The short answer
Set up Family Sharing and add your child's Apple Account, then on your own iPhone go to Settings › Family › your child's name › Screen Time. From there you can set content limits, require approval for purchases with Ask to Buy, limit who they can contact, and set downtime. Lock it with a Screen Time passcode only you know.
Apple builds strong parental controls into every iPhone, and they’re free. The key pieces are Family Sharing, which links your child’s Apple Account to yours, and Screen Time, where you set the rules. Apple recommends managing them from your own device, so your child can’t simply change the settings.
Menu names change slightly between iOS versions. The steps below follow Apple’s current support guidance.
Before you start
- Set up Family Sharing and add your child’s Apple Account to your family group. Each family member needs their own Apple Account.
- Update your iPhone and your child’s iPhone to the latest iOS.
Step 1: Turn on Screen Time for your child
- On your iPhone, open Settings.
- Tap Family, then tap your child’s name.
- Tap Screen Time and follow the on-screen setup.
- Create a Screen Time passcode on your own device. Don’t use your iPhone passcode or anything your child could guess.
Step 2: Choose what to manage
During setup, or later from the same menu, you can manage:
- Content & Privacy Restrictions: age ratings for apps, movies, music and books, and explicit content.
- Web content: choose Limit Adult Websites, or Approved Websites Only for younger children.
- Communication limits: control who your child can call, message or FaceTime, during allowed time and downtime.
- Downtime: schedule time away from the screen, such as overnight.
- App limits: daily time limits for categories like games or social media.
- Ask to Buy: your child must request your approval before buying or downloading apps.
Depending on your country and your child’s age, Apple turns some protections on by default.
Step 3: Turn on Communication Safety
On recent iOS versions, Communication Safety can warn children when they receive or try to send images that may contain nudity, and offers ways to get help. Look for it in your child’s Screen Time settings.
Step 4: Check Location Sharing
With Family Sharing you can share locations through the Find My app. Decide together with your child what’s comfortable, and explain why.
Step 5: Talk about the rules
Controls work best when your child knows what they are and why they exist. Agree on:
- which apps are OK,
- what happens if someone online makes them uncomfortable,
- that they can always come to you without getting in trouble.
Review regularly
As your child grows, loosen or adjust the limits. Check the Screen Time report weekly to see which apps they use most, and use it as a conversation starter rather than a punishment tool.
Related guides
Does your child also use an Android device? See Android parental controls with Family Link. To cut down on unwanted calls on their phone, here’s how to block spam calls.
The bottom line
Family Sharing plus Screen Time gives you age filters, purchase approval, contact limits and downtime, all managed from your own iPhone with a passcode only you know. Set it up, explain it, and revisit it as your child grows. Using Android? See our Family Link guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I manage my child's iPhone from my own iPhone?
Yes. With Family Sharing set up, you can manage your child's Screen Time and parental controls from your own iPhone, iPad or Mac, which Apple recommends.
My teen already knows the Screen Time passcode. What now?
Change it from your own device. If you manage Screen Time through Family Sharing, the parent sets the passcode on their device, not the child's.
Do parental controls replace talking to my child?
No. They're a safety net. The most important protection is your child knowing they can come to you if something online worries them.
Why you can trust this guide
- Based on official sources. The steps here are checked against the 3 official sources listed below, such as the help pages of the companies involved.
- Checked and dated. Last checked on November 10, 2026. We update guides when software or advice changes.
- Independent. No company paid for or reviewed this guide. We don't sell products, and ads never influence our advice.
- Open to corrections. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll fix it. Read how we research.
Sources
- Apple Support — Use Screen Time to manage your child's iPhone or iPad
- Apple Support — Use parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad
- Apple Support — Set up Family Sharing
This guide is general information. Menus and features can change with software updates, and steps may differ on your device or version. Back up important data before making big changes. Read our disclaimer.
