Use Screen Time to manage your child's iPhone or iPad
Screen Time makes it easy to see how your child uses their iPhone and iPad. And with the parental controls built directly into iPhone, iPad, and Mac, you can manage the apps and content your child can access, who they communicate with, when they use their devices, and more.
In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27, Screen Time introduces new parental controls to help parents manage what kids access, when they use devices, and how they stay safe while communicating with others. To access these updated parental controls, make sure every device in your Family Sharing group is using these software versions. The Family Sharing organizer or a parent/guardian also needs to update the parental controls for the family group.
If you can't update every device in your Family Sharing group, you can continue to use the previous version of Screen Time and parental controls, or adjust the parental controls directly on the child's device.
Before you get started
To use Screen Time and parental controls, make sure you have Family Sharing set up and that each family member has their own Apple Account. If you have children in your family group, they need a Child Account.* Depending on how your devices are currently set up, you may be starting from one of these scenarios.
If you already have Family Sharing set up
If you already have Family Sharing set up and your child's Apple Account is part of your Family Sharing group, you can set up and manage your child's Screen Time and parental controls from your own iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Just make sure to update all devices in your Family Sharing group to the latest software version to ensure that your Screen Time settings sync across all the devices in your group. Then update your parental controls to access the new Screen Time and parental controls.
If you don't have Family Sharing set up
Create a Child Account for your child, if they don't have one already. It's important that your child has their own Apple Account, and isn't sharing an account with anyone else, like another family member. Then make sure to invite the rest of your family members to the Family Sharing group.
Update all devices in your Family Sharing group to the latest software version to ensure that your Screen Time settings sync across all the devices in your Family Sharing group. Then update your parental controls to access the new Screen Time and parental controls.
Set up Screen Time for your child on your iPhone or iPad
When you have Family Sharing set up, and the Child Account is connected to the family group, you're ready to set up Screen Time and parental controls for their device. It's recommended that you manage a child's Screen Time and parental controls from the family organizer or parent/guardian's device. If you use Family Sharing to manage your child’s Apple Account, the family organizer or parent/guardian must set the child’s Screen Time passcode on their own device, not the child’s device.
Open the Settings app.
Tap Family, then tap your child's name.
Tap Screen Time, then follow the onscreen instructions to set up parental controls for your child.
Learn how to set parental controls for your child's iPhone or iPad
What you can manage with Screen Time and parental controls
In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27, Screen Time introduces new parental controls to help parents manage what kids access, when they use devices, and how they stay safe while communicating with others. To access these updated parental controls, make sure every device in your Family Sharing group is using these software versions. The Family Sharing organizer or another parent or guardian also needs to update the parental controls for the family group in order to access the new Screen Time experience.
If you can't update every device in your Family Sharing group, you can continue to use the previous version of Screen Time and parental controls.
Apps & Websites
You can allow or block access to specific apps and websites, and adjust app and website protections, including Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse. With Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse, your child sends you a request for approval when they want to make an eligible purchase or download, or visit a new website in Safari or another supported browser app.
When your child is ready to browse more freely, you can update the settings for Ask to Browse. Ask to Browse is on by default for children under 13 and Limit Adult Websites is on by default for children under 18.*
Learn how to manage the apps and websites your child can access
Allowed Contacts and Always Allowed
You can choose who your child communicates with in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone by deciding who's included in their contacts list, and requiring permission before they connect with anyone new. For example, if your child receives a message from someone new, they can't see the message until you or another parent/guardian in the Family Sharing group approves.
Learn how to manage who your child can communicate with
Time Allowances and Screen Time Schedules
With Time Allowances, you can set boundaries for how long your child can use apps across app categories, such as entertainment, games, and social media. You can set a daily time budget that spans all categories, then fine-tune it by adjusting the time allotted to any individual category.
With Screen Time Schedules, you can choose which apps your child can access at different times of the day, like before school, during school, and after school. You can even set up separate routines for weekdays and weekends, or create your own based on what works best for your family. You also quickly pause device use, allow unlimited use, or change the schedule for the day, right within the Screen Time settings.
Learn how to set Time Allowances and Screen Time Schedules
Content & Privacy Restrictions
Manage content, apps, and settings for your child's device, including setting specific age-ratings for content in the Music app, Apple TV app, Books app, and more. You can also manage when your child can make changes to settings like Share My Location, Bluetooth Sharing, Driving Focus, and more.
Learn more about the parental controls within Content & Privacy Restrictions
Communication Safety
Help protect your child from sharing or receiving photos and videos that are detected to contain nudity, gore or violence. Communication Safety also works on live FaceTime calls, and provides on-device guidance and age-appropriate resources to help your child make safe choices. Apple doesn't get access to the photos or videos.
Learn more about Communication Safety
*Age varies by state, country, or region. Where legally required, an Apple Account created for a child under 18 needs to be part of a Family Sharing group. Certain settings are automatically turned on for accounts under 18. In some places, settings like Screen Time, Ask to Buy, and content restrictions for apps can't be turned off. Learn how settings and features for kids vary by state, country, or region.