How to Set Up iPhone Parental Controls Like a Pro

How To Set Up iPhone Parental Controls Like A Pro

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How to Set Up iPhone Parental Controls Like a Pro (2025 Guide)

Today’s kids use their iPhones for school, YouTube, gaming, and messaging. Smartphones can be useful, but they also carry concerns, such as the potential for screen addiction, exposure to improper content, or online predators.

The good news? Apple provides parents with effective options to control what their children can and cannot do on their iPhones. This guide will teach you how to set up iPhone parental controls like an expert, regardless of whether your child is using a new or old model. No technical knowledge is needed.

Let’s begin.

Step 1: Set Up Screen Time (Apple’s Built-in Parental Control Tool)

Your primary control center for your child’s iPhone is called Screen Time.

How to activate it:

  1. On your child’s iPhone, open Settings.
  2. Press the “Screen Time” button.
  3. Select “Turn On Screen Time.”
  4. Select This iPhone belongs to my child.

You can now:

  1. Establish daily limitations for games or apps like TikTok and YouTube.
  2. Content that is not age-appropriate should be blocked.
  3. Plan downtime, such as not using your phone after 9:00 p.m.
  4. Monitoring your child’s phone usage is important.

Expert advice: Remember to set up a Screen Time passcode that only you are aware of. Kids are prevented from altering the settings because of this.

Step 2: Set Downtime and App Limits

These resources assist in controlling screen use at bedtime, supper, and school.

Decide on a downtime:

  1. Navigate to Settings > Downtime > Screen Time.
  2. Decide on a start and finish time, such as 9 PM to 7 AM.
  3. Only apps you authorize (such as calls or alarms) will function during this period.

Establish App Limits:

  1. Navigate to Settings > App Limits > Screen Time.
  2. Select categories (such as Social or Games) after tapping Add Limit.
  3. Decide on a daily time limit (e.g., one hour for gaming).

Pro tip: You can assign varying time limitations to different days, such as weekends.

Step 3: Block Inappropriate Content

You can filter movies, music, websites, and more with Apple.

  1. Navigate to Settings > Screen Time > material & Privacy Restrictions to filter material.
  2. Activate the privacy and content restrictions.
  3. To change by category, tap Content Restrictions:
  • Web Content: Only permit certain websites or block pornographic websites.
  • Select age-based ratings (such as PG or G) for films and television series.
  • Podcasts and music: Avoid offensive material.

Pro tip: For optimal security, set your child’s Safari browser to “Allowed Websites Only.

Step 4: Restrict App Store and Purchases

Nobody likes unexpected fees from dangerous apps or in-app purchases.

  1. Navigate to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions to restrict or prevent downloads.
  2. Click on App Store & iTunes Purchases.
  3. Assemble:
  • Don’t allow (or allow, depending on age) the installation of apps.
  • App deletion: Don’t permit it.
  • Prohibit in-app purchases.

4. For purchases, set “Always Require” for the password.

Pro tip: Use Ask to Buy (see Step 6) to evaluate all apps before downloading them.

Step 5: Control Location Sharing and Privacy

Screen time is crucial, but so are privacy settings.

  1. Navigate to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions to modify privacy settings.
  2. To control settings like: Tap Privacy
  • Location-Based Services
  • Contacts, Pictures, Camera, and Microphone

4. Apps can’t access private information unless you give them permission to do so.

Expert advice: If you don’t want your child’s current location to be shared with friends, disable Share My Location.

Step 6: Use Family Sharing and “Ask to Buy”

Managing devices from your own iPhone is made simpler with Family Sharing.

  1. To configure it, navigate to Settings > Tap your name > Family Sharing on your iPhone.
  2. Add the Apple ID of your child.
  3. To have your child ask for permission before downloading apps or making purchases, turn on Ask to Buy.

From your own phone, you can accept or reject the request after receiving a notification.

Step 7: Review Settings Regularly

Children grow up quickly. For a 14-year-old, what works for a 10-year-old might not work. Every few months or if your child gets a new app or moves up a grade level, make it a practice to check the settings.

Extra Safety Tips

  • Discussing the purpose of these rules with your child helps to foster trust.
  • If your youngster browses a lot, use kid-safe browsers like SPIN or Kiddle.
  • If you want additional features like notifications or content checking, install parental control apps like Bark or Qustodio.

Final Thoughts

Although iPhones are useful tools, they can also introduce children to things they aren’t yet ready for. Fortunately, parents don’t have to be computer geniuses to protect their kids and set appropriate limits thanks to Apple’s parental settings.

You can set up your child’s iPhone like an expert and feel secure knowing they’re using it sensibly and safely by following the above instructions.

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