covering time limits, content filters, purchases, and communication safety.
- Five steps, in order: Family Sharing, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions, Ask to Buy, and Communication Limits. Each builds on the one before it.
- Set up Family Sharing first. It puts every control under your Apple ID instead of the child’s, which is what stops a child from simply switching things off.
- Revisit the settings as your child ages. The age-group table below maps which controls to loosen at each stage.
iPhone parental controls are built directly into every iPhone and iPad through a feature called Screen Time. There are no apps to download and nothing extra to pay for — every setting you need to manage your child’s device is already there, waiting to be switched on. This guide walks you through every control, in the order you should set them up, with plain-English explanations of what each one actually does. Every step is verified on iOS 26, the current release.
Whether you’re handing an iPhone to a six-year-old for the first time or tightening the settings on a teenager’s device, this guide covers it all: time limits, content filtering, purchase controls, communication restrictions, website blocking, and how to lock your child into a single safe app when they’re very young. By the end, the whole process takes about 15–20 minutes. You can also read our guide on how to kid-proof your iPhone before handing it over for additional device protection tips.
Step 1 – Set Up Family Sharing First (Do This Once)
Family Sharing is Apple’s system for linking your accounts together, and it is the foundation that makes remote parental controls possible. Once it is set up, you can manage your child’s Screen Time settings, approve their app downloads, and track their device from your own iPhone — without ever needing to pick theirs up.
Here’s how to set it up:
1. On your iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing.
2. Tap Add Member, then tap Create Child Account.
3. Enter your child’s name and date of birth. Apple will apply age-appropriate default restrictions automatically based on this.
4. Follow the on-screen steps to create their Apple Account and add them to your Family group.
5. Once added, you’ll see your child’s name appear under Family in your Settings — this is your control panel for all the steps that follow.
| Already have Family Sharing set up?Skip to Step 2. If your child already has an Apple Account and is in your Family group, everything in this guide will work from your own iPhone without touching theirs. |
Step 2 – Turn On Screen Time (Your Main Control Centre)
Screen Time is the single menu that houses every parental control on iPhone and iPad. Think of it as the master switch. Once it’s on and locked with your passcode, your child cannot change any of the settings that follow. If you ever lose that code, you can reset a forgotten Screen Time passcode with your Apple ID.
6. On your iPhone, go to Settings, scroll down, and tap Screen Time.
7. Tap Turn On Screen Time, then tap Continue.
8. When asked, select This is My Child’s [Device].
9. Tap Use Screen Time Passcode and enter a four-digit code. This is not your iPhone unlock PIN — use something different that only you know.
10. Confirm the passcode and enter your Apple ID to allow recovery if you forget it.
| Your Screen Time passcode is separate from your iPhone’s lock screen PIN. Do not use the same number. Your child will likely know your unlock PIN — if that’s also the Screen Time passcode, every restriction you set can be undone in seconds. |
Set App Limits – Control Daily Usage by Category
App Limits let you set a daily time budget for entire categories of apps — games, social networking, entertainment — or for specific apps individually. When your child hits the limit, the app closes and a lock screen appears asking you to approve more time.
11. Under your child’s Screen Time settings, tap App Limits.
12. Tap Add Limit.
13. Select a category (such as Games, Entertainment, or Social Networking), or tap Add Apps to choose specific apps.
14. Set the daily time limit and tap Add.
| Pro tip: set a 15-minute warningGo back into each App Limit and enable the notification so your child gets a heads-up before time runs out. This one small step prevents most of the arguments when the app suddenly locks. |
Set Downtime – Schedule Device-Off Hours
Downtime schedules blocks of time — usually overnight and during school hours — when the device goes dark. Only apps on your Always Allowed list (see below) and phone calls remain accessible. The child’s screen shows a simple lock screen with the time remaining until Downtime ends.
15. In Screen Time, tap Downtime.
16. Toggle Downtime on and set your start and end times.
17. For younger children, we recommend setting Downtime from 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM at minimum. See the age guide below for more specific recommendations.
