HOW TO ENABLE PARENTAL CONTROLS IN IOS 18 AND iPADOS 18?

Apple has thoughtfully designed parental controls in iOS and iPadOS to help parents manage and restrict content and behaviour on their children's devices.

- Sandesh Bhosle

Leveraging features like Screen Time and Content & Privacy Restrictions, you can ensure that your child uses their device responsibly while enjoying the perks of modern technology. Let's get into how you can make the most of these features to safeguard your child's digital experience.

Understanding Screen Time

Introduced in iOS 12, Screen Time is the heart of Apple's parental control system. It not only tracks the time spent on apps but also monitors notifications and helps you enforce limits on specific app categories, gaming, or social media. It's an essential tool for keeping tabs on your child's digital habits.

Parents can also use Screen Time to set boundaries on app downloads, purchases, and access to explicit content. Coupled with Family Sharing, these controls can be managed directly from your device, giving you peace of mind while your child enjoys their iPhone or iPad.

Enabling Content & Privacy Restrictions

Before enabling restrictions, ensure both your device and your child's device are updated to the latest iOS or iPadOS version. Here's how to activate these settings:

1. Open Settings.

2. Tap Screen Time.

3. Under Family, select your child's name.

4. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted.

5. Toggle on Content & Privacy Restrictions.

For families using Family Sharing, the process is identical. The family organiser can activate the feature through the Settings > Screen Time section on their device.