Parental Controls on iPad: How to Restrict Apps & Screen Time

The goal isn’t to ban tech, but to shape it into a safe, balanced, age-friendly experience for kids. 

The iPad has become one of the most popular devices for kids and teens whether for homework, entertainment, or creative projects. But as helpful as an iPad can be, it also opens the door to challenges like excessive screen time, inappropriate content, and accidental app purchases. 

Apple provides powerful built-in tools, like Screen Time and content restrictions, to help families find the right balance between freedom and safety.  

This guide will walk you through every step of setting up a brand-new iPad or updating an older device for your child.   

Why Use Parental Controls on iPad? 

Children love iPads for games, videos, and learning, but without guidance, usage can quickly get out of control. Parental controls give you peace of mind and help kids develop healthy digital habits. 

• Healthy routines: Manage daily iPad screen time to avoid late-night scrolling or game binges. 
• Age-appropriate content: Block mature music, movies, and websites. 
• Financial safety: Prevent in-app purchases on iPad so you don’t wake up to surprise charges. 
• Safer browsing: Add iPad content restrictions that limit adult or violent material. 

In short, parental controls are about balance: giving kids freedom to learn and play while setting reasonable limits. 

How to Turn On iPad Parental Controls? 

The first step in setting up restrictions is enabling Screen Time, Apple’s built-in parental control system. Screen Time is where you’ll create your parental PIN, set limits, and monitor your child’s activity so it’s worth taking a few minutes to get this right. 

Here’s how to do it: 

Open the Settings app on your child’s iPad. 

1. Scroll down and tap Screen Time. 
2. Tap Turn On Screen Time, then select This is My Child’s iPad. This tells Apple that you’re setting the device up for a younger user, and it will guide you through the most common restrictions. 
3. You’ll now be prompted to create a Screen Time Passcode (your parental PIN). This code prevents your child from changing the settings you’ve put in place. Make sure it’s different from their usual unlock code so they can’t guess it. 
4. Finally, link your Apple ID so you can recover the passcode if you forget it. This also ensures you stay in control if the PIN needs to be reset. 

Once Screen Time is switched on, you can start adding daily time limits, blocking specific apps, and even filtering web content. If you’ve set up Family Sharing, you’ll also be able to manage your child’s iPad directly from your own iPhone or iPad which makes it much easier to stay on top of things without constantly borrowing their device. 

Tip for parents: If you have more than one child using an iPad, it’s worth setting up Screen Time individually for each of them. That way, you can apply different rules depending on their age and needs.

How to Restrict Apps on iPad 

Not every app is suitable for every child. With Apple’s parental controls, you can decide exactly what your child can and can’t access on their iPad.   

Here’s how you can do it step by step: 

 1. Restrict Apps by Age Rating 

Apple’s App Store has built-in age ratings for apps, so you can filter content automatically based on what’s appropriate. 

• Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions. 
• Tap Content Restrictions → Apps. 
• Choose an age rating, such as 4+, 9+, 12+, or 17+. 

This means if your child is young, they’ll only see apps suitable for their age group. For example, you could block violent or mature games while still allowing creative or educational ones. 

2. Block Installing or Deleting Apps 

Kids are curious, and sometimes that means downloading apps you’d rather they didn’t or deleting ones you’ve approved. You can stop this with just a few taps. 

1. Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions. 
2. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases. 
3. Set Installing Apps to Don’t Allow. 
4. Set Deleting Apps to Don’t Allow. 

This ensures that only you decide what gets installed or removed. 

3. Temporarily Hide Built-In Apps 

Some built-in apps, like Safari, Camera, or Siri, might not be suitable for your child just yet. You can hide or disable these entirely until they’re ready. 

1. Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions. 
2. Tap Allowed Apps. 
3. Switch off the toggle for any app you want hidden. 

For instance, if your child isn’t ready to browse the internet independently, you can disable Safari until later. 

4. Set Time Limits for Certain Apps 

Sometimes it’s not about removing an app but controlling how much time your child spends on it. Maybe you’re okay with YouTube, but not more than 30 minutes a day. 

1. Go to Settings → Screen Time → App Limits. 
2. Tap Add Limit and choose a category (like Games or Social Networking) or specific apps. 
3. Set a daily limit (for example, 1 hour). 
4. Toggle Block at End of Limit to stop the app completely once time runs out. 

This is great for balancing fun with schoolwork or family time. 

5. Always Allow Essential Apps 

Even with restrictions in place, you can choose certain apps that are always accessible like Messages, Phone, or educational tools. 

1. Go to Settings → Screen Time → Always Allowed. 
2. Select the apps you want available at all times. 

This ensures your child can still contact you or use apps for school even during downtime or when limits are reached. 

Why this helps you: Restricting apps gives you complete flexibility. You can tailor the iPad to your child’s age, maturity, and daily routine. Younger kids might have strict blocks in place, while teens may get more freedom but still have limits on distractions like social media.

Setting iPad Screen Time Limits 

One of the most powerful parts of Apple’s parental controls is Screen Time. Instead of just handing the iPad over and hoping for the best, you get to set clear limits that help your child use the device responsibly. 

Here’s what you can do: 

Daily App Limits 

You can cap how long your child uses specific apps or categories. For example: 

• Allow one hour of gaming per day across all installed games. 
• Limit social media apps like Instagram or TikTok to 30 minutes per day. 
• Give educational apps unlimited use, while restricting entertainment apps. 

This ensures fun apps don’t get in the way of school or family time. 

