How to Set Up Parental Controls on Apple iPad

Kids today have access information on their iPhones and iPads, which can be a scary proposition for parents. Thankfully, Apple’s Parental Controls feature lets you apply restrictions on the kind of information your child can access on the iPad. If you want to ensure that your child is protected from unsavoury content and access unfit for the kids’ age, you’ll need to apply some Parental Controls on the iPad.

Using the Parental Controls feature you can restrict access to specific apps and websites, iTunes purchases, set up apps downtime, and do much more. We will show you how to set up Parental Controls on iPad for your kids.

Set Up Screen Time Passcode

To set content and privacy restrictions on your kid’s iPad, you need to use the built-in Screen Time functionality Apple introduced with iOS 13.4 update. To ensure that your kids cannot disable your restrictions, your will first need to set up a Screen Time passcode.

Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPad.

Step 2: Scroll down to find Screen Time and tap on it. Now, tap on the ‘Turn On Screen Time’ option.

Step 3: Apple will show you a splash screen showing the features of Screen Time. Tap on the Continue button to continue with the setup.

Step 4: Now, tap on the ‘This is My Child’s iPad’ option under the blue button.

Step 5: You will be asked to configure features like Downtime. We will do this later. Next, tap on the Not Now option under the button until you reach the ‘Content & Privacy’ screen.

Step 6: Tap on the Continue button.

Step 7: The iPadOS will ask you to create a Screen Time Passcode. This ensures that your child cannot access the Screen Time settings and disable it.

Step 8: Re-enter your passcode to continue.

Step 9: The iPadOS will ask you to enter a recovery Apple ID, which you can use to reset the Screen Time passcode if you forget it. Enter your Apple ID and tap on the OK button at the top-right.

Step 10: Enter your Apple ID password and tap on OK to confirm.

Enable Content & Privacy Restrictions

You need to enable the ‘ Content & Privacy Restrictions ‘ setting before you can restrict access to apps, websites, and purchases on your child’s iPad.

Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPad.

Step 2: Scroll down to find Screen Time and tap to select it. Now, tap on the ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ option.

Step 3: Enable the toggle next to the ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ option.

Restrict iTunes and App Store Purchases

Restrict how purchases are made and require your approval so the kid doesn’t go on random app or content purchase spree to give you a bill shock.

Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPad.

Step 2: Scroll down to find Screen Time and tap to select it. Now, tap on the ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ option.

Step 3: Tap on the ‘iTunes & App Store Purchases’ option.

Step 4: To restrict your child’s ability to make purchases using the Apple account, tap on the ‘In-app Purchases’ option.

Step 5: Tap on Don’t Allow and use the back arrow button at the top.

Step 6: Similarly, you can prevent installing or deleting apps. For that, tap on the ‘Installing Apps’ option.

Step 7: Tap to select Don’t Allow and use the back arrow button at the top.

Step 8: Finally, select the Always Require option below the Require Password setting.

Restrict Access to Built-in Apps

You can also restrict access to apps like Safari and Camera if you don’t want the kid to goof around with specific built-in apps. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPad.

Step 2: Scroll down to find Screen Time and tap to select it. Tap on the ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ option.

Step 3: Tap on the Allow Apps option.

Step 4: Disable the toggle next to the apps you don’t want your child to use.

Restrict Explicit Content

One of the best things about the Parental Controls feature is that it allows you to restrict your child’s access to explicit content. Here’s how you can set it up.

Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPad.

Step 2: Scroll down to find Screen Time and tap to select it. Now, tap on the ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ option.

Step 3: Tap on Content Restrictions.

Step 4: On this page, you can set what kind of content is accessible to the kids. You can choose options like Movies, TV shows, Apps, and Web Content.

Step 5: To restrict access to certain movies, tap on Movies.

Step 6: You can disable access to movies altogether or set movie rating depending on your child’s age. Select the appropriate option and then click on the back arrow button on the top.

Step 7: Tap on TV Shows to restrict access to TV shows that have strong language and require a mature supervision.

Step 8: You will get the same options as movies. Tap to select the appropriate option and then click on the back arrow button on the top.

Step 9: To restrict access to specific apps, tap on Apps.

Step 10: Tap to select the age limit for apps and then click on the back arrow button on the top.

Step 11: To restrict access to certain websites, tap on Web Content.

Step 12: You can choose to restrict Adult Websites or only allow access to approved websites.

Step 13: Tap on the ‘Allowed Website Only’ options to allow access to only specific websites. Next, tap on Add Website to add the websites you want to allow.

Step 14: You can see how the Add Website section look. Add the title and the Website URL. Repeat the process to add as many websites as you want.

Set Up Downtime

Screen Time also allows you to set up Downtime for a device. If you don’t want your child to use the iPad all the time, you can set up Downtime so they can use the iPad only in the allowed time.

Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPad.

Step 2: Scroll down to find Screen Time and tap to select it. Then, tap on Downtime.

Step 3: Tap on the toggle next to Scheduled to Enable it.

Step 4: Tap on the From time field and set the time when the Downtime will start.

Step 5: Similarly, tap on the To time field and select the time you want Downtime to end.

Set Up Parental Controls on iPad to Make It Kid Friendly

That is how you can set up Parental Controls on the iPad to make everything on it kid-friendly. We know that setting up Parental Controls can take a long time, but you only have to do it once. After that, you can rest assured that your kid won’t have access to any mature or objectionable content, even accidentally.