iPhone & iPad

iPhone & iPad Screen Time for Kids (iOS 27 / iPadOS 27): Step-by-Step

✅ Last verified: Oct 14, 2026 — Apple Support article 105121 (published Sept 14, 2026) for iOS 27 / iPadOS 27, checked Oct 14, 2026.
Quick answer: In iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 you manage everything from your own device: Settings → Family → your child's name. To get the new controls, every device in your Family Sharing group must be on the 27 releases and the organizer/parent must update the family's parental controls.

📣 Communication controls (start here)

Who can talk to your child is the most important setting. Controls stack in layers: console/device → platform account → in-game. Set every layer, because one layer doesn't always control another. Communication Safety Hub →

iPhone / iPad: system-level communication

  1. Settings → Family → child → Allowed Contacts: choose who they can call, message and FaceTime, and require approval for new contacts.
  2. Settings → Family → child → Communication Safety On.

Covers Messages, FaceTime and Phone only, not chat inside games or other apps. Communication Safety blurs detected nudity, gore or violence. Under 13s need the Screen Time passcode to view it. Apple doesn't see the images.

[1] [2]

In this guide
  1. Before you start
  2. Approve app downloads and purchases (Ask to Buy)
  3. Filter websites
  4. Set daily time limits (Time Allowances)
  5. Set when they can use the device (Schedules)
  6. Choose who they can talk to
  7. Age ratings for apps, movies and more
  8. Settings by age
  9. Troubleshooting
  10. Official sources

Before you start

  1. Set up Family Sharing.
  2. Create a Child Account for your child if they don't have one, and make sure it's in your Family Sharing group. Don't share one Apple Account between family members.
  3. Update all devices in the family to iOS 27 / iPadOS 27 (and macOS, watchOS, visionOS 27 where used), then update your parental controls to the new Screen Time experience.
  4. Make sure you (or another parent/guardian) are in your child's contacts so their requests can reach you.

💡 Can't update every device? Apple says you can keep using the previous Screen Time, or adjust controls directly on the child's device.

Source: support.apple.com

Approve app downloads and purchases (Ask to Buy)

  1. Open Settings, tap Family, then tap your child's name.
  2. Tap Apps & Websites (enter your Screen Time passcode if asked).
  3. Tap Restrictions.
  4. Tap Ask to Buy, then turn on Require Purchase Approval.

💡 Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse are on by default for children under 13. In some regions Ask to Buy is on by default and can't be turned off under 18.

Source: support.apple.com

Filter websites

  1. Settings → Family → your child's name → Apps & Websites.
  2. Tap Restrictions, then Filtering under Websites.
  3. Choose Limit Adult Websites, or Approved Websites Only to use Ask to Browse.

Source: support.apple.com

Set daily time limits (Time Allowances)

  1. Settings → Family → your child's name.
  2. Tap Time Allowances, tap the Add button, then follow the onscreen instructions.

💡 Time Allowances let you set a daily budget across categories like entertainment, games and social media, then fine-tune each category.

Source: support.apple.com

Set when they can use the device (Schedules)

  1. Settings → Family → your child's name.
  2. Tap Screen Time Schedule, then turn on Schedule.
  3. Scroll down and tap Add Schedule.
  4. Select the days the schedule applies to.

Source: support.apple.com

Choose who they can talk to

  1. Settings → Family → your child's name → Allowed Contacts.
  2. Tap During Screen Time and choose Contacts Only, Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact, or Everyone.
  3. To approve contacts: turn on Manage Contacts. Leave Allow Contact Editing off if you want them to request new contacts.
  4. Turn on Communication Safety (Settings → Family → child → Communication Safety).

Source: support.apple.com

Age ratings for apps, movies and more

  1. Settings → Family → your child's name → Content & Privacy Restrictions (enter passcode if asked).
  2. Select a content type and choose Don't Allow, Unrated, Allow All, or a specific age rating.
  3. For Game Center: Apps & Websites → Restrictions → Game Center section → choose Allowed or Blocked for items like Private Messaging.

Source: support.apple.com

Settings by age

SettingUnder 1313–17
Ask to Buy / Ask to BrowseOn by defaultYou choose (on by default in some regions)
Limit Adult WebsitesOn by defaultOn by default
Our suggested start*Time Allowance for games & social; school-night schedule; Contacts Only; Communication Safety onSchedule for bedtime; Limit Adult Websites; review together monthly

*Defaults come from Apple. The last row is KidSafeSetup's editorial suggestion, not Apple guidance. Defaults vary by state, country and region.

Troubleshooting

I don't see the new controls under Settings → Family

Apple requires every device in your Family Sharing group to be on the 27 releases and the parental controls to be updated. Otherwise you'll see the previous Screen Time.

Older guides say Settings → Screen Time

That's the previous layout. Some regional Apple pages still show it. On iOS 27 with updated controls, Apple's US page uses Settings → Family.

My child's requests never reach me

Make sure a parent/guardian is in the child's contacts list.

I can't turn off Ask to Buy

In some places it's required for under-18 accounts and can't be turned off.

⚠️ Couldn't fully confirm: We could not confirm current iOS 27 steps for resetting a forgotten Screen Time passcode. Use Apple's official passcode help page linked from Apple Support.

Official sources

Menus change with app and system updates. If a step doesn't match what you see, the official page above is the authority — and please tell us so we can update this guide.

📬 Monthly "what changed" email for parents: coming soon. Game and app settings move constantly; we'll summarize changes once a month. Parents only, no kids' data, ever. Meanwhile, follow updates via RSS.