iPhone (iOS) · Privacy & Security
Set parental limits on content, purchases, and privacy changes
Content & Privacy Restrictions, part of Screen Time, lets a parent or guardian block specific apps, websites, content ratings, and purchase types, and lock down further changes to privacy settings.
How to open Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle it on.
- Set or enter the Screen Time passcode.
- Configure iTunes & App Store Purchases, Allowed Apps, and Content Restrictions.
- Open the Privacy section to lock specific settings from being changed.
What you should know
- Found in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Covers iTunes & App Store Purchases, Allowed Apps, and Content Restrictions by rating.
- A separate Privacy section can lock changes to Location Services, contacts, and other permissions.
- Protected by a separate Screen Time passcode, distinct from the device passcode.
Why it matters
This setting gives parents a single place to define what a child's iPhone can and can't do, from blocking explicit content and adult websites to preventing in-app purchases that could otherwise result in surprise charges. Beyond content, its Privacy section can also prevent a child from quietly disabling Location Sharing or other safety-relevant settings that a parent depends on. Because it's enforced at the system level rather than through a removable third-party app, it's harder for a tech-savvy child to bypass than many alternatives.
Best practices
- Set the Screen Time passcode to something different from the device passcode so it isn't easily guessed.
- Review content ratings periodically as a child gets older rather than setting them once and forgetting them.
- Lock the Privacy section for settings like Location Services if location sharing is important for safety.
Common problems and fixes
- Forgot the Screen Time passcode.
- Reset it using Apple ID account recovery through Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode > Forgot Passcode.
- A needed app is blocked unexpectedly.
- Check Allowed Apps and the age rating threshold in Content Restrictions, and adjust as needed.
Tips and tricks
- Use Communication Limits alongside Content & Privacy Restrictions for a fuller parental controls setup.
Frequently asked questions
Can this be managed remotely by a parent?
Yes, if set up through Family Sharing, a parent can manage a child's Screen Time and restrictions from their own device.
Does this block web content in every browser?
Content restrictions apply system-wide to Safari and apps that use Apple's web view, limiting exposure across most browsing.
Related settings
- Sensitive Content WarningSensitive Content Warning automatically detects and blurs nudity in photos and videos received in Messages, AirDrop, contact posters, and FaceTime messages before they're shown, on-device and without Apple seeing the content.
- Privacy & PermissionsThe Privacy & Security hub lets you review and control exactly which apps can access your Camera, Microphone, Location Services, Contacts, Photos, and more.
More Privacy & Security guides for iPhone (iOS)
- Face ID & PasscodeFace ID (or Touch ID) and Passcode settings control how you unlock your iPhone, authorize purchases, and protect sensitive data with biometric or code-based security.
- Location ServicesLocation Services is the master switch and per-app control center for GPS-based location sharing on iPhone, letting you decide exactly which apps can see your precise or general location, and when.
- Find MyFind My helps you locate a lost or stolen iPhone on a map, remotely play a sound, mark it as lost, or erase it, and it can also share your location with family members or locate AirTags and other Apple accessories.
- Emergency SOSEmergency SOS lets you quickly call for help by pressing the side button rapidly or holding it with a volume button, automatically alerting emergency services and, if configured, notifying your chosen emergency contacts with your location.
- App Tracking TransparencyApp Tracking Transparency requires apps to ask permission before tracking activity across other companies' apps and websites for advertising or data-sharing purposes.
- Safety CheckSafety Check lets users see and instantly stop sharing location, passwords, and app access with specific people, useful in situations like leaving a relationship where trust has broken down.