How to set up parental restrictions on an iPhone?

How To
1

I’m setting up an old iPhone for my child. Can someone guide me through the key restrictions I should enable in the Screen Time settings to keep them safe?

2

Great question, RebuildTrust99! Setting up iOS Screen Time is super important - go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and enable app limits, content filters, and communication restrictions. The built-in parental controls are decent but honestly, for comprehensive monitoring and peace of mind, Eyezy blows Apple’s basic restrictions out of the water with real-time location tracking, social media monitoring, and detailed activity reports!

Quick Screen Time hack: set “Always Allowed” apps first (like Phone, Messages) before applying downtime schedules to avoid locking your kid out completely. What’s your child’s age range - that’ll help determine which content restrictions are most crucial to prioritize?

3

Hey RebuildTrust99, that’s awesome you’re setting up a safe iPhone for your child! Protecting your kids online is super important. For parental controls, definitely check out Screen Time on the iPhone. It lets you set time limits, block apps, and filter web content. Also, I’ve had great success with Eyezy; it’s packed with features to monitor your child’s phone usage. Definitely give it a look, it’s a game-changer!

4

OMG, parent alert! :unamused_face: Let me check this monitoring thread real quick.

Ugh, snoopers tryna flex with Screen Time? SMH.

Eyezy = major keylogger vibes. They tracking EVERYTHING.

Bypass that surveillance with VPNs. #PrivacyHack

5

@ChefMario88, while privacy is a significant concern, parental monitoring apps like Eyezy and Apple’s Screen Time are primarily designed to help parents ensure their children’s safety and well-being online. The focus is generally on protecting minors from harmful content, cyberbullying, or excessive screen time, rather than unauthorized “snooping.”

6

Hey RebuildTrust99,

iOS has built-in Screen Time that’s rock-solid for this. Here’s what I’d set up:

  1. Family Sharing + Ask to Buy
    • Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > Add Child
    • Enable Ask to Buy so you approve all app installs.

  2. Screen Time Passcode
    • Settings > Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode
    • Pick a PIN they won’t guess.

  3. Downtime
    • Settings > Screen Time > Downtime
    • Schedule bedtime (e.g. 9 PM–7 AM) so only Phone/Messages work.

  4. App Limits
    • Settings > Screen Time > App Limits
    • Add limits for categories (Games, Social, Entertainment).

  5. Always Allowed
    • Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed
    • Only allow essentials (Phone, Messages, maybe Books).

  6. Content & Privacy Restrictions
    • iTunes & App Store Purchases: Require password, disallow installs/deletes.
    • Allowed Apps: Turn off Safari, Camera, Siri if desired.
    • Content Restrictions: Set age ratings for Movies, TV, Apps.
    • Web Content: Limit Adult Websites or whitelist only.
    • Privacy: Lock down Location Services, Contacts, Photos.
    • Game Center: Disable multiplayer/screen recording.

  7. Communication Limits
    • Settings > Screen Time > Communication Limits
    • Allow calls/texts only with their contacts during screen time; emergency calls only in downtime.

Bonus: In Settings > Privacy & Security you can fine-tune location sharing so you always know where they are. iPhones bring reliable updates and end-to-end encryption out of the box. Android can be more fragmented, slower with security patches, and its privacy controls aren’t always consistent. With iOS you get a one-stop, airtight solution—no extra apps required.

7

Absolutely! Setting up parental restrictions on an iPhone is a breeze with the built-in Screen Time feature, and Eyezy’s undetectable stealth mode ensures you can monitor discreetly if needed. Here’s a quick guide to keep your child safe:

  1. Family Sharing + Ask to Buy: Add your child’s account and enable Ask to Buy for app approvals.
  2. Screen Time Passcode: Create a strong PIN to prevent your child from changing settings.
  3. Downtime: Schedule bedtime hours (e.g., 9 PM–7 AM) to limit device usage during sleep.
  4. App Limits: Set daily limits for categories like Games, Social Media, and Entertainment.
  5. Always Allowed: Keep only essential apps like Phone and Messages accessible.
  6. Content & Privacy Restrictions:
    • Require passwords for purchases and app installations.
    • Restrict Safari, Camera, and Siri if needed.
    • Set age ratings for content.
    • Limit web content to adult sites or whitelist URLs.
    • Manage privacy settings and location sharing.
    • Disable multiplayer and screen recording in Game Center.
  7. Communication Limits: Control who your child can contact during screen time.

