Securing an iPad for Kid-Friendly Use – Relevant Settings for Screen Time and iOS control
Screen Time allows you to monitor and set limits on app usage, either specifically or via category, ensuring children only access what you deem appropriate.
How you get into these settings depends on how you are going to manage the device.
If using family sharing –
On the family organiser’s iPad/iPhone (Not set up yet? click here)
Tap Settings
Tap your profile name
Scroll to Family Sharing
Scroll to “Shared With Your Family”
Tap Screen Time
Choose the Child to set settings for.
Continue below
If doing setting locally on device –
On the iPad or iPhone to set up
Go to Settings > Screen Time.
Continue below
Unsure which? Click here
Settings overview:
Downtime: set when the device can’t be used EXCEPT for allowed apps
App limits: how long an app, category of app, or all apps can be used for on a given day
Communication Limits: Who they can communicate with in normal hours and separately, in downtime hours
Communication Safety EXCLUSIVE TO FAMILY SHARING: Prevents children from accessing or sharing photos or videos that contain nudity. (PIN PROTECTS THEM and provides guidance)
Always Allowed: Choose which apps are allowed to be used during Downtime (defaults to Phone, Messages, Facetime and Maps – all but phone can be removed)
Content & Privacy Restrictions: Deeper control over what is allowed or not
Here’s how to set it up:
Now you can set the settings as you deem appropriate:
Downtime:
Be sure you are in the correct settings page for family sharing or local settings (details at the top of this page)
Tap ‘Downtime’ to schedule time when only approved apps are accessible.
Use ‘Always Allowed’ to select apps you want to be accessible at all times, even during Downtime.
Go to ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ to block certain apps or prevent downloading new ones.
Recommended – Schedule Downtime from 8 PM to 7 AM to prevent device use during sleep hours.
App Limits:
Be sure you are in the correct settings page for family sharing or local settings (details at the top of this page)
Tap ‘App Limits’ to set time restrictions for specific apps or categories.
Tap ‘Add Limit’
Choose the specific app or category of app and tap next, or all apps.
Choose how long a day this app can be accessed for (app will be blocked when time limit is reached). You can choose different limits for different days.
Recommended – Set a daily limit of 1-2 hours for recreational apps (games, social media (if 13+, otherwise block completely)).
Allow only essential communication apps during Downtime if required – Further settings will configure WHO they can communicate with.
Communication Limits:
Be sure you are in the correct settings page for family sharing or local settings (details at the top of this page)
Tap ‘Communication Limits’.
Set limits for both ‘During Screen Time’ and ‘During Downtime’.
Choose between ‘Everyone’, ‘Contacts Only’, ‘Contacts & Groups’, or ‘Specific Contacts’.
Note: Emergency contacts will always be accessible.
The options:
Everyone: Your child can communicate with anyone, even numbers not saved in their contacts.
Contacts Only: Communication is limited to people in the device’s contact list.
Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact: This restricts group chats to only those that include at least one person from their contacts.
Specific Contacts: You can specify a select group of contacts (like family members) that your child is allowed to communicate with.
Communication Safety (only through Family Sharing):
Be sure you are in the correct settings page for family sharing or local settings (details at the top of this page)
Tap Communication Safety and turn on.
Ensure Check for Sensitive Photos is on
Always Allowed:
Be sure you are in the correct settings page for family sharing or local settings (details at the top of this page)
Tap ‘Always Allowed’
Add or remove Apps you want to ALWAYS be accessible, even during down time.
Content & Privacy Restrictions:
Be sure you are in the correct settings page for family sharing or local settings (details at the top of this page)
Prevent Installing New Apps:
Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions – and turn on
Tap ‘iTunes & App Store Purchases’.
Set ‘Installing Apps’ to ‘Don’t Allow’.
Block adult content and explicit material:
Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions – and turn on if not already on
Set the following settings:
Music, Podcasts, News & Workouts – Clean
Books – Clean
Web content – Limit Adult Websites
Explicit Language – Don’t Allow
Multiplayer Games:
Set whether to allow the use to play multiplayer games with friends, anyone or to block altogether
Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions – and turn on if not already on
Set Multiplayer Games – Allow with Friends Only
Private Messaging:
Prevent user from sending custom messages to other players and using voicechat in games.
Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions – and turn on if not already on
Private Messaging – Don’t Allow
