Open Settings and find Screen Time

Parental controls on iPad live inside the Screen Time settings, not in a separate menu. Start by opening the Settings app — the gray gear icon on your home screen. Tap it, then scroll down the left side until you see Screen Time listed in blue text.

Tap Screen Time. On the next screen, you will see options for downtime, app limits, and content restrictions. If this is the first time you are setting it up, tap Turn On Screen Time at the top of the screen.

Choose whether this iPad belongs to you or a child

iPad will ask you: "Whose iPad is this?" Tap This is my child's iPad if you are setting up controls for a child. Tap This is my iPad if you are the main user and want to set limits on your own usage or create a separate child account.

For most parents, This is my child's iPad is the right choice. It lets you set a Screen Time passcode that only you know, so your child cannot turn off the restrictions you create.

Create a Screen Time passcode

iPad will ask you to create a Screen Time passcode — a four-digit code that protects your parental control settings. This is not the same as the iPad's lock screen passcode. Write this number down and store it somewhere safe, because you will need it to change any restrictions later.

Enter a four-digit code, then enter it again to confirm. Do not use your child's birthday or a number they can easily guess. After you set the passcode, iPad may ask for your Apple ID and password as a backup recovery method — this helps you reset the passcode if you forget it.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Time controls are found in Settings, not in a separate parental controls app.
  • You must create a four-digit Screen Time passcode that your child cannot see or change.
  • Downtime blocks all apps except phone, messages, and emergency contacts during the hours you set.
  • App Limits lets you set daily time caps on specific apps or app categories without blocking them entirely.
  • Content & Privacy Restrictions control what your child can buy, what they can see, and which features they can use.

Set downtime to block apps during certain hours

Downtime is the strictest control — it blocks almost everything except calls and messages during the hours you choose. Tap Downtime in the Screen Time menu. Toggle the switch to On, then set a start time and end time. For example, you might set downtime from 9 PM to 7 AM so the iPad is unavailable during bedtime and school hours.

During downtime, your child will see a message saying "Downtime is on" if they try to open any app except Phone, Messages, FaceTime, and any apps you have marked as "Always Allowed." They can still make emergency calls. If you want to allow specific apps during downtime, scroll down to Always Allowed and tap the plus sign to add them.

Set daily time limits on specific apps

App Limits lets you cap how much time your child spends in certain apps each day without blocking them entirely. Tap App Limits, then tap Add Limit. You will see categories like Social Networking, Games, Entertainment, and Productivity, or you can pick individual apps.

Select the category or app, then set a daily time limit — for example, 1 hour per day for Games. When your child reaches that limit, the app will lock and show a message. They can request more time, which sends a notification to you, but they cannot override the limit without your permission. You can allow them to use the app again the next day when the timer resets.

Control what content and features your child can access

Content & Privacy Restrictions is where you block specific types of content and turn off features your child should not use. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle it On. You will see several sections:

iTunes & App Store Purchases lets you prevent your child from buying or downloading apps, in-app purchases, or subscriptions. Set this to Don't Allow if you want to approve every download yourself. Allowed Apps lets you hide built-in apps like Safari, Camera, or Siri — toggle off any app you do not want your child to use. Content Restrictions controls what movies, TV shows, books, and music your child can see based on rating. Web Content lets you block adult websites or restrict the web browser to a whitelist of sites you approve.

Scroll down to find Game Center, Multiplayer Games, and Screen Recording — toggle these off if you want to prevent your child from playing online games or recording their screen. The Siri option controls whether your child can use voice commands.

Review and adjust your settings anytime

After you set up Screen Time, you can change any restriction by going back to Settings > Screen Time and tapping the section you want to edit. If your child requests more app time, you will see a notification on your own device — you can approve it for that day or deny it.

If you forget your Screen Time passcode, you can reset it using your Apple ID. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode, then tap "Don't have your passcode?" and sign in with your Apple ID. Keep in mind that changing the passcode will take a few minutes to process on Apple's servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child turn off Screen Time if they know my passcode?

No. Even if your child knows the Screen Time passcode, they cannot turn off Screen Time or remove restrictions without it. The passcode is the only thing protecting your settings, so keep it private and do not write it where your child can find it.

What happens if my child reaches their app limit?

The app locks and shows a message saying the time limit has been reached. Your child can tap "Ask for More Time" to send you a notification. You can approve 15 more minutes, one hour, or the rest of the day from your own device, or you can deny the request. The limit resets at midnight.

Can I set different restrictions for different times of day?

Downtime is the only feature that changes by time of day — it blocks apps during the hours you set. App Limits and Content Restrictions stay the same all day. If you want stricter limits during school hours, you would need to manually change the settings or use a third-party app.

Does Screen Time track what my child is doing on the iPad?

Screen Time shows you how much time your child spends in each app and category, but it does not show you what they are looking at inside those apps. It is a time-management tool, not a monitoring tool. If you need to see what websites they visit or what messages they send, you would need a separate monitoring app.

What if my child has multiple Apple devices?

Screen Time settings are tied to each device individually. If your child has an iPhone and an iPad, you need to set up Screen Time separately on each one. However, if you set up Family Sharing in Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, you can manage all family members' Screen Time from your own device in one place.