How to set up parental controls on iPhone

Worried about what your kids might stumble upon while using their iPhone®? You're not alone. In today's digital world, keeping our children safe online is as important as teaching them to look both ways before crossing the street. But don't worry—setting up parental controls on an iPhone is easier than you might think. 

Apple offers a robust set of parental controls through its Screen Time feature, allowing you to monitor and manage your child’s activities with ease. Whether you’re setting screen time limits, restricting purchases, or blocking inappropriate content, these controls can help you create a safer digital experience for your family. 

Asurion Experts help our millions of customers protect, repair and get the most out of their technology—including setting up features to make life easier. In this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up Screen Time on an iPhone so you’ll have peace of mind knowing your child’s phone is as safe as can be. 

How to set up Screen Time

Apple’s Screen Time feature is the core of its parental control system. Before getting started, make sure to update the iOS on your iPhone to the latest version. That way, you can access all the parental control tools currently available. 

Then, make sure Screen Time is enabled. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Screen Time.
3. Tap App & Website Activity, then Turn on App & Website Activity.

Our instructions assume your family’s devices are already set up under a Family Sharing account. If not, check out and follow our guide to Apple Family Sharing and how to use it.

Once Screen Time is enabled, you can start customizing it for each member of your Family:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Screen Time. 
3. Select your child’s name under the Family header.

To lock updated controls on an individual device, open Settings > Screen Time > Lock Screen Time Settings. At the prompt, enter a new passcode.

How to use Screen Time

Screen Time is your one-stop shop for setting up and managing parental controls on an iPhone. Once enabled, it provides insights into how your child spends their time on the device and allows you to set limits accordingly. Screen Time also lets you monitor reports showing app usage and time spent online, giving you the tools to create a healthy balance for your child’s tech use.

Enable Downtime to control usage

Downtime prevents access to apps you select during a set timeframe. Your child can still send and receive calls during Downtime periods. 

1. Tap Downtime then toggle Scheduled. 
2. Select Every Day or Customize Days.
3. Choose a time.

A reminder appears five minutes before Downtime begins so your child can wrap up their iPhone activities.

Configure App Limits for specific apps

Do you want to curb your child's time spent on specific apps? App Limits allows you to do exactly that. You can prevent app usage based on category (like Social or Entertainment) or by the app's name. 

1. Tap App Limits, then Add Limit.
2. Choose an app category. Alternatively, use the right-facing arrows to view apps in each category and select the ones you wish to limit. 
3. Tap Next in the upper right corner, then set a daily time limit for the app.

Time limits reset every day at midnight. 

Restrict inappropriate content

Apple lets you block adult content and customize what your child can view online.

To restrict certain websites:

1. In Screen Time, go to Content & Privacy Restrictions > App Store, Media, Web, & Games.
2. Tap Web Content, then select Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites Only to block specific sites.

To filter explicit content:

1. In Screen Time, go to Content & Privacy Restrictions > App Store, Media, Web, & Games > Music, Podcasts, News, Fitness.
2. Set to Clean.
3. Go down the list and do the same for Movies, TV shows, and apps to restrict age-inappropriate media.

Limit app purchases and downloads

Avoid unexpected charges by controlling access to the App Store:

1. Open Settings > Screen Time.
2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
3. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases then choose a setting:
   1. Tap Installing Apps > Don't Allow to restrict new app downloads.
   2. Tap In-app Purchases > Don't Allow to prevent your child from purchasing when in an app.

Monitor your child's online activity

iPhone provides usage analytics for yourself or your connected family members. To access reports, tap Screen Time within the Settings app. Tap See All App & Website Activity to view details for the week or day. To see your child’s usage, scroll down and tap their name.

The analytics show usage by category. You'll also see a list of most-used apps and the time spent on them. Those details may be helpful as you decide on any time, app, or content restrictions for your child.

And there you have it, you've just child-proofed an iPhone. With these settings in place, you can rest easy knowing your little one is exploring the digital world safely.

Regularly review settings and usage 

Remember, technology is always evolving, and so are kids (they grow up so fast, don't they?). It's a good idea to revisit these settings regularly to make sure they're still appropriate for your child's age and maturity level.

If you need to adjust your child's settings, you can always do so through Screen Time. Select their name under the Family category to edit their apps and web content access. 

How to turn off parental controls on iPhone

You can use Screen Time in the Settings app to turn off parental control apps. Navigate to your child's name under the Family header and turn off any restrictions on their phone.