Downtime Scheduling 

Downtime is a feature that essentially puts the iPad “to sleep” during set hours. You decide when your child can’t use most apps such as from 9pm to 7am on school nights. Essential apps like Messages or Phone can still be used if you allow them. 

This helps establish better routines, improves sleep, and avoids sneaky late-night screen use. 

Weekly Activity Reports 

Screen Time also shows you reports of your child’s activity. You’ll see which apps they use most, how many hours they spend each day, and even how often they pick up the iPad. If you notice YouTube is taking up to three hours a day, you might set a stricter limit during the week and relax a little on weekends. 

Using iPad Content Restrictions 

To make sure the content your child can access is safe. Apple’s Content & Privacy Restrictions give you full control over what’s age-appropriate. 

Here’s how you can use them: 

1. Block Explicit Media 

You can stop your child from listening to explicit music, reading adult-rated books, or watching mature movies and TV shows. This means they’ll only see content that matches the rating level you’ve set. 

2. Filter Apps by Age Group 

Not all apps are created equal. By setting an age filter (for example, 9+, 12+, or 17+), your child will only be able to download apps suited for their age group. 

3. Block Unsafe Websites 

Under web restrictions, you can: 

• Limit access to adult content automatically. 
• Block websites on iPad manually by entering the site addresses you don’t want your child to visit. 
• Use Allowed Websites Only if you prefer a curated experience with only a handful of safe, educational sites. 

This is especially useful for younger children who may not know which sites are trustworthy. 

4. Control Siri Access 

Siri can be incredibly helpful, but it can also pull up inappropriate content if left unchecked. You can choose to limit Siri’s ability to search the web, filter explicit language, or even disable Siri on iPad completely until your child is older. 

Preventing In-App Purchases on iPad 

If your child enjoys mobile games, you’ve probably worried about those sneaky in-app purchases. A “free” game can quickly turn expensive when kids start buying extra lives, coins, or skins. Fortunately, you can prevent this. 

Here’s how: 

• Open Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions. 
• Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases. 
• Set In-App Purchases to Don’t Allow. 

This will completely block all in-app purchases, so you’ll never see surprise charges. 

Use Ask to Buy 

If you prefer more flexibility, turn on Ask to Buy in Family Sharing. This way, whenever your child wants to purchase an app or item, you’ll receive a request on your device to approve or decline. 

This teaches your child about responsibility while still giving you the final say. 

Wiping a Child’s iPad if Needed 

There are times when it makes sense to completely reset an iPad before handing it to your child. Maybe you’ve upgraded and want to give them your old device, or perhaps you’re reselling it and want to ensure none of your personal data remains. A factory reset clears everything, letting you start fresh with a clean device and apply the right parental controls from day one. 

Before wiping an iPad, make sure you’ve backed up anything important to iCloud or another storage option. Then, once the reset is complete, you can set up the iPad as new, add your child’s Apple ID, and activate all the safety features we’ve outlined in this guide. 

Wiping a child’s iPad? Follow our factory reset guide for step-by-step instructions. 

Quick Tip: A reset ensures your child isn’t accidentally exposed to your old messages, photos, or apps, and it gives you a clean slate to customise the iPad for safe, family-friendly use.

Choosing the Right iPad for Families 

When choosing an iPad for family use, it’s important to choose a model that matches your child’s age and needs. Here are three excellent options available at Box: 

• Apple iPad Mini A2995: A17 Pro Chip, 8.3", 128GB, WiFi + Cellular, Space Grey (MPN: MXPN3NF/A) 
   Compact and portable, perfect for younger children or travel use. 
• Apple iPad Air 13 A2898: M2 Chip, 13", 512GB, iPadOS 17 (MPN: MV2K3NF/A) 
   A great balance of power and size, ideal for teens, schoolwork, and creative projects. 
• Apple iPad Pro 11 A2836 – M4 Chip, 11", 256GB, iPadOS 17 (MPN: MVV93NF/A) 
   The most advanced option, designed for creative teens or families needing laptop-level performance. 

Picking the right iPad for your child makes parental controls more effective. A younger child doesn’t need Pro-level performance, while a creative teen may outgrow the entry-level model quickly. Matching the device to see which models offer robust safety tools for your child’s needs saves money and avoids frustration. 

Best Practices for Parents 

Apple’s parental controls are powerful, but technology is only part of the solution. You’ll get the best results when you combine these settings with thoughtful parenting practices: 

• Talk openly with your kids: Let them know why limits exist, it helps them understand responsibility instead of seeing it as punishment. 
• Adapt settings as they grow: A 7-year-old and a 14-year-old have very different needs. Adjust restrictions over time to build trust and independence. 
• Encourage educational and creative use: Balance entertainment with apps that inspire learning, reading, or creativity. The iPad can be a great tool, not just a distraction. 
• Model healthy habits yourself: If your child sees you endlessly scrolling, they’re likely to follow. Set the example by showing balanced screen use. 

Final Thoughts 

Parenting in the digital age isn’t about banning devices; it’s about helping your children use them safely and responsibly. With Apple’s iPad Parental Controls, you can restrict apps, manage screen time, block websites, and prevent unwanted purchases, all while giving your child the freedom to learn, create, and have fun. 

By setting thoughtful boundaries and using the tools Apple provides, you’ll build healthy tech habits for your child and peace of mind for yourself. 

Ready to create a safer digital experience for your family? Explore Child-safe iPads, check out our family iPad buying guide, and discover more expert tips at Box.co.uk today.