Apple is giving parents more control over their children’s screen time in iOS 27, with a redesigned system that makes it easier to manage daily device use, approve websites, and restrict who kids can contact.
The new parental controls, developed with input from the American Academy of Pediatrics, replace traditional App Limits with Time Allowances, allowing parents to set an overall daily screen time budget and divide it among different activities.
One screen time budget, more control
Instead of setting limits for individual apps, parents can now assign time allowances to categories such as gaming, social media, and entertainment.
Custom categories are also supported, and parents can establish different schedules for weekdays and weekends.
Several additional features give families more oversight:
- Ask to Browse: Children must request approval before visiting websites that haven’t been cleared. Parents receive requests directly in Messages.
- Ask to Add Contacts: Kids need permission before calling or messaging new numbers.
- Pause Device: Parents can remotely lock a child’s iPhone or iPad with a single tap.
- Communication Safety: Apple’s existing nudity detection now also identifies and blurs graphic violence.
Apple has also simplified Child Account setup, offering age-appropriate app recommendations and default protections based on a child’s age.
Older devices could complicate setup
The new Screen Time system requires devices in a Family Sharing group to run the latest generation of Apple software.
Older hardware that cannot update will continue using the previous controls, potentially leaving families managing different restrictions across devices.
Parents can check compatibility and configure their children’s accounts through Settings > Family.
For children under 13, Apple enables protections such as Ask to Browse, adult website filtering, and contact management during setup. Communication Safety applies to users under 18, while parents can adjust restrictions as children grow older.
The redesigned Screen Time dashboard brings usage information and controls into one place, making it easier to review how children spend their allotted time.
Apple has also worked with the American Academy of Pediatrics on a guide called Building Healthy Digital Habits, offering age-based advice on balancing screen time with sleep, exercise, schoolwork, and family activities.
