How-To

How to Set Up Parental Controls on Every Device

By Editorial Team Published

How to Set Up Parental Controls on Every Device

Parental controls are a necessary layer of protection for children online, but only if they are actually configured and active. Most devices ship with parental controls turned off, requiring parents to set them up manually. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for every major platform — Apple, Android, Windows, Amazon Fire, gaming consoles, and network-level solutions.

Apple Devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac)

Apple’s built-in Screen Time is comprehensive and free. Set it up through Family Sharing so you can manage everything from your own device.

Step-by-Step

  1. On your device: Go to Settings > Your Name > Family Sharing. Add your child’s Apple ID (create one if they do not have one).
  2. On the child’s device: Go to Settings > Screen Time. Tap “Turn On Screen Time” and select “This Is My Child’s Device.”
  3. Set a Screen Time passcode that only you know. This prevents the child from changing settings.
  4. Configure Downtime: Set scheduled periods when only approved apps and phone calls work. Ideal for bedtime (e.g., 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM).
  5. Set App Limits: Tap App Limits > Add Limit. Choose categories (Social Networking, Games, Entertainment) and set daily time allowances.
  6. Enable Content Restrictions: Go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Turn On. Configure:
    • Web content filtering (Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites Only)
    • App Store restrictions (require approval for downloads)
    • Explicit content blocking for music, podcasts, and movies
    • Privacy settings (prevent changes to location services, contacts)

Pro tip: Set up through Family Sharing on your phone rather than directly on the child’s device. This lets you adjust limits remotely.

Android Devices (Phones, Tablets)

Google Family Link is the Android equivalent of Screen Time. It works on any Android device and offers supervision through your own Google account.

Step-by-Step

  1. On your device: Download the Google Family Link app from the Play Store.
  2. Create a supervised Google Account for your child (or convert an existing account to supervised).
  3. On the child’s device: Sign in with their supervised account. Install Family Link on their device and follow the pairing prompts.
  4. Set daily screen time limits: Open Family Link > Screen Time. Set per-day limits (e.g., 2 hours on weekdays, 3 hours on weekends).
  5. Set a bedtime: Family Link locks the device automatically at the scheduled time.
  6. Manage apps: Approve or block app installations from the Play Store. Lock specific apps that are already installed.
  7. Filter web content: Go to Controls > Content Restrictions > Google Chrome. Choose to block explicit sites or allow only approved sites.
  8. Set location tracking: Family Link can show the device’s location on a map. Useful for older children with phones.

Pro tip: Family Link works across devices. If your child has both a phone and a tablet, settings apply to both from one dashboard.

Amazon Fire Tablets

Amazon’s parental controls are the easiest to set up and the most granular in the industry.

Step-by-Step

  1. During setup: When you first power on the tablet, select “Child Profile” and create a profile with the child’s name and age.
  2. Set time limits: Open Parent Dashboard > Daily Goals & Time Limits. Set separate limits for weekdays and weekends.
  3. Require educational time first: Toggle “Learn First” to require reading or educational app time before games and entertainment unlock. This feature is unique to Amazon.
  4. Manage content: Add or remove content from the child’s profile. Amazon Kids+ provides a curated library; you can also add specific apps or books.
  5. Web browsing: By default, children cannot access a web browser. You can enable it with SafeSearch filtering.
  