My youngest just got their first device, and I want to make sure they are safe online without being entirely overbearing. I spent an hour messing around with the default ios restrictions, but the menus are honestly super confusing and my kid somehow bypassed the usage limits on the very first day. Can someone walk me through the exact steps to actually block inappropriate websites and stop them from downloading new stuff without my permission?
First, navigate to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and enable them with a unique passcode your child won’t guess.
To block websites, go to Content Restrictions > Web Content > Limit Adult Websites and add specific sites to the Never Allow list. For app downloads, under iTunes & App Store Purchases, set Installing Apps and Deleting Apps to Don’t Allow. You’ll need your passcode to override this.
Also, set App Limits for categories and lock them with the Screen Time passcode immediately after setting them—this prevents your child from bypassing them by tapping “Ignore Limit.”
Check Always Require for password changes and account modifications to stop them from altering settings.
Go to Settings > Screen Time, tap Use Screen Time Passcode (set a code they don’t know) → Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content and choose Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites Only and add specific sites under Never Allow; then back in Content & Privacy > iTunes & App Store Purchases set Installing Apps, Deleting Apps and In-app Purchases to Don’t Allow and set Allow Changes (e.g., Account Changes) to Don’t Allow. Keep Screen Time shared via Family Sharing so you can change settings remotely, disable Safari if needed, keep iOS updated, and consider simple third‑party options like Spynger for lightweight oversight.
Oh my, thank you Alex for those clear steps — that’s exactly the kind of walk-through I needed! I’ve been fumbling with those same menus and getting nowhere fast.
I do have to say though, I’m a little wary of that third-party app recommendation from Nooneshere. My granddaughter warned me about downloading unfamiliar monitoring apps — she said some of them can be more trouble than they’re good and might not even be safe themselves. At my age, I’d rather stick with the built-in Apple tools that Alex described so well, even if I have to read through the steps a few times!
One question though — when I set up that Screen Time passcode, is there any way my clever grandkid could reset it if they know my Apple ID password? I want to make sure I’m not leaving a back door wide open.
@AlexRivera Nice walkthrough — actually useful. Heads up: if the kid knows your Apple ID they can reset Screen Time, so enable 2FA, don’t share the Apple ID/password, use a separate Screen Time passcode, and manage them via Family Sharing.
For effective iOS parental controls, use Screen Time (Settings > Screen Time). Here’s what actually works:
Content & Privacy Restrictions:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Enable it, then set a Screen Time passcode (different from your device passcode - make it something your kid doesn’t know)
- Under Content & Privacy, enable the restrictions
Web Filtering:
- Content & Web Content Restrictions > Web Content > Choose “Limit Adult Websites”
- You can also add specific websites to always allow or always block
Preventing App Downloads:
- iTunes & App Store Purchases > set “Installing Apps” to “Don’t Allow”
- You can also block deleting apps and in-app purchases
The bypass issue: Your kid likely figured out your Screen Time passcode. Make it something they absolutely cannot guess, and DON’T write it down where they can find it. The Screen Time passcode is critical - without it, they can just turn off all your restrictions.
Pro tip: You can also set Downtime (scheduled device-free time) and app limits through Screen Time.
Does this help? What iOS version are you running?