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Apple’s built-in family controls let you filter websites, manage who a child can contact, and warn them when supported features detect sensitive images or videos. Set them up through the child’s account in Family Sharing, then check each setting on the device the child actually uses: available controls, defaults, and age rules vary by software version and region.
Start with the child’s Family Sharing account
A parent or guardian who is the Family Sharing organizer or a parent/guardian in the group can manage a child’s settings from their own iPhone or iPad. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Family > [child’s name]. On Mac, open System Settings > Family > [child’s name]. Apple’s family safety guide describes its full feature set for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27, as applicable; update family devices to the relevant version for the complete set of features and settings sync. Controls and age rules can differ by device and region. See Apple’s guide to keeping children safe with Family Sharing.
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Some family-managed Communication Safety instructions require the child to be in the Family Sharing group and signed in with a Child Account. If either condition is not met, the described controls may not apply.
Choose a website restriction level
On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Family > [child’s name] > Apps & Websites > Restrictions. On Mac, open System Settings > Family > [child’s name] and use the corresponding Apps & Websites controls. Apple documents three website choices:
#1 Best Overall
| Setting | What it does | Parent workload |
|---|---|---|
| Approved Websites Only | Limits browsing to sites the parent approves. A child needs approval before visiting a new site in Safari; parents can add useful sites, such as a school website, in advance. | Highest: review and approve new sites. Approved sites remain available unless a parent blocks them later. |
| Limit Adult Websites | Applies a broader adult-website filter while allowing general browsing. | Less ongoing approval than approved-only browsing, but it is not the same as limiting the child to a parent-approved list. |
| Unrestricted | Removes this website restriction. | Lowest setup workload; it does not filter websites through this setting. |
Apple says Approved Websites Only / Ask to Browse is on by default for children under 13, while Limit Adult Websites is on by default for children under 18. These defaults and age treatments may vary by country or region, so inspect the child’s actual settings rather than relying on the default. See Apple’s Screen Time and content restriction instructions and its website restriction guidance.
The Apps & Websites controls can also block or allow particular apps and websites. Other restrictions in this area cover installing or deleting apps, purchases, App Clips, selected Game Center features, and age-rated books, music, movies, and TV shows. Use those controls when the concern is access to apps or media beyond web browsing.
Manage who the child can contact
Apple’s contact-management flow covers supported Phone, Messages, and FaceTime communication. A parent can select allowed contacts and require approval before the child communicates with someone new. During setup, you can also choose whether every person in a group conversation needs approval or whether one approved contact in the thread is enough. Contact management is on by default for Child Accounts up to age 13 and can be enabled for older children; regional age requirements can differ.
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- On the parent’s iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Family > [child’s name] > Allowed Contacts.
- Turn on Manage Contacts, then choose the contacts the child is allowed to communicate with.
- Leave Allow Contact Editing off if the child should request approval before adding someone.
Menu labels can differ by operating-system version. Apple’s current instructions are in its Family Sharing setup guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Turn on Communication Safety for sensitive media warnings
On the parent’s iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Family > [child’s name] > Communication Safety and turn on the feature. Apple says the child must use a Child Account in the parent’s Family Sharing group for this family-managed setup.
Communication Safety uses on-device machine learning to assess whether supported photos or videos appear to contain sensitive content, including nudity and, in some supported features, gore or violence. When it detects such content, the media is blurred and the child sees a warning and options that can include contacting a trusted adult, leaving the conversation, blocking the contact, or viewing safety resources. This is a warning and support feature, not a guarantee that all inappropriate content will be blocked.
Apple says: “Because the photos and videos are analyzed on your child’s device, Apple doesn’t receive an indication that sensitive content was detected and doesn’t get access to the photos or videos.” Read About Communication Safety on your child’s Apple device for the feature’s current details.
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Apple lists Messages, AirDrop, Contact Posters, shared albums, some third-party sharing flows, and FaceTime-related content on supported platforms. Support depends on the particular app, device, and software version. Apple lists Messages support beginning with iOS and iPadOS 15.2, watchOS 9, macOS Monterey 12.1, and visionOS 2; other supported apps require newer versions. Gore and violence detection is limited to FaceTime video messages, not live calls, and is not available on Apple Vision Pro. Check Apple’s live device and feature requirements for the child’s device.
On supported software beginning with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and visionOS 2, Apple says children under 13 need a parent or guardian to enter the Screen Time passcode before viewing detected sensitive content. The applicable age cutoff can differ by state, country, or region.
Quick Recap
Check the controls that matter for your family
- For the tightest web control, use Approved Websites Only and plan to approve useful new sites. For broader filtering with less approval work, choose Limit Adult Websites.
- If controlling contact is the priority, review Allowed Contacts and whether the child can edit that list.
- Use Communication Safety as an additional warning layer, not as a replacement for website restrictions or contact approvals.
- Check settings on the child’s account after software updates or changes to the family group; labels, defaults, and available features depend on age, region, device, and OS version.
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