Quick advice
Use these 3 settings to quickly set your child’s iOS device up for safety.
Enable Screen Time
Enable Screen Time for access to a range of parental controls that go beyond just screen time.
Restrict content
Turn on Content and Privacy Restrictions. Then, you can customise restrictions.
Manage spending
Avoid accidental overspending by setting restrictions on iTunes and App Store purchases.
How to set up iPhones and iPads for safety
You will need access to your child’s device along with their Apple account.
Setting up parental controls on your child’s smartphone is a great way to support their online safety. However, parental controls can’t work alone.
Regular conversations, check-ins and consistent boundaries are all also vital to keeping your child safe. See how you can keep your child safe.
How to enable Screen Time
How to enable Screen Time
Use Screen Time to set content privacy restrictions and manage in-app purchases
To set up Screen Time:
Step 1 – Go to Settings and tap Screen Time.
Step 2 – Tap Continue, then choose This is My [Device] or This is My Child’s [Device].
If it’s a shared device and you’d like to ensure settings are not changed, then tap Use Screen Time Passcode.
Then re-enter the passcode to confirm.
If it’s a child’s device, you can follow prompts until you get to Parent Passcode and enter a passcode. Re-enter to confirm.
Restrict content
Restrict content
Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. If asked, enter your passcode, then you can turn on Content & Privacy.
Once you have set up your code, you can manage in-app purchases, access to apps and automatically filter website content to limit access to adult content in Safari and apps on your device.
Where to manage in-app purchases
Where to manage in-app purchases
Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases. Choose a setting and set it to Don’t Allow.
Please note you can also change your password settings for additional purchases from the iTunes & App Store or Book Store. Follow steps 1-3, then choose Always Require or Don’t Require.
Guided Access
Guided Access
Guided Access allows you to lock your iPhone or iPad when in an app. This may be useful for children as they won’t be able to come out of that particular app and will stop them from accessing other apps and settings.
To enable Guided Access:
Step 1 – Go to your Settings, tap Accessibility, then scroll down and tap Guided Access.
Step 2 – Tap the Guided Access toggle so it turns green.
Step 3 – Start the Guided Access, tap the side (power) button three times. When enabled, the buttons and touchscreen will be disabled.
In this section, you can also set a passcode, time limit and enable auto-lock features.
To turn it off, tap the side button three times.
Step 4 – You can change the options which will appear in the bottom left of your screen which will allow the configure the settings for the app you or your child is on.
Tip: Alternatively, you can easily turn on Guided Access by giving the command to Siri which Siri will automatically do for you.
How to prevent web content
How to prevent web content
iOS can automatically filter website content to limit access to adult content in Safari and apps on your device. You can also add specific websites to an approved or blocked list, or you can limit access to only approved websites. Follow these steps:
Step 1 – Go to Settings, then Screen time. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and enter your Screen Time passcode.
Step 2 – Access the Family settings menu under Online safety & family. Select Manage family members.
Step 3 – Tap Content Restrictions, then tap Web Content.
Choose Unrestricted Access, Limit Adult Websites, or Allowed Websites Only.
Restrict Siri web search
Restrict Siri web search
Step 1 – Go to Settings, then Screen time. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Step 2 – If asked, enter your Screen Time passcode. Then, tap Content Restrictions. Scroll down to Siri, then choose your settings.
You can restrict these Siri features:
- Web Search Content: Prevent Siri from searching the web when you ask a question
- Explicit Language: Prevent Siri from displaying explicit language
How to restrict game centre
How to restrict game centre
Step 1 – Go to Settings, then Screen Time. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Step 2 – Enter your Screen Time passcode. Then, tap Content Restrictions. Scroll down to Game Centre, then choose your settings.
You can restrict these Game Centre features:
- Screen Recording: Prevent the ability to capture the screen and sound
- Multiplayer Games: Prevent the ability to play multiplayer games
- Adding Friends: Prevent the ability to add friends to Game Center
Turn off tracking
Turn off tracking
If you have the iOS 14.5 update or above, the App Tracking Transparency feature lets you decide if you want apps to track your activity for advertising purposes. This may not be suitable for children as it may encourage in-app spending.
To disable:
Go to Settings, then Privacy. Tap Tracking. The toggle button should be grey – this means the feature is disabled. Green means enabled.
Important: If you allow apps to ask to track you, you’ll start to see prompts when you launch updated apps requesting permission to track your activity. If you don’t allow apps to ask you for permission, all apps will automatically be blocked from tracking your activity.
Allow changes to privacy settings
Allow changes to privacy settings
The privacy settings on your device give you control over which apps have access to information stored on your device or the hardware features
Go to Settings, then Screen Time. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and, if asked, enter your Screen Time passcode. Tap Privacy, then choose the settings you want to restrict
Allow changes to other settings and features
Allow changes to other settings and features
You can allow changes to other settings and features, the same way you can allow changes to privacy settings.
Go to Settings, then Screen Time. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and, if asked, enter your Screen Time passcode. Under Always Allowed, select the features or settings you want to allow changes to and choose Allow or Don’t Allow.
How to turn on Focus Mode
How to turn on Focus Mode
Step 1 – Go to Settings > Focus.
Step 2 – Tap a provided Focus option – such as Do Not Disturb, Personal, Sleep or Work – then tap Customise Focus.
Step 3 – Set up your Focus. You can select allowed or silenced notifications from people and apps, connect your Lock Screen or Home Screen, have this Focus turn on automatically, and add Focus filters.
How to set up iPhones and iPads for safety
- How to enable Screen Time
- Restrict content
- Where to manage in-app purchases
- Guided Access
- How to prevent web content
- Restrict Siri web search
- How to restrict game centre
- Turn off tracking
- Allow changes to privacy settings
- Allow changes to other settings and features
- How to turn on Focus Mode
- More resources
View more guides
Discover more parental controls to manage children’s devices, apps and platforms for safer online experiences.