Set up parental controls with Family Sharing on iPad

With Family Sharing, the organizer can set up parental controls for children in the Family Sharing group. You can use Screen Time to manage how your children use their Apple devices. You can also turn on Ask to Buy, so children must receive approval for purchases or free downloads.

Learn about types of Family Sharing members.

Set up Screen Time for a child

When you set up Screen Time for a child, you can manage settings for downtime, allowances for app use, the contacts your child communicates with, content ratings, and more. To use Screen Time, your child must be using an eligible device. See the Screen Time section in the Apple Support article System Requirements for iCloud.

Go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing > Screen Time.
Tap the name of a family member, tap Turn on Screen Time, then follow the onscreen instructions.
For information about Screen Time settings, see Set up Screen Time for a family member on iPad.

Important: If you set up Screen Time for a child with Family Sharing and you forget the family Screen Time passcode, you can reset it. See the Apple Support article If you forgot your Screen Time passcode.

Turn on Ask to Buy for a child

When you set up Ask to Buy, a child’s purchases must be approved by the family organizer or a parent or guardian in the family group.

Go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing.
Tap Ask To Buy, then do one of the following:
- If there isn’t a child in your family group: Tap Add Child or Create A Child Account, then follow the onscreen instructions.
- If there is a child in your family group: Tap the child’s name, then turn on Ask To Buy.

Note: Age restrictions for Ask to Buy vary by region. In the United States, the family organizer can turn on Ask to Buy for any family member under age 18; for children under age 13, it’s turned on by default.

For more information, see the Apple Support article Approve what kids buy with Ask to Buy.

You can also set up an Apple Cash Family account for a child. See Use Apple Cash and Apple Card with Family Sharing on iPad (U.S. only).

For information about child accounts in Family Sharing, see the Apple Support article Create an Apple ID for your child.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide

Set up parental controls with Family Sharing on iPad

Set up Screen Time for a child

Turn on Ask to Buy for a child