How to Block Websites on an iPhone.
Due to overworked parents, you may not always be there to protect your children from the evil of the world. This includes what they can and cannot view on the Internet using mobile devices. The ability to block certain websites on your phone isn’t just on your iPhone, but with a lot of kids using them these days, this could be a great start.
Give more control over the content your child has access to with the built-in iOS feature. The adult content filter will allow you to block all images and pop-ups that are unsafe for your child’s eyes, and it also allows you to manually add URLs for any sites you deem unsafe.
There is no need to go back and access the preferences for each browser as these restrictions will apply to all available browsers, including Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. This is great news for parents with tech-savvy digital born kids who might be trying to bypass site blocking.
Keep reading to find out how to block websites on your child’s iPhone.
Block websites on iPhone using Screen Time feature
The main iOS feature we’ll look at is screen time. This feature tracks the usage of all apps on the iPhone, and this is where you can set restrictions for specific apps and block specific sites.
- First, launch the Settings app and tap Screen Time to access the options. Chances are, if this is your first time doing this, you will need to enable Screen Time.
- He will ask if the iPhone is right for you or your child, so select Child.
- Click on the Content & Privacy Restrictions option to open a menu of various services. Turn on the function by pressing the switch to green.
- We can now begin to impose restrictions on your child’s online content. Click Content Restrictions and select Web Content. Here you can choose “Limit the number of adult sites” or “Only allowed sites”.
- By selecting the Limit Adult Websites option, you can manually insert the sites you want to block or allow. Approved websites offer a list of kid-friendly websites such as Disney, Discovery Kids, HowStuffWorks, etc.
If you select this option, all other sites will be blocked, so add other sites such as YouTube or Facebook only if you agree that your child is viewing them.
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iOS 11 or earlier
The previous instructions were for those using iOS 12+. For those using earlier versions of iOS, Screen Time does not exist, so you will have to take various steps to achieve a similar goal.
- For those of you using iOS 11, you can launch Settings and go to the General tab.
- From here, navigate to the “Restrictions” and “Turn on restrictions” section by entering the password for your iPhone twice.
- Go to the Allowed Content section and click Websites to access the settings. The provided menu will allow you to add any specified URLs that you want to block, and offers the same Restrict Adult Content and Allowed Websites options that iOS 12.
Screen Time for Family
Family Screen Time
The family version of Screen Time is designed for iOS 12+ users and makes it easy to set up parental controls on your child’s iPhone. You can add all existing Apple IDs to your child’s accounts, allowing you to track all of their browsing and phone usage right from your device. You can even create an account for your child using your device and syncing it with their iPhone or iPad.
With this system, you no longer need to take your iPhone off your child just to make a few necessary changes or restrictions to the device. You can block websites on your phone remotely and effortlessly.
This option will require you to have a Family Sharing account and can be configured using the Screen Time feature. Simply select “Set Family Screen Time” from the Screen Time tab and follow the onscreen instructions for either your existing account or a new account.
Additional restrictions
Additional restrictions
Screen Time isn’t just for blocking certain websites. Idle Time can be used to set up phone schedules and to restrict phone calls and application usage.
If you set an “idle time†on your phone, only calls and allowed applications will be available to the user during the time period you set. You can even set a limit on the type of apps allowed.
- Click on Application Restrictions, select Add Restriction, then select the category of apps you want to restrict.
- Click Next and set the timer for the hours and minutes you want to limit your child’s iPhone rights. You even have the option to customize the days of the week on which restrictions take effect. No longer need to sleep all night playing mobile games on school evenings or chatting with friends after hours through WhatsApp and Messenger.
- When everything is set up to your liking, just click Add and you’re done.
Another layer of protection that you can use on top of any restrictions you put in is the use of a screen time password. This ensures that your child cannot change the settings if he never learns the password.
Click on the “Use screen password” option and select the four-digit code to use. You will need to use this code anytime you want to make changes to Screen Time, so be sure to remember it. Just don’t shoot yourself in the foot using the same password you need to unlock your phone.
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