Parental Controls, also known as Restrictions, let you manage which features, apps, and content your kids can and can't access on your iPhone or iPad. This includes preventing any changes being made to your email, contacts, and calendar accounts, and to volume limits. Whether you're worried your young child will accidentally delete your accounts or your pre-teen might try to add a new account, you can quickly and easily lock it all in Settings.

How to block the ability to make changes to accounts and volume limits on iPhone and iPad in iOS 11 or earlier

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap on General.

  3. Tap on Restrictions.

    launch settings app then tap general, and then restrictions

  4. Tap on Enable Restrictions at the top if they aren't already. If they are, skip to step 7.
  5. Type a 4-digit password that only you will know. Your child should never know this password.

  6. Type the password again to confirm it.

    tap enable restrictions, then type in a password and confirm it

  7. Swipe up to scroll down to bottom of the screen.

  8. Tap on each of the following categories to change their settings:

    • Accounts
    • Cellular Data
    • Background App Refresh
    • Volume Limit
    • TV Provider
    • Do Not Disturb While Driving

  9. Tap on Don't Allow Changes for each one.

    swipe up to scroll to bottom of screen, then tap each category and tap don't allow changes for each one

When you want to make changes or supervise your child making changes, you can re-enable them in restrictions, then turn them back off again when done.

How to block the ability to make changes to accounts and volume limits on iPhone and iPad in iOS 12

Before you start, you'll need to make sure you have set up Screen Time on your iOS 12 device.

  1. Launch Settings from the home screen.
  2. Tap Screen Time.

  3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.

  4. Tap on the category to change their settings:

    • Passcode Changes
    • Account Changes
    • Cellular Data Chnages
    • Volume Limit
    • Do Not Disturb While Driving
    • TV Provider
    • Background App Activities

  5. Tap Don't Allow.

If you want to allow changes to any of these settings, you can follow these same steps again, and choose to Allow them.

Questions?

Do you have any other questions about restricting your account and volume settings? We'd love to hear them; leave a comment below!

Updated August 2018: Added steps for iOS 12.

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