How to Set Up Parental Controls on iPhone in iOS 26

Giving your child their first iPhone is a major milestone. It’s a gateway to learning and connecting with friends, but it also opens the door to the unfiltered internet, potential over-use, and unexpected in-app purchases. The good news is that Apple provides a powerful and free suite of tools to help you manage it all.

This guide will provide a clear, step-by-step walkthrough of how to fully secure your child's device using the built-in "Screen Time" features in iOS 26. We will cover everything from basic setup to advanced content filtering, putting you firmly in control.

Part 1. Before You Begin: The 2 Foundational Steps for Remote Control

To manage your child's iPhone from your own device, two preliminary steps are essential. Skipping these will mean you have to physically hold your child's phone every time you want to make a change.

Step 1 Update to the Latest iOS

Parental control features are constantly evolving. To ensure all settings work seamlessly and you have the latest security protections, both your device and your child's device should be running the most current version of iOS.

You can check for an update by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update.

Step 2 Set Up Family Sharing

Family Sharing is the feature that links your family's Apple devices together.It is crucial because it allows you to remotely manage your child's Screen Time settings directly from your own iPhone. If you haven’t set this up, you are missing out on the most convenient aspect of Apple’s parental controls.

To create a family group, go to Settings, tap on your name at the top, and select Family Sharing. Follow the prompts to add your child’s Apple ID to the group.

Part 2. A Step-by-Step Guide to Enabling iPhone Parental Controls

Once Family Sharing is active, you can begin configuring the specific rules for your child’s device.

Step 3 Activate Screen Time

First, you need to turn on the main feature. You can follow the instructions below to make it.

1. On your child’s iPhone (or through Family Sharing on your own device), open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and select the Screen Time feature.
3. Tap Turn On App & Website Activity option to turn the feature on.
4. The setup will ask if the iPhone is for you or your child; select This is My Child's iPhone.

During setup, you will be prompted to create a four-digit Screen Time Passcode. This is the most important step for enforcement. This passcode should be something only you know, not a code your child could easily guess, like their birthday or your phone's unlock code. This passcode is required to change any of the settings you establish or to grant more screen time.

Step 4 Schedule Downtime

The Downtime feature on the iPhone is part of Apple's Screen Time settings, designed to help users manage their screen time and promote healthier digital habits. When the Downtime feature is enabled, only certain apps and phone calls that you allow will be accessible.

You can set up the Downtime feature by going to Settings > Screen Time and toggle on the Downtime feature. Then, set a start and end time for Downtime, during which only allowed apps and phone calls will be available.

Step 5 Set App Limits

One of the biggest challenges for parents is managing the time spent on games and social media. App Limits allow you to set a total daily time allowance for entire categories of apps (e.g., one hour for "Games", 45 minutes for "Social"). You can also set a limit for a specific, troublesome app, such as TikTok or YouTube. To set it, just go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits > Add Limit.

Once the time limit is reached, the app icons will dim, and they cannot be opened unless you enter the Screen Time Passcode to grant an extension.

Step 6 Manage Communication Limits

This powerful setting lets you control who your child can communicate with via Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and iCloud Contacts. Simply open the Settings app, tap Screen Time > Communication Limits. You can set different rules for "During Screen Time" and "During Downtime". For younger children, you can restrict communication to contacts only, preventing messages or calls from unknown numbers.

Step 7 Configure Content & Privacy Restrictions

Content & Privacy Restrictions allow you to control access to apps, content, and privacy settings. This is where you lock down the most sensitive areas of the iPhone. Go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle it on. You can turn on features here including iTunes & App Store Purchases, Allowed Apps, Content Restrictions, and Privacy Settings.

Here’s a breakdown of the most critical settings to configure. These features help ensure child safety, protect privacy, and prevent unauthorized purchases, creating a safer digital environment while using an iOS device.

• Prevent Purchases: Go to iTunes & App Store Purchases. Here, you can set Installing Apps, Deleting Apps, and In-app Purchases all to Don't Allow. This single change can prevent hundreds of dollars in accidental charges.



• Filter Web Content: Under Content Restrictions > Web Content, you can select Limit Adult Websites. For the highest level of safety, you can choose Allowed Websites Only and create a custom list of approved sites your child can visit.



• Restrict by Age Rating: In the Content Restrictions menu, you can set specific age ratings (e.g., PG, 12+) for movies, TV shows, and apps. You can also block music and podcasts that have explicit content.



• Manage Game Center: If your child is a gamer, you can go into the Game Center settings to restrict multiplayer games, prevent them from adding friends, and disable screen recording.



• Lock Privacy Settings: In the Privacy section, you can prevent your child from making changes to crucial settings. It is highly recommended to set Location Services to Don't Allow Changes to prevent them from turning off location tracking.

Part 3. Beyond the Settings: Fostering Digital Trust

Technology is only part of the solution. These parental controls are most effective when they are used as a tool to support ongoing conversations, not as a substitute for them. Frame these settings for your child as a way to help them stay safe and build healthy habits, not as a form of punishment.

Use the weekly Screen Time report as a conversation starter. Talk about which apps they enjoy and why they might be spending more time on certain ones. An open dialogue builds a foundation of trust that is far more durable than any technical restriction. This partnership is key to raising a responsible digital citizen.

Part 4. How to Turn Off Parental Controls If Passcode Forgotten

Wanna to turn off the Screen Time feature but forgot the passcode? No worries. You can try a professional Screen Time removal tool like TunesKit iPhone Unlocker.

TunesKit iPhone Unlocker is an easy-to-use yet powerful Screen Time passcode removal. When you encounter problems like forgot parental controls passcode, forgot Screen Time passcode, etc., it can help you solve the problems in several simple clicks. Besides, This multifunctional iOS unlocking tool also enables you to remove screen lock, Apple ID, and MDM restrictions. What's more, the program interface is user-friendly and intuitive, allowing you to unlock iOS devices without taking assistance from others.

Now, let's see how to turn off parental controls on iPhone if you forgot the correct passcode via TunesKit iPhone Unlocker.

Step 1 Download and install TunesKit iPhone Unlocker on your computer. Connect your iPhone to the computer and launch the program. When it's connected, select the Unlock Screen Time Passcode feature and tap Start.

Step 2 Then, TunesKit will start to remove the parental controls and Screen Time feature on your iPhone. Before unlocking, please ensure that the Find My feature is disabled. If not, you can turn it off from Settings.

Step 3 After it's removed, you will need to set up your iPhone to finish the process. Please select Set Up Later and Don't Transfer Apps & Data while setting up your device. All your iPhone data will be safe.

Part 5. FAQs Related to iPhone Parental Controls

Part 6. Conclusion

Setting up these controls may seem like a lot of steps, but it’s a one-time investment that provides lasting peace of mind. By thoughtfully configuring Downtime, App Limits, and Content Restrictions, you create a digital environment where your child can explore, learn, and connect safely. If you can't remember the correct Screen Time passcode, you can download and try using TunesKit iPhone Unlocker. This powerful iOS unlocking tool can meet all your needs in unlocking iOS devices.