Summary

Apple has previewed new parental controls coming to iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, including Ask to Browse, Time Allowances and a redesigned Screen Time. The features are scheduled for the autumn software updates.

Apple has previewed a new set of parental controls for iPhone, iPad and Mac that will give parents more control over the apps, websites, contacts and time windows available to children. The features are coming with the Screen Time update in iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, which Apple says will be available this autumn.

The update builds on Apple’s existing child-account and Screen Time systems rather than introducing a separate child-safety application. Its main additions are a simpler device setup, permission requests for websites and contacts, category-based time limits, and expanded protection against violent or graphic shared media.

Contents

A more controlled starting point

Apple is placing greater emphasis on setting up a child account when a device is configured for a child. The account applies age-based safeguards across the system, including limits on adult websites, age-appropriate media restrictions and age-based controls in the App Store.

During setup, parents will be able to begin with only a few essential apps, use a recommended starter set, or select the apps they consider suitable. Additional apps can be added later. Apple says a child account is required for children under 13 and is available for children up to 18, although the minimum age for account creation can vary by country or region.

New permissions for apps, websites and contacts

Apple’s existing Ask to Buy feature lets parents approve app downloads and in-app purchases, including free app downloads. The new Ask to Browse feature extends a similar approval step to websites in Safari. A child can request access to a new website, with the approval request appearing across iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Parents will also be able to manage who a child can contact through Messages, FaceTime and Phone. When a child wants to communicate with a new contact, the system can require parental approval before the connection is made.

Communication Safety, which Apple says already detects and blurs nudity in Messages and FaceTime calls and is enabled by default for users under 18, is also being expanded. It will intervene to block gore or violent content when it detects that material in shared images or videos.

Together, these changes extend parental control beyond app installation. Website access and new communications can also become permission-based decisions, while the child’s starting device can be limited to a deliberately chosen set of apps.

Time limits and a redesigned Screen Time

The new Time Allowances feature will let parents set boundaries for groups of apps, including Entertainment, Games and Social Media. Apple says the setup will provide age-tailored guidance based on expert research, which parents can then adjust according to their family’s needs.

Daily Schedules will offer another layer of control by determining which apps are available at particular times of day and on different days of the week. For example, app access can be limited during school hours.

Screen Time is also being redesigned to show a child’s average device usage and most-used apps at a glance. Parents can change access to apps and the web with a tap, including temporarily limiting access during meals or outdoor play. If a child needs additional time to complete something in an app, parents will also be able to extend access quickly.

Guidance and developer tools

Apple says the new controls draw on clinical, child-development and online-safety research. The company is working with the American Academy of Pediatrics to adapt its Family Media Plan into a guide for families using Apple products. Apple has also launched a dedicated website containing information about the controls and related resources.

The company is giving developers tools intended to support age-appropriate experiences inside apps. SensitiveContentAnalysis can help protect children from inappropriate content such as violence or nudity, while PermissionKit can help apps require parental approval for new in-app contacts. The Declared Age Range API allows an app to request a child’s age range without receiving the child’s birthday, according to Apple.

The new features will arrive after the Screen Time update is installed in iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27. Apple says the features are subject to change before availability.

Sources