Block or allow access to apps and websites on your child’s device
Apps and Websites settings enable you to manually allow or block access to specific apps and websites in Safari, and adjust which app and website protections are turned on for your child. Ask to Buy requires your child to send a request before downloading a new app, and Ask to Browse does the same before visiting a new website in Safari. You can also allow websites ahead of time. Access to detected adult websites is limited. Any apps and websites you approve or block appear in the Allowed and Blocked list, right alongside anything you add manually.
Block or allow specific apps and websites on Safari
You can allow or block specific apps and websites on Safari on your child’s device, and with Ask to Browse, you can have them request to access anything new. Blocked apps are hidden until you allow them again. You can approve or decline a new app or website directly from your own device.
Note: Ask to Browse is on by default for children with a Child Account under 13. (Ages may vary by country or region.)
Open your child’s settings:
On iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app, tap Family, then tap your child’s name.
On Mac: Go to System Settings, click Family, then click your child’s name.
Tap or click Apps & Websites.
Do any of the following:
Block or allow an app or website: Tap or click the Add button, then enter the name of the app or website to allow or block it.
View allowed or blocked apps and websites: Tap or click the Allowed or Blocked tab.
Find a specific app or website: Enter a website or app name into the search field.
For more information on Ask to Browse, see the Apple Support article, Use Ask to Browse to approve the websites your child can access.
Require approval for new app purchases and downloads with Ask to Buy
With Ask to Buy, you receive a notification whenever your child tries to buy or download an eligible purchase or download, for example from the App Store, iTunes Store, or Apple Books. You can approve or decline a purchase or download from your own device.
Note: Ask to Buy is available in the App Store (including in-app purchases) and Apple apps such as Books. In the United States, it’s turned on by default for children under 13 (and in some scenarios for teens under 18) with a Child Account. Ages and age restrictions may vary by country or region.
Open your child’s settings:
On iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app, tap Family, then tap your child’s name.
On Mac: Go to System Settings, click Family, then click your child’s name.
Tap or click Ask to Buy, then turn Ask to Buy on or off.
For more information on Ask to Buy, see the Apple Support article, Approve what kids buy and download with Ask to Buy.
Set restrictions for apps and Game Center features
You can limit apps by their age rating and control what your child can do with apps, like installing or deleting them, making purchases, using App Clips, or playing in Game Center.
Note: Age Rating filters for apps are available only on iPhone and iPad. On Mac, apps can’t always be limited through Age Rating settings, but you can block or allow specific apps and websites on Safari.
Open your child’s settings:
On iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app, tap Family, then tap your child’s name.
On Mac: Go to System Settings, click Family, then click your child’s name.
Tap or click Apps & Websites, tap or click Restrictions, then allow, block, or set restrictions for any of the settings shown.
Filter your child’s access to websites
You can filter your child’s access to websites to allow unrestricted access, access to all websites except detected adult websites (Limit Adult Websites), or only allow the websites you approve (Approved Websites Only).
Note: Approved Websites Only is on by default for children with a Child Account under 13. Limit Adult Websites is turned on by default for children with a Child Account under 18. (Ages may vary by country or region.)
Open your child’s settings:
On iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app, tap Family, then tap your child’s name.
On Mac: Go to System Settings, click Family, then click your child’s name.
Tap or click Apps & Websites, tap or click Restrictions, then tap or click Filtering under Websites.
Do any of the following:
Only allow access to websites that you’ve approved: Tap or click Approved Websites Only.
Automatically limit access to detected adult websites: Tap or click Limit Adult Websites.
Allow unrestricted access to websites: Tap or click Unrestricted.
By default, your child can visit wellness and safety websites, and the links they include, to get help in certain situations—for example, if they receive a photo or video that might contain nudity. You can block access to them in Safari at any time:
What’s next?
After you decide what apps and websites your child can access on their device, you can manage when they can access it. See Set up Screen Time Schedules and Time Allowances on your kid’s device.
When your child sends you a new request with Ask to Buy or Ask to Browse, you can review it and decide to approve or block it. See Approve your child’s purchases, downloads, and Screen Time requests.