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To change age limits or parental controls, use Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions on an iPhone or iPad. On Android, use Play Store > profile icon > Settings > Family > Content restrictions for a device without Family Link supervision, or Family Link > select child > Controls > Google Play for a supervised child account. Age filters, app blocking, purchase approvals, and privacy permissions are separate controls, so review each one that matters to your family.
How do I change the age limit on apps?
On iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
- If you manage the child through Family Sharing, select the child’s name, then open Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Find the content-rating controls under App Store, Media, Web & Games or a similarly named section. Choose the permitted app age rating and adjust any other relevant media limits.
Apple’s Screen Time guide describes these restrictions as a way to limit access to apps based on age ratings. Menu names can differ by software version. If an app exceeds a restriction, supported software and family configurations may let the child request an exception. See Apple’s Screen Time guide and its parental-control guidance.
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On an Android device without Family Link supervision
- Open the Play Store, tap the profile icon, then go to Settings > Family > Content restrictions.
- Set a PIN if prompted, choose the content category, and select the highest maturity level you want to allow.
These restrictions apply to the device where you set them, so configure them separately on other devices. Google notes that filtered apps may still appear in search results or through direct links, and previously downloaded apps may remain visible or usable. See Google Play’s content restriction instructions.
For a child supervised with Family Link
- Open Family Link and select the child.
- Go to Controls > Google Play.
- Choose the content category—apps and games, movies, TV, or books—and set the highest maturity level allowed. For apps and games, use the maturity-level filter.
Family Link’s available controls depend on the child’s account, region, and device. If a setting is missing, check Google’s current Family Link guidance.
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How do I stop my child downloading or using an app?
An age filter is not the same as blocking a specific app. For a supervised child account, use Family Link to manage which apps the child can download or use. Google’s content filter may not remove an app from search or prevent access through a direct link; previously downloaded apps may also remain accessible. Blocking the app is the more direct control when a particular app should no longer be available.
On Apple devices, review installation and purchase controls within Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, along with the age-rating restriction. On supported software and family configurations, a child may be able to request an exception to a restriction. The exact options depend on the device and family setup.
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How do I check what data an app can access?
On iPhone or iPad
In Screen Time’s Content & Privacy Restrictions, review privacy controls for access to information stored on the device and hardware features. Apple gives Photos and Location Services as examples. These restrictions control access; they are distinct from the age rating and from an app’s privacy disclosures on its App Store product page. Review both when deciding whether an app is suitable.
On Android with Family Link
Review app permissions separately from Play content filters. Family Link supports changing permissions for supervised children’s apps on supported devices. Parents can also manage certain supervised Google Account settings, including settings for services such as Search or Location History; the controls vary by account and service. See Google’s Family Link settings guidance.
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- Filter content—choose appropriate (or block inappropriate) sites and apps
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- Unlimited profiles, each customizable by age and maturity
Age sharing is a separate choice
Where available, a parent can choose whether a child’s age range is shared with apps that request it: in Family Link, select the child and go to Google Play > Age sharing. Google says this feature is not available in every region. It is not a substitute for reviewing app permissions. See Google’s announcement about age signals.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do I approve app purchases?
On Apple devices, review the Screen Time purchase and installation controls, including whether in-app purchases are allowed, and check purchase authentication settings where relevant. The available settings depend on the device and family configuration; start at Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
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- Set screen time limits — Let Safe Vision be the one to say “That’s enough TV for now”
- Lock and unlock individual videos or entire channels — Allow your kids to access only the channels and videos you trust
For Google Play, use the family purchase-approval settings associated with the child’s supervised account. Approval applies only to purchases made through Google Play’s billing system; it does not guarantee approval for transactions billed outside Google Play. Play restrictions govern store downloads and purchases, while blocking an already available app is a separate action. See Google Play’s purchase approval guidance.
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Which settings should I review on each platform?
| Control | Apple | |
|---|---|---|
| Main settings route | Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions | Play Store settings for a device without Family Link supervision; Family Link for a supervised child account |
| Age controls | Screen Time app and content rating restrictions | Highest maturity level by content type |
| App access | Installation and purchase limits, rating restrictions, and exception requests on supported configurations | Content filters plus app blocking for supervised accounts |
| Privacy | Screen Time restrictions for device data and features; App Store privacy disclosures | App permissions and some supervised-account settings; age sharing where available |
| Important boundary | Menu names and exception behavior depend on software and family configuration | Filters may not hide search or direct-link results; purchase approval is limited to Google Play billing |
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