Checked against Apple’s current guidance
Start on the parent’s iPhone
These main instructions match Apple’s parental-controls experience in iOS 27. If your screen is arranged differently, do not worry: use the separate route further down this page.
Before you begin
- Make sure your family is set up in Family Sharing.
- Your child should have their own Apple Account and be included in your family group.
- For the iOS 27 layout shown here, update the devices in the family group and update the family’s parental controls.
- Keep your Screen Time passcode private and different from the code your child uses to unlock their phone.
Step 1
Open your child’s controls
Step 2
Choose what you want to manage
You do not need to change everything at once. Begin with the area that matters most, then return to the list whenever you need to adjust it.
Apps and websites
Family → your child → Apps & Websites
Approve downloads and purchases, manage App Store settings, filter websites and allow or block particular apps and sites.
Contacts and communication
Family → your child → Allowed Contacts
Choose who your child can contact during Screen Time and whether they can add new contacts without asking.
Communication Safety
Family → your child → Communication Safety
Turn on Apple's protection for photos and videos that may contain nudity, gore or violence in supported communication features.
Times and limits
Family → your child → Time Allowances or Screen Time Schedule
Set time budgets for app categories and create routines for school days, evenings and weekends.
Content and privacy
Family → your child → Content & Privacy Restrictions
Choose age ratings and manage restrictions for Apple content, Siri, Game Center and privacy settings.
Apps and websites
Set the first practical protections
Downloads and purchases
- Open Apps & Websites.
- Tap Restrictions, then Ask to Buy.
- Turn on Require Purchase Approval.
- Use App Store to allow or block installing apps and App Clips.
Website filtering
- Open Apps & Websites.
- Tap Restrictions, then Filtering under Websites.
- Choose Limit Adult Websites or Approved Websites Only.
- Review the Allowed and Blocked lists regularly.
Communication
Manage contacts and turn on Communication Safety
Allowed Contacts
- Choose who your child can contact during Screen Time.
- Turn on Manage Contacts to approve contacts.
- Keep Allow Contact Editing off if you want new contacts to need approval.
Communication Safety
- Return to your child’s main controls.
- Tap Communication Safety.
- Turn the feature on and talk with your child about why it is there.
Apple says Communication Safety can help protect a child from viewing or sharing photos or videos with detected nudity, gore or violence in supported communication features. It is a safety layer—not a replacement for regular conversations.
Time and content
Add realistic limits—not blanket bans
- Use Time Allowances to set daily budgets for categories such as games, entertainment and social media.
- Use Screen Time Schedule to create different routines for school days and weekends.
- Use Content & Privacy Restrictions for age ratings, Siri, Game Center and privacy changes.
- Review the settings with your child as their age, needs and responsibilities change.
Does your screen look different?
Use the route that matches your phone
Another iOS version or mixed family devices
Apple says you can continue using the previous Screen Time layout, or adjust the controls directly on your child’s device.
Look for your child’s name, or open Screen Time on their iPhone. Labels and the order of options may differ.
Still cannot find the setting?
- In Settings, use search and type Screen Time.
- Check the iOS version under Settings → General → About.
- Use Apple’s guide selector to choose the version shown on the phone.
Controls reduce risk; they do not remove it
Keep talking about unwanted contact, pressure to share images, scams, bullying and what to do when something feels wrong. Tell your child they can come to you without losing their phone automatically. If you believe a child is being harmed, groomed, threatened or exploited, record safe evidence references and use the safeguarding routes rather than investigating it yourself. Do not copy or forward sexual imagery of under-18s.
Official guidance used for this page
Checked 19 September 2026. Apple can change menu names and availability by software version, child age, country or region. Use the linked Apple page if your screen differs.