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Parental controls for iPhone, better known as the Restrictions settings, are a set of features that allow you to set certain limits to the amount of access your child has on an iPhone. It can block various apps like the App Store, Safari, Siri, iTunes and even in-app purchases. It can also limit the content available by age rating as well as blocking the ability to change the settings of the phone and other apps.
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In our guide on how to set up parental controls for iPhone, we will focus on setting restrictions for general iOS software and settings availability, for specific entertainment apps and content as well as privacy settings, accounts, and cellular data.
1. How to Restrict iOS Apps
The parental controls for iPhone have a huge variety of restrictions options which can turn the phone into a safe platform for kids to learn and play on. We will first showcase how to enable the restrictions settings on an iPhone and how you can block iOS apps. These include Safari, iTunes, iBooks, AirDrop, CarPlay, Siri, Camera and even the option to install and delete apps. In general, restrictions require a different password than the one you use to unlock the phone.
Follow the next steps to learn how to enable restrictions on an iPhone:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select the General tab.
- Tap on Restrictions.
- Select Enable Restrictions.
- Enter your 4-digit password.
- Under Allow, the first section includes iOS apps only, which you can switch off if you don’t want them to be accessed without your permission.
If you follow the previous steps, you can easily set up iOS app access according to your preferences and child’s age and behavior. You won’t have to worry that your child might spend a lot of money through in-game purchases. Any changes can easily be reversed if you want to by pressing the switch again for the specific app.
2. How to Block Explicit Content
One way to make sure that your child won’t be exposed to inappropriate content is to completely block an app that contains it. However, most apps might contain this type of content and blocking them all will just lower the utility and fun of smartphones. Parental controls for iPhone allow you to block the specific content of apps thanks to the age rating. You can even block explicit content in music with the Parental Advisory level.
If you prefer this type of restrictions, then follow the next steps:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select the General tab.
- Tap on Restrictions.
- Select Enable Restrictions.
- Type in your 4-digit password.
- Tap on each category of content: Music, Podcasts & News, Movies, TV Shows, Books, Apps, Siri, Websites.
- Select the highest age rating you want for your children.
With the last step completed, all the ratings above it will become red and the iPhone will automatically block content rated as such. These options allow for more flexibility for your parental control.
3. How to Restrict Privacy Settings
Apple devices allow users to control the access of apps to their private information. This feature includes blocking the access to your locations, contacts, photos, microphone, calendar, various social media accounts. Furthermore, parental controls for iPhone can prevent your child from changing those privacy settings.
Follow the next steps to learn how to protect your privacy settings from being changed:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select the General tab.
- Tap on Restrictions.
- Select Enable Restrictions.
- Enter your 4-digit password.
- Select the Privacy tab.
- Tap on the type of private information you want to restrict.
4. How to Restrict Accounts and Cellular Data
Parental controls for iPhone have a wide variety of features and options. However, among all, probably the most important are the control over accounts and data usage. These settings will prevent any unwanted changes to your e-mail, social media, and all other types of accounts. Furthermore, it also restricts your cellular data from being used accidentally by your child and it also prevents charging if it surpasses your data limit.
Follow the next steps to protect your accounts and data:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select the General tab.
- Tap on Restrictions.
- Select Enable Restrictions.
- Enter your 4-digit password.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the Allow tab
- Choose Don’t Allow Changes for the following categories: Accounts, Cellular Data Usage.
Conclusion
This concludes our guide on how parental controls for iPhone can help users set appropriate restrictions for when their children use their phones. We have showcased how to limit access to both iOS apps and third-party app content through the age rating as well as block any in-app purchases. Protecting your privacy settings, accounts and cellular data from being changed by kids were also focus points in our guide.
What type of parental controls for iPhone do you use?