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Apple Previews New Child-Safety Controls for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Apple’s upcoming software updates will give parents more control over apps, websites, contacts and screen time, while adding new safeguards for children’s digital experiences.
Apple has previewed a broad set of child-safety features for iPhone, iPad and Mac, extending parental controls beyond simple screen-time limits. Announced on June 8, 2026, the changes are designed to help parents manage what children can see, who they can contact and when they can use apps or websites. Apple says the features will arrive through the Screen Time update in iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, with availability planned for this fall. The company also cautions that features may change before release.
The update starts with a stronger emphasis on child accounts. Apple says a child account is required for children under 13, although the minimum age for account creation can vary by country or region. Parents can also create accounts for older children up to age 18. Once configured, the account applies age-based protections across the system, including restrictions on adult websites, age-appropriate media and App Store content.
A more controlled starting point for apps and websites
Apple is changing the way a child’s device can be set up. Parents will be able to begin with only essential apps, use a recommended starter set or choose the apps their child can access. Additional apps can then be approved over time. This gives families a more gradual way to introduce new services instead of handing over a fully open device on day one.
The existing Ask to Buy system will continue to let parents approve app downloads and in-app purchases, including free downloads. Apple is adding Ask to Browse, which can require a child to request permission before opening a new website in Safari. The approval flow is designed to work across iPhone, iPad and Mac, so a request made on one device can be handled by a parent on another.
That distinction matters because app-store controls do not cover everything a child can reach through a browser. By adding website approval to the same family-management model, Apple is bringing app access and web access closer together. The feature is still a permission system rather than a guarantee that every page is safe, so parents will need to review requests and maintain suitable account settings.
More visibility into communication and content
Parents will also be able to manage who their children can contact through Phone, Messages and FaceTime. If a child wants to communicate with a new person, Apple says parents can require an approval request before the contact is added. This expands parental oversight from what a child consumes to the people with whom they interact.
Apple’s Communication Safety protections are also being extended. The system already detects and blurs nudity in Messages and FaceTime for users under 18 by default. Apple says it will now intervene when shared images or videos contain gore or violent content. The company presents this as an additional layer of protection, not a replacement for conversations between parents and children about online behaviour, consent and reporting harmful material.
Time Allowances replace a one-size-fits-all approach
The redesigned Screen Time experience will provide parents with an at-a-glance view of average device use and the apps children use most. Apple is adding Time Allowances for categories such as Entertainment, Games and Social Media, with age-based guidance intended to provide a starting point for family rules.
Parents can adjust those limits to reflect their own circumstances. New Schedules will also allow access to selected apps during specific periods of the day or week, such as after school or outside family activities. Apple says parents can pause access quickly, extend time when appropriate or make changes without rebuilding the entire setup.
This approach is more flexible than a single daily limit, but it still depends on sensible configuration. Age guidance can help establish a baseline, while families may need different settings for homework, travel, accessibility needs or shared devices. The controls are most useful when parents revisit them as children become older and their use of technology changes.
Tools for developers and a privacy detail
Apple is also asking developers to support age-appropriate experiences inside their apps. The company points to SensitiveContentAnalysis and PermissionKit as tools that can help developers detect inappropriate content and support parent approval for new in-app contacts. Developers can also use the Declared Age Range API to request a child’s age range without receiving the child’s birthday.
That privacy detail is significant. Apple says the age-range approach is designed to give apps useful context while avoiding the disclosure of an exact date of birth. The effectiveness of the system will still depend on how developers implement these tools and how accurately accounts are configured, but the framework gives app makers a clearer route to age-aware design.
Apple’s announcement positions the update as a coordinated set of controls rather than one isolated feature. Child accounts establish the foundation, app and website approvals regulate access, communication controls address contacts, and Time Allowances provide ongoing visibility. Families will still need to make the final decisions, but the upcoming software updates should give them more practical ways to do so across Apple devices.
Apple’s full announcement is available in the Apple Newsroom.