Set Always Allowed – Exceptions to Downtime
Some apps should remain accessible even during Downtime — a communication app for reaching you, an educational app you want them to keep using, or a curated video app for quiet morning time. Add these to Always Allowed so they bypass the Downtime schedule.
18. In Screen Time, tap Always Allowed.
19. Tap the green + button next to any app you want to allow during Downtime.
20. We recommend adding: Phone, Messages, and any apps you specifically want available — for example, if your child watches videos in Jellie’s App, add it here so they can access their curated, ad-free library even when other apps are locked.
Step 3 – Content & Privacy Restrictions (The Most Important Step)
Content & Privacy Restrictions is where you control what your child can see and do on their device. This is the most comprehensive — and most overlooked — set of parental controls on iPhone. It covers websites, content ratings, app downloads, in-app purchases, privacy settings, and more.
21. In Screen Time, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
22. Toggle the switch at the top to turn it on.
Now work through each sub-setting below:
Block Adult Websites in Safari
This is the single most important content setting for children. It activates Apple’s built-in web filter, which blocks a broad range of adult content sites automatically and lets you add specific websites to a block list.
23. Tap Content Restrictions, then tap Web Content.
24. Select Limit Adult Websites.
25. Tap Add Website under ‘Never Allow’ to block specific sites your child has mentioned or that you want to be certain are blocked.
26. For younger children (under 8), consider selecting Allowed Websites Only instead — this blocks everything except a short list you approve manually.
| Also blocks adult content in appsEnabling Limit Adult Websites doesn’t just filter Safari — it also applies content restrictions to in-app browsers, search results within apps, and Siri web searches. It’s a system-wide filter, not just a browser setting. |
Set Content Age Ratings
These settings control what your child can find in the App Store, what music they can access, which movies and TV shows are available, and how Siri responds. Set them once and they apply everywhere Apple content appears.
27. Tap Content Restrictions.
28. Work through each category: Apps, Movies, TV Shows, Music. Set each to the rating appropriate for your child’s age (for example: Apps → 9+, Movies → G, Music → Clean).
29. Under Siri, set both Web Search Content and Explicit Language to Don’t Allow.
Prevent App Installs and In-App Purchases
This is what stops unexpected charges on your credit card and prevents your child from downloading apps without your knowledge. Even free apps can carry in-app purchases that add up quickly.
30. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases.
31. Set Installing Apps and In-App Purchases to Don’t Allow.
32. Set Deleting Apps to Don’t Allow if you want to prevent your child from removing apps you’ve installed.
Hide or Restrict Built-in Apps
You can hide specific Apple apps — Camera, Safari, FaceTime, Messages — from your child’s device entirely. The app isn’t deleted; it just disappears from the home screen until you choose to show it again.
33. Tap Allowed Apps & Features.
34. Toggle off any app you do not want your child to access. For young children, consider turning off: Safari, Siri, FaceTime, and the App Store.
Step 4 – Enable Ask to Buy
Ask to Buy sends you an approval notification every time your child tries to download or purchase anything — including free apps. Without it, your child can freely download apps in their age-appropriate rating range with no notification to you.
35. On your own iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, then tap Family Sharing.
36. Tap your child’s name, then tap Ask to Buy.
37. Toggle Require Purchase Approval on.
From now on, any time your child tries to download something, you’ll receive a notification on your iPhone with the app name, rating, and a quick Approve or Decline button. Approvals happen instantly — they don’t need to wait for you to walk over to their device.
Step 5 – Set Communication Limits and Communication Safety
These two settings control who your child can contact and protect them from receiving inappropriate images. They work together as your child’s communication safety net.
Communication Limits
Controls who your child can call, text, and FaceTime with — during both regular screen time and Downtime.
38. In Screen Time, tap Communication Limits.
39. Tap During Screen Time and select Contacts Only. This restricts your child to communicating only with people saved in their Contacts app.
40. Tap During Downtime and select Specific Contacts — for very young children, set this to just parents and close family.
41. Toggle on Manage [Child’s] Contacts so you control who is in their contact list.
Communication Safety
Communication Safety is an on-device feature that detects nudity in photos and videos before they are sent or viewed. It applies to iMessages, AirDrop, FaceTime video calls, and photos in Shared Albums. Apple does not have access to the images — detection happens entirely on the device.
This feature is enabled by default for all Child Accounts under 18. If it’s been turned off, re-enable it here:
42. In Screen Time, tap Communication Safety.
43. Toggle Communication Safety on. That’s all that’s needed.
| Apple expanded Communication Safety in early 2025 to detect nudity in live FaceTime video calls — not just static photos. If nudity is detected, the video feed is automatically blurred and your child is prompted to end the call. This is enabled automatically when Communication Safety is on. |
Step 6 – Use Guided Access to Lock Young Children Into One App
Guided Access is the parental control most parents of young children don’t know about — and the one that makes the biggest practical difference. It locks the iPhone into a single app. Once active, the home button, app switcher, and all navigation are disabled. Your child cannot leave the app they’re in, no matter what they tap.
This is especially valuable if your child watches videos in a curated, safe app like Jellie’s App — you can lock them into their video library and know they won’t wander out to the camera, settings, or anything else on the device.
44. Go to Settings, then tap Accessibility.
45. Tap Guided Access and toggle it on.
46. Tap Passcode Settings and tap Set Guided Access Passcode. Enter a four-digit code. You can also enable Face ID to end Guided Access, which is faster.
47. Now open the app you want your child to use and get it ready for them.
48. Triple-click the Side button (on Face ID iPhones) or the Home button (on older models) to start Guided Access. The screen flashes briefly and a ‘Guided Access’ label appears at the top.
49. Your child is now locked in. Triple-click again and enter your passcode to end the session.
| Pro tip: use the timerInside Guided Access, tap Options before starting the session and set a time limit. When the timer runs out, the session ends automatically — no negotiation required. |
What Apple Changed in the Newest iOS for Parents
At WWDC in June 2026 Apple previewed its biggest parental-control update in years, arriving with iOS 27 this fall. The steps in this guide still apply on iOS 26; here is what changes next, and where it lands in this guide:
- Time Allowances let you set flexible time budgets across app categories such as Entertainment, Games, and Social Media, with age-based guidance and one-off extensions you can approve on request. This extends the App Limits you set in Step 2.
- Ask to Browse requires your child to request approval before visiting a new website, on by default for kids under 13. This extends the web restrictions in Step 3.
- A redesigned Screen Time and simpler child setup, including a recommended set of essential apps during setup, replacing the flow described in Steps 1 and 2 with fewer taps.
Recommended Settings by Age Group
Different ages need different settings. A 4-year-old with an iPad needs near-total restrictions. A 13-year-old who is starting to need more independence needs a different approach. The table below gives you a starting point — treat it as a baseline, not a prescription. You know your child best.
These recommendations draw on screen time guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics combined with the practical controls available in iOS 26.
| Setting | Under 6 | Ages 6–10 | Ages 11–13 | Ages 13+ |
| Guided Access | Yes — always | For specific activities | Not needed | Not needed |
| Downtime | 8pm–7am | 8:30pm–7am | 9pm–7am | 10pm–7am |
| Daily app limit | 30–60 min | 1–2 hours | 2–3 hours | Discuss together |
| Web content | Restrict all websites | Limit adult websites | Limit adult websites | Limit adult websites |
| App Store purchases | Don’t Allow | Ask to Buy on | Ask to Buy on | Ask to Buy on |
| Communication | No FaceTime / Messages | Contacts Only | Contacts Only | Contacts + Groups |
| Communication Safety | On (default) | On (default) | On (default) | On (default) |
Note on ‘Under 6’: Children this age should ideally use a device only when a parent is present. Use Guided Access to lock them into one approved app, and set the Always Allowed list to that app only. For screen time guidance specific to toddlers and young children, see our guide on screen time rules for kids by age.