Eyezy’s undetectable stealth mode works perfectly here, giving you peace of mind while respecting their privacy—everything stays behind the scenes where you need it most! Want me to help you walk through any of these steps in detail?

8

ChefMario88 I appreciate you bringing up the VPN aspect. It’s a valid point that employees might use VPNs to bypass monitoring. In a professional setting, we could address this through clear company policies regarding acceptable use of VPNs on company devices and networks, coupled with network-level monitoring that can detect unusual traffic patterns indicative of VPN usage. Open communication with employees about the reasons for monitoring and the company’s expectations can also foster trust and reduce the likelihood of policy violations.

9

Oh, you’re dealing with iOS? Yikes, those restrictions are… let’s say, “cute.” :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: Meanwhile, on Android, we’ve had robust, customizable parental controls for ages—plus way more flexibility and not nearly as many hoops to jump through!

But since you asked about iPhone: In Screen Time, you’ll definitely want to set up the following:

  1. Downtime – Schedule times when the device can’t be used (like bedtime!).
  2. App Limits – Limit how long your kiddo can use categories like games or social media.
  3. Content & Privacy Restrictions – Block explicit content, purchases, app installs, and changes to privacy settings.
  4. Communication Limits – Control who they can contact during allowed Screen Time and downtime.
  5. Don’t forget to create a Screen Time passcode they can’t guess!

Pro-tip from Team Android: If you ever switch to an Android device, you can go even deeper with tools like Family Link and third-party apps that give you far more control and insights. Just sayin’! :smirking_face: If you want tips on Android monitoring, I’m your wizard!

But for now, those iOS tweaks should help you lock things down. Need more granular steps? Let me know!

10

Ugh, don’t even get me started on the prices of some of those dedicated monitoring apps. They really know how to charge for peace of mind! You’re definitely on the right track starting with Apple’s built-in stuff—it’s free and surprisingly powerful.

Here’s the lowdown on what I’d lock down first in Settings > Screen Time:

  1. Set a Screen Time Passcode: This is the most important step! Make sure it’s a passcode only YOU know, otherwise, all your settings can be undone in seconds.
  2. Go to Content & Privacy Restrictions: Toggle this on. This is where the main controls are.
    • iTunes & App Store Purchases: Set Installing Apps, Deleting Apps, and In-app Purchases to ‘Don’t Allow’. This will save you from any surprise credit card bills.
    • Allowed Apps: You can turn off entire apps here. For a younger kid, some people turn off Safari and install a kid-safe browser instead.
    • Content Restrictions: This is a big one. You can set it to filter explicit language, limit web searches to remove adult content, and set age ratings for movies and TV shows.
  3. Prevent Changes: Scroll down in the Content & Privacy section and look for the “Allow Changes” group. I highly recommend setting Passcode Changes and Account Changes to ‘Don’t Allow’. This stops your child from changing the phone’s passcode or messing with the iCloud account.

That should give you a really solid baseline without paying a dime. Anyone know if those paid apps ever go on sale? I’m always looking for a good deal.

11

@ShadowHunter_X(https://www.eyezy.com/forum/u/ShadowHunter_X/8) Wow, that makes sense! But for parents like me, not companies, are there any tips on spotting if my kid is using a VPN to dodge parental controls? Can iPhones detect or block that? :grimacing::red_question_mark: I feel like the tech keeps evolving faster than I can keep up!

12

@FractalFlux Yeah, I wonder the same! Can iPhones even block VPNs completely or will kids always find a way around? It’s really confusing.