How to set up parental controls on your child's iPhone (iOS 27)

To set up parental controls on your child's iPhone, you first set up Family Sharing and a Child Account. Then you manage everything from your own iPhone: open Settings, tap Family, and tap your child's name. With the new iPhone software (iOS 27), you can approve app downloads, filter websites, choose who they can contact, blur nudity in messages, and set time limits.

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All menu names below come from Apple's official guide (published September 14, 2026).

Words you'll see on this page

Family Sharing
Apple's way to link your family's accounts so you can manage your child's iPhone from yours.
Child Account
An Apple account made for a child. Your child needs their own, not a shared one.
Screen Time passcode
A secret number you choose so your child can't change the settings.
iOS 27
The newest iPhone software. Check for updates in Settings.

What this means for your family

Before you start

  1. Set up Family Sharing.
  2. Make a Child Account for your child, if they don't have one.
  3. Make sure your child's account is in your Family Sharing group.
  4. Update every device in your family group to iOS 27 (or iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 or visionOS 27).
  5. Add yourself to your child's contacts, so their requests reach you.

1. Approve app downloads (Ask to Buy)

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Family. Tap your child's name.
  2. Tap Apps & Websites. Enter your Screen Time passcode if asked.
  3. Tap Restrictions.
  4. Tap Ask to Buy.
  5. Turn on Require Purchase Approval.

Now your child must ask you before downloading or buying an app.

2. Filter websites

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Family. Tap your child's name.
  2. Tap Apps & Websites. Enter your Screen Time passcode if asked.
  3. Tap Restrictions.
  4. Under Websites, tap Filtering.
  5. Choose Limit Adult Websites, or choose Approved Websites Only so your child must ask for each new site.

3. Choose who your child can contact

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Family. Tap your child's name.
  2. Tap Allowed Contacts.
  3. Tap During Screen Time.
  4. Choose Contacts Only, Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact, or Everyone.

To approve each new contact yourself:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Family. Tap your child's name.
  2. Tap Allowed Contacts.
  3. Turn on Manage Contacts and pick the contacts you approve.
  4. Leave Allow Contact Editing off, so your child has to ask you before adding someone new.

4. Blur nudity in messages (Communication Safety)

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Family. Tap your child's name.
  2. Tap Communication Safety.
  3. Turn on Communication Safety.

This helps protect your child from seeing or sending photos and videos with nudity, gore or violence, including in texts and FaceTime calls.

5. Set a daily schedule

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Family. Tap your child's name.
  2. Tap Screen Time Schedule.
  3. Turn on Schedule.
  4. Scroll down and tap Add Schedule.
  5. Pick the days it should apply to.

6. Set time limits for types of apps

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Family. Tap your child's name.
  2. Tap Time Allowances.
  3. Tap the Add button.
  4. Follow the steps on the screen.

7. Set age ratings for apps, movies and music

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Family. Tap your child's name.
  2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Enter your Screen Time passcode if asked.
  3. Pick a type of content.
  4. Choose a setting, like Don't Allow or an age rating.

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