What Parent and Guardian Settings Do
Parent or Guardian settings let you monitor and control what happens on a device that a child or teen uses. Once you turn this on, you can see what apps they open, what websites they visit, how long they spend on the device each day, and set time limits that lock the device when time runs out. You can also block specific apps or websites, require approval before downloads, and see their location on a map.
The exact name and features depend on whether you are using Windows, macOS, iPad, or iPhone. Windows calls it "Family" settings. Apple calls it "Family Sharing" with parental controls built in. Both let you manage multiple children from one parent account, and both require you to set up a parent account first before you can add a child account.
This is different from simply knowing a child's password. Parent settings let you enforce rules even if the child knows the password, because the restrictions live in the operating system itself, not in an app or account setting.
Key Takeaways
- Parent settings require a separate parent account on the device or in your family group — you cannot turn them on from a child's account.
- Windows Family settings and Apple Family Sharing both let you manage screen time, app access, and content filters from a parent device or online dashboard.
- You need to add the child as a family member before you can apply parental controls to their account.
- Screen time limits and app restrictions take effect immediately once you save them, but the child can still request more time on some devices.
How to Enable Parent Settings on Windows
On a Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, parent settings live in the Family section of Settings. Start by opening Settings (press the Windows key and type "Settings"), then go to Accounts on the left side. Click Family & other people.
If you do not see a child account listed, click Add a family member. Choose Add a child, then enter the child's email address or create a new Microsoft account for them. Once the child account appears in the list, click on it and select Parental controls. From here you can turn on app and game restrictions, set screen time limits, monitor activity, and filter content.
The restrictions you set will apply the next time the child logs in. If the child is already logged in, they may need to sign out and back in for the limits to take effect. You can manage all of this from your own account — you do not need to log in as the child.
How to Enable Parent Settings on Apple Devices
On iPhone, iPad, or Mac, parent controls are part of Family Sharing. Start by opening Settings, then tap or click your name at the top. Select Family Sharing, then tap Add a Family Member. Choose Create a Child Account and follow the prompts to set up an Apple ID for the child.
Once the child account is created, go back to Family Sharing and tap the child's name. You will see options for Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions, and Location Sharing. Tap Screen Time to set daily time limits and downtime hours when the device locks. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions to block apps, websites, or content by rating.
These settings sync across all of the child's Apple devices — iPhone, iPad, and Mac — so you only need to set them once. The child will see a notification when screen time is about to run out, and they can request more time from you, which you can approve or deny from your device.
Setting Screen Time Limits and Downtime
Screen time limits are the most commonly used parental control. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other people, click the child's account, then select Screen time. Toggle Set limits on how long devices can be used to on, then choose the number of hours per day. The device will lock when that time is up.
On Apple devices, open Settings > your name > Family Sharing > the child's name > Screen Time. Tap App Limits to set a daily cap on total screen time, or tap Downtime to set specific hours when the device is locked entirely (for example, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.). During downtime, only calls and emergency services work.
Both systems let you set different limits for different days of the week. You can also allow certain apps to bypass the limit — for example, a school app might be allowed during downtime, or a messaging app might not count toward the daily limit.
Blocking Apps and Websites
On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other people, click the child's account, then select App and game restrictions. Toggle the setting on, then choose the age rating you want to allow. Apps rated above that level will be blocked. You can also click Block specific apps to ban individual programs by name.
On Apple devices, open Settings > your name > Family Sharing > the child's name > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Toggle Content & Privacy Restrictions on, then tap Apps to set an age rating limit. Tap Web Content to choose between Unrestricted, Limit Adult Websites, or Allowed Websites Only. If you choose the last option, you can add specific websites to a whitelist.
Website filtering on both systems is not perfect — determined users can sometimes find ways around it — but it catches most accidental exposure and blocks the most common adult sites. The goal is to reduce casual access, not to create an unbreakable barrier.
Monitoring Activity and Location
Windows shows you a summary of screen time, app usage, and websites visited. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other people, click the child's account, then select Activity. You will see a breakdown of which apps were used and for how long. You can also see web browsing history if you have web activity reporting turned on.
Apple shows similar information in Family Sharing. Open Settings > your name > Family Sharing > the child's name > Screen Time to see a graph of daily usage and which apps used the most time. You can also tap Location in Family Sharing to see the child's current location on a map, which updates whenever their device connects to the internet.
These reports are meant to give you a picture of overall patterns, not to track every single action. They update with a slight delay — usually a few minutes to an hour — so they are not real-time surveillance tools.
What Happens When a Child Requests More Time
On both Windows and Apple devices, when screen time runs out, the child sees a notification that time is up. On Apple, they can tap Ask for More Time and you will receive a notification on your device. You can approve or deny the request, and if you approve, the device unlocks for a set amount of extra time (usually 15 or 30 minutes).
On Windows, the device simply locks and the child cannot unlock it without your permission. There is no built-in request system, so you will need to manually adjust the limit if the child needs more time for homework or an emergency.
Both systems let you temporarily disable limits for a specific day — for example, if the child is sick or has a school project that requires extra screen time. You can do this from your own device without giving the child the ability to override the limits themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to set up a separate account for my child, or can I use parent settings on their existing account?
You need a separate child account. Parent settings cannot be applied to an adult account, even if you know the password. On Windows, you create a child account through Family settings. On Apple, you create a child Apple ID through Family Sharing. Once the account is created, you can apply parental controls to it.
Can my child turn off parent settings if they know my password?
No. Parent settings are enforced by the operating system, not by an account password. Even if a child knows your password, they cannot disable screen time limits, app blocks, or content filters. They would need your approval to change these settings, which requires you to authenticate on your device.
What if my child uses a device that is not registered to their account?
Parent settings only work on devices where the child has their own account. If a child uses a shared family computer or borrows a parent's device, parental controls do not apply unless you set up a separate child account on that device. You can set up the same child account on multiple devices, and the restrictions will sync across all of them.
Can I see what my child is typing or reading, or only what apps they use?
Parent settings show you which apps are open and for how long, which websites are visited, and overall screen time — but not the actual content of messages, emails, or documents. If you need to monitor specific conversations, you would need to use a separate monitoring app, which raises privacy concerns and is not recommended for older children or teens.
What if my child deletes their browsing history?
On Windows, activity reports show what was accessed even if history is deleted, as long as web activity reporting is turned on. On Apple, Screen Time shows app and website usage but not detailed browsing history. If a child clears their browser history, you will still see that they used Safari or Chrome, but not which specific sites they visited.