With iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate, Apple is introducing a much more complete package of parental controls, with which you as a parent can determine very precisely what content your children see, who they communicate with and when they can use apps. The innovations build on Screen Time and child-friendly features that you already know, but make them clearer, smarter and, above all, better tailored to the age of your child.
Apple worked with medical experts to develop new child safety features so parents can make informed choices based on evidence-based guidelines. These include practical tools such as a child account, the ability to ask questions while browsing, flexible usage times, a revamped Screen Time environment and a range of tools for Apple Watch and developers, all aimed at creating a safe digital environment where children have the freedom to explore.
Children’s account as a foundation
The basis of all new parental features is the child account, which allows you to set age-related security measures at system level for iPhone, iPad and Mac. As a parent, you can, among other things, limit access to adult websites, only allow media that is suitable for a certain age and set rules for the App Store.
While setting up a new device for your child, an assistant will guide you step by step through the process of creating a child account, so that you don’t forget anything. Such an account is required for children under the age of 15 and child accounts remain available up to and including the age of 17, although the minimum age may differ per country or region.
Create a child account
To create an account for your child, you must first share the family settings on your Apple devices. You can read how to do this in our family sharing guide. Then it’s possible head of household create a child account by following the steps below.
- Open (system) Settings on your iPhone, iPad or Mac
- Navigate to ‘Family’
- Tap or click the plus button or “Add Member”
- Choose ‘Create account for children’
- Follow the steps on the screen
What content children see
With software updates 27, Apple has significantly expanded parental controls with new options. This is how you choose which apps your child can use on iPhone, iPad and Mac. You can start your child with a set of essential apps, an Apple-curated selection, or just the apps you explicitly approve, then gradually add more apps later. In this way, parental supervision grows along with the child’s development.
Request permission to visit websites
Ask to buy already existed to prevent children from independently downloading apps or making in-app purchases, because they always have to ask permission first. New is ‘Ask to browse’, which allows children to first require your approval for new websites in Safari, so that you maintain control over the urge to explore in the browser on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Who children communicate with
Apple lets you control who your child can communicate with through Messages, FaceTime, and Phone from the start, so you can build a secure group of contacts. You can then set each new contact to require permission first, blocking unexpected or unwanted contacts.
For third-party apps, Apple is introducing PermissionKit, which allows developers to request your approval before children add new contacts within an app. This means that contact management within apps is more in line with the restrictions you set system-wide for Messages, FaceTime and Phone.
Communications security
The Communication Safety feature already blurs nude images in Messages and FaceTime calls and is enabled by default for users under 18. With the update, Apple is expanding this and Communication Safety also intervenes in bloody or violent content in shared images or video, so that children are less likely to be confronted with shocking images.
For content in apps themselves, Apple also offers developers SensitiveContentAnalysis, so that apps can automatically detect sensitive content such as nudity or violence and protect it from children.
Screen time expanded with new features
Screen Time for Kids is Apple’s built-in feature that gives you instant insight into daily device usage while helping you set healthy digital boundaries. Through a clear dashboard you can see exactly which apps are used most and you can easily determine usage times per category, create daily schedules for school hours and immediately pause access or give extra time with one tap.
Usage times provide flexibility
Usage times give you more control over how much time children spend on apps in specific categories, such as Entertainment, Games and Social Media. When setting those limits, Apple shows scientifically based guidelines that are tailored to the age of your child, after which you can easily adjust them to what you find appropriate. Do you want to give your child more screen time during the weekend? Then you can easily set this up.
Daily schedules for app use
With daily schedules, you as a parent can easily determine which apps your children can use at different times of the day and during the week. For example, you ensure that only educational apps and basic functions are available during school hours, while communication and entertainment are only available later in the day. Do you want to give your child more screen time during the weekend? Then you can easily set this up.
On Apple Watch, the School Time mode is in line with this: it blocks notifications and disables apps so that your child remains better focused during lessons or homework, while you can keep an eye on the location via Find My. In combination with Apple Watch for your children, children without their own iPhone have more freedom, while you still remain in control via your own device.
Block device remotely
The Screen Time environment has been redesigned so that you as a parent can quickly see your children’s average device usage and most popular apps. You can customize access to your child’s device with one tap, without having to scroll through different menus.
This makes it easy to protect quality time: while eating, playing outside or other important moments, you limit access with a tap. If your child needs extra time to complete a task in an app, you can also easily extend that access from the same Screen Time screen.
Apple Watch for your children
Apple is highlighting Apple Watch for your kids as a way to keep kids reachable and see their location without them needing their own iPhone. Through family settings, kids can enjoy calling, messaging, Activity rings, and services like Maps, Apple Music, and Apple Cash, within the limits you set.
The School Time mode on the Apple Watch helps you with the agreements you make about usage times and daily schedules by blocking notifications and temporarily disabling apps. This allows the Apple Watch to complement parental controls in iOS, iPadOS and macOS. For more information, please visit the Apple support page.
Role for developers
Finally, Apple emphasizes the importance of parental controls and provides tools for developers to create kid-friendly experiences. SensitiveContentAnalysis helps apps recognize and block inappropriate content for children. PermissionKit allows parents to approve new contacts in apps. The Declared Age Range API allows apps to request a child’s age range and tailor the experience accordingly, without sharing the real date of birth, protecting children’s privacy.