Keep your kids out.
Parental Controls, also known as Restrictions, let you manage which features, apps, and content your kids can and can't access on the iPhone or iPad. That includes the iTunes Store, which sells music, movies, and TV shows, the iBooks Store, which sells ebooks, and the App Store, which sells apps and games.
Note: You will need to have restrictions enable before setting parental controls for iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store.
- How to restrict access to the iTunes Store on iPhone and iPad
- How to restrict access to Apple Music connect on iPhone and iPad
- How to restrict access to the iBooks Store on iPhone and iPad
- How to block the ability to install apps on iPhone and iPad
- How to block the ability to delete apps on iPhone and iPad
- How to block the ability to make in-app purchases on iPhone and iPad
How to restrict access to the iTunes Store on iPhone and iPad
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on General.
Tap on Restrictions.
- Enter your passcode.
Tap the iTunes Store switch. When the switch is gray that means it won't be accessible.
How to restrict access to Apple Music Connect on iPhone and iPad
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on General.
Tap on Restrictions.
- Enter your passcode.
Tap the Apple Music connect switch. When the switch is gray that means it won't be accessible.
How to restrict access to the iBooks Store on iPhone and iPad
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on General.
Tap on Restrictions.
- Enter your passcode.
Tap the iBooks Store switch. When the switch is gray that means it won't be accessible.
How to block the ability to install apps on iPhone and iPad
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on General.
Tap on Restrictions.
- Enter your passcode.
Tap the Installing Apps switch. When the switch is gray that means it won't be accessible.
How to block the ability to delete apps on iPhone and iPad
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on General.
Tap on Restrictions.
- Enter your passcode.
Tap the Deleting Apps switch. When the switch is gray that means it won't be accessible.
How to block the ability to make in-app purchases on iPhone and iPad
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on General.
Tap on Restrictions.
- Enter your passcode.
Tap the In-App Purchases switch. When the switch is gray that means it won't be accessible.
Questions?
Do you have any other questions about restrictions? Let us know in the comments below!
Reader comments
How to restrict iTunes, iBooks, Apple Music Connect, and more with parental controls for iPhone and iPad
I'm still wanting Apple to include an option to apply password restricting access to the Settings app all together.
My kids still have access to too many features that their curios minds can muck around with.
Also, apps that, as far as I can tell, must depend on network access via internet protocols can become unusable if Parental Restriction are fairly tight - I'm looking at you Netflix.
Sent from the iMore App
I have tried to use Restrictions but it's not flexible enough. I wanted to restrict 17+ apps from being installed but some apps like the fantasy football app from yahoo is rated as 17+ and there's no way for me to let my son use it without undoing the restriction. As a workaround, i did use the web and put the website on the homepage but it's not as feature rich as the app where he gets notifications. Also, I have used OpenDNS' umbrella vpn to filter content of websites but restrictions do not pertain to VPN connections. Hopefully my son doesn't figure out VPN and what its doing to prevent access to questionable websites but there is always google...