What Apple’s Parental Controls Can’t Do
Apple’s built-in tools are genuinely powerful and cover the vast majority of what parents need. But it helps to know their limits so you’re not caught off guard:
• They can’t read your child’s messages. Screen Time cannot show you message content — only whether Messages is accessible and who can send messages.
• They can’t monitor what your child searches for. You can block websites and adult content, but Screen Time doesn’t generate a readable search history for parents.
• They can’t block in-app content. If an app is allowed, Apple can’t control what content appears inside it. This is why the apps you allow matter as much as the controls you set.
• They can’t prevent all bypasses. Older children sometimes find workarounds — turning off Wi-Fi to avoid some filters, or using a friend’s device. Screen Time is a layer of protection, not a complete solution.
For video content specifically, the most effective approach is to pair Apple’s controls with an app that curates content at the source — so the question of what your child sees is answered before it reaches their screen. That’s the model behind Jellie’s App, where every video is manually reviewed before it’s made available, with no ads, no autoplay to unexpected content, and no unboxing or influencer videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up parental controls on my child’s iPhone?
Start with Family Sharing, then turn on Screen Time and set a passcode. From there, enable Content & Privacy Restrictions to filter websites and block inappropriate content, set App Limits for daily usage, and use Ask to Buy to approve downloads. The full step-by-step process is covered above — it takes about 15–20 minutes to complete.
Can I control parental controls on my child’s iPhone from my own phone?
Yes. Once Family Sharing is set up, go to Settings on your iPhone, tap your name, then tap Family. Select your child’s name and tap Screen Time — you’ll see all of their settings and can change any of them remotely. Changes sync instantly to their device, even if they’re in a different room.
What is the Screen Time passcode on iPhone?
The Screen Time passcode is a separate four-digit code that protects your parental control settings from being changed. It is different from your iPhone’s lock screen PIN — keep them separate or your child can easily undo your restrictions. Set it under Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode. If you forget it, you can reset it using your Apple ID.
How do I block websites on my child’s iPhone?
Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content. Select Limit Adult Websites to activate Apple’s automatic content filter. To block specific sites, tap Add Website under ‘Never Allow’. For complete website control on young children, select Allowed Websites Only and manually add only the sites you want them to access.
Can my child turn off parental controls on iPhone?
No — not if the Screen Time passcode is set. Your child cannot access or change Screen Time settings without that passcode. The passcode is different from the device unlock code, so even if they know how to unlock the phone, they cannot reach your parental controls.
What is Guided Access on iPhone?
Guided Access locks the iPhone into a single app and disables all navigation, so a child cannot leave it regardless of what they tap. Activate it by triple-clicking the Side or Home button while inside the app you want them to use. Set it up first under Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access. It’s the most effective setting for children under 6.
At what age should I set up parental controls on iPhone?
From day one — set up the controls before you hand the device to your child for the first time. The specific settings change by age (see the table above), but the fundamental protections should be in place from the start. Starting without controls and trying to add them later is much harder, especially once children have grown accustomed to unrestricted access.
Final Thoughts
Apple’s Screen Time gives you genuine control over your child’s iPhone and iPad — once you know where everything is. The six steps above take about 15–20 minutes to complete and will give you a device that is meaningfully safer for your child to use. Revisit the settings every few months as your child gets older, and adjust the restrictions in the age table accordingly.
Once the controls are in place, the next question is what content your child is watching during their screen time. For video, the safest approach is a curated app that answers that question before anything reaches your child’s screen. Jellie’s App offers an ad-free, manually reviewed video library built specifically for young children — a natural companion to the parental controls you’ve just set up. You can read more about making the most of screen time in our guide on how to make the most of your child’s screen time with Jellies.