Your iPhone is your digital life and its security should be your top priority. Every safeguard you add is a layer of protection against the unpredictable.
Apple offers various content and privacy controls you can use on your phone (or your child’s device) to block websites, hide apps and limit screen time.
How to Block Websites
To manage the web content you or your child can access, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app
- Scroll down & tap on Screen Time
- Tap on Content and Privacy Restrictions
- Turn on the restrictions by toggling the switch to the right
- Tap on Content Restrictions
- Find the Web Content section
- Choose from Unrestricted, Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites
If you select Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites you can block specific websites by adding their URLs to the list.
How to Control App Access and Privacy on iOS
To set restrictions on different parts of a device, go to the Content Restrictions section in the Content and Privacy Restrictions settings. Here, you can control access, privacy and ratings for:
- Music
- Podcasts
- TV shows
- Apps
- Movies
- News
- Siri searches
- Game Center
For more control over built-in apps and features go to the Allowed Apps section in the Content and Privacy Restrictions settings. You can hide apps from the home screen by toggling the button next to the ones you want to hide. The apps will stay on the device but won’t be visible on the home screen.
How to Prevent Accidental App Store Purchases
To stop your child from accidentally installing or deleting apps or making in-app purchases, follow these steps:
- Open Settings
- Tap on Screen Time
- Go to Content and Privacy Restrictions
- Select iTunes and App Store Purchases
- Choose the settings you prefer
How to Set a Passcode
To protect your restrictions and settings with a passcode, follow these steps:
- Open Settings
- Go to Screen Time
- Tap on Use Screen Time Passcode
- Enter the passcode you want to use
- Enter your Apple ID username and password
- Tap OK at the bottom right corner
Choose a passcode that is different from the one you use to unlock your device. If you forget your passcode you can reset it using your Apple ID and password.
The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability. – Henry Ford
