Access Settings and Find Screen Time

To change parental controls on an iPad, open the Settings app and tap Screen Time. If Screen Time is already set up, you will see a menu with options to adjust restrictions. If it is not set up yet, tap Turn On Screen Time and choose whether this is a parent's iPad or a child's iPad — this choice determines which controls appear.

The Screen Time feature is Apple's built-in system for managing app usage, content restrictions, and device downtime. It replaced the older "Restrictions" feature on newer iPad models running iOS 12 or later. All the parental control settings you need are located within this single menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Time is found in Settings and controls app limits, content restrictions, and downtime schedules on your iPad.
  • You will need the Screen Time passcode to make changes — if you forget it, you must reset it through your Apple ID in Settings.
  • Content & Privacy Restrictions let you block specific apps, websites, and media based on age ratings and content type.
  • App Limits set daily time caps for categories of apps, while Downtime blocks all apps except phone, messages, and emergency contacts.
  • Changes take effect when ready, but some restrictions require the Screen Time passcode to bypass on the child's device.

Set or Change Your Screen Time Passcode

When you first set up Screen Time, you create a Screen Time passcode — a four-digit code separate from your iPad lock screen passcode. This code protects your parental control settings from being changed by the child using the device. If you are setting up Screen Time for the first time, you will be prompted to create this passcode during setup.

If you need to change an existing passcode, go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode. Tap Change Screen Time Passcode and enter your current passcode, then enter the new four-digit code twice. Write down your new passcode and store it somewhere safe — if you lose it, you will need your Apple ID and password to reset it through Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode > Forgot Passcode.

Adjust App Limits and Downtime

App Limits restrict how long certain categories of apps can be used each day. From Settings > Screen Time, tap App Limits and then Add Limit. Select the app category you want to limit — for example, Social Networking, Games, or Entertainment — and set the daily time allowance using the hour and minute wheels. Once the time runs out, the app will be blocked until the next day unless you manually extend the limit using your Screen Time passcode.

Downtime is a scheduled period when only essential apps like Phone, Messages, and Health are available. Tap Downtime from the Screen Time menu, toggle it on, and set the start and end times. For example, you might set Downtime from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. to prevent device use during sleep hours. During Downtime, all other apps show a lock icon and require the Screen Time passcode to open.

Control Content and Privacy Restrictions

Content & Privacy Restrictions let you block specific types of content and prevent changes to device settings. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle the switch on. You will be asked to enter your Screen Time passcode to enable this feature.

Once enabled, you can restrict content by age rating. Tap Content Restrictions and select categories like Apps, Movies, TV Shows, Books, and Music. For each category, choose the highest age rating you want to allow — for example, selecting PG for Movies will block R-rated and unrated films. You can also tap Web Content to restrict adult websites or allow only specific approved sites.

Under the same menu, tap Allowed Apps to turn off access to built-in apps like Camera, FaceTime, or Siri. Toggle individual apps on or off. You can also prevent changes to settings like Location Services, Contacts, and Photos by scrolling down to Allow Changes and toggling off the settings you want to lock.

Block or Allow Specific Apps

If you want to block a single app rather than a whole category, you do not need to use App Limits. Instead, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps and toggle off the app you want to block. The app will disappear from the home screen and cannot be opened without re-enabling it and entering your Screen Time passcode.

This method is faster than setting an App Limit if you only want to prevent access to one or two apps. The blocked app remains on the device but is hidden from view. To restore it, return to the same menu and toggle the app back on.

Manage Family Sharing and Child Accounts

If the iPad belongs to a child with their own Apple ID, you can manage their Screen Time from your own device through Family Sharing. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing and select the child's name. Tap Screen Time to view their usage and adjust limits remotely without needing their Screen Time passcode.

This remote management works only if the child's account is linked to your Family Sharing group and Screen Time is enabled on their device. Changes you make from your device sync to theirs within a few minutes. If the child's iPad is not part of Family Sharing, you must make changes directly on their device using your Screen Time passcode.

Troubleshoot Common Issues

If you cannot find Screen Time in Settings, your iPad may be running an older version of iOS. Devices running iOS 11 or earlier use the Restrictions feature instead, found under Settings > General > Restrictions. Update your iPad to the latest iOS version to access Screen Time by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

If you forgot your Screen Time passcode, tap Forgot Passcode? on the Screen Time passcode entry screen. You will be asked to sign in with your Apple ID and password. After you verify your identity, you can create a new Screen Time passcode. This process requires internet access and may take a few minutes to complete.

If an app limit or restriction is not working as expected, restart the iPad by holding the power button and swiping to power off, then turning it back on. Restart also helps if changes you made are not appearing on a child's linked device. If the problem persists, go to Settings > Screen Time and toggle Screen Time off and back on to refresh the system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child change the parental controls if they know my Screen Time passcode?

No. Even with the correct passcode, a child cannot change Content & Privacy Restrictions or Downtime settings on their own device — they can only use the passcode to temporarily extend an App Limit or open a blocked app. To change the actual restrictions, they would need access to your device or your Apple ID password, which you should keep private.

What happens when an app limit runs out?

The app becomes locked and shows a message saying the time limit has been reached. The child can request more time, which sends a notification to you asking for approval. You can approve the request from your device, or they can enter the Screen Time passcode to unlock it when ready. The limit resets at midnight each day.

Can I set different limits for weekdays and weekends?

Screen Time does not have a built-in weekday/weekend toggle. All App Limits explore every day with the same time allowance. If you need different rules for different days, you can manually adjust the limit each week, or use Downtime to block apps during specific hours instead.

Will changing parental controls affect my own iPad usage?

No. Screen Time settings are device-specific. If you have multiple iPads, each one has its own Screen Time configuration. Changes you make on one iPad do not affect the others unless they are linked through Family Sharing, in which case you can manage them separately from your primary device.

How do I turn off Screen Time completely?

Go to Settings > Screen Time and scroll to the bottom. Tap Turn Off Screen Time and enter your Screen Time passcode. This removes all limits, restrictions, and downtime schedules. You can turn Screen Time back on at any time by returning to the same menu and tapping Turn On Screen Time.