Technical Guide

Parental Controls for iPhone: Guide for Kids

iPhone has excellent built-in parental controls. But is it enough? Here’s how to set them up and when you need something more.

Aggiornato: May 2025 • Lettura: 10 min

Screen Time: Apple’s Built-In Parental Control

Apple offers Screen Time built into every iPhone running iOS 12 or later. It’s free, requires no external apps and provides a solid level of basic protection.

Setting Up Screen Time: Step by Step

Step 1: Enable Screen Time

  1. Go to Settings > Screen Time
  2. Tap Turn On Screen Time
  3. Select “This is My Child’s iPhone”
  4. Set a 4-digit Screen Time passcode (different from the unlock code!)

Step 2: Configure Downtime

Downtime blocks all apps except essentials (phone, messages) during specific time windows. We recommend:

  • Weekdays: downtime from 8 pm to 7 am
  • Weekends: downtime from 9 pm to 8 am

Step 3: Set App Limits

Set daily limits by category:

  • Social: 30–60 minutes/day
  • Games: 45–90 minutes/day
  • Entertainment (YouTube, streaming): 30–60 minutes/day

Step 4: Content & Privacy Restrictions

  1. Go to Content & Privacy Restrictions
  2. Enable restrictions with your passcode
  3. iTunes & App Store Purchases: require password always
  4. Allowed Apps: disable Safari if needed (use a filtered browser)
  5. Web Content: select “Limit Adult Websites”
  6. Installing Apps: set to Don’t Allow (so you approve all downloads)

Step 5: Set Up Family Sharing

Family Sharing lets you manage children’s accounts centrally:

  1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing
  2. Add your child’s account (or create a child account)
  3. Enable Ask to Buy to approve every download
  4. Share location for safety tracking

Screen Time not enough?

Nami Kids adds education and gentle transition. Coming soon to iOS.

Start free trial →

What Screen Time Does NOT Do

  • No gradual transition: the stop is abrupt, causing conflicts
  • No educational content: it blocks and nothing more
  • No cyberbullying alerts: it doesn’t analyse notifications
  • Limited web filter: it doesn’t categorise content in a granular way
  • Easy to bypass: tech-savvy children often find ways around Screen Time

Parental Control Apps for iPhone

  • Qustodio: cross-platform, advanced web filters, GPS. From €54.95/year
  • Norton Family: robust web filter, search monitoring. From €29.99/year
  • Bark: social media monitoring and content alerts. ~€14/month
  • Nami Kids: protection + education with Narrative Pauses. €5.99/month. Currently Android only, iOS coming soon

Related Reading

FAQ: iPhone Parental Controls

Does iPhone have built-in parental controls?
Yes. Apple offers Screen Time built into iOS, with app time limits, content restrictions, web filtering and usage reports. It’s free and requires no external apps, but lacks any educational component.
How do I set up Screen Time on my child’s iPhone?
Go to Settings > Screen Time > Turn On Screen Time. Select “This is My Child’s iPhone.” Set a Screen Time passcode (different from the unlock code). From here you can configure Downtime, App Limits and Content Restrictions.
Is Screen Time enough or do I need an extra app?
Screen Time covers the basics: time limits, content filtering and purchase approval. For advanced features like notification monitoring, cyberbullying alerts or an educational approach, you’ll need an external app such as Qustodio (cross-platform) or Nami Kids (Android, iOS coming soon).

Protect your child’s iPhone

Start with Screen Time, then assess if you need more. Nami Kids is coming soon to iOS.

Start free trial

2 weeks free • €5.99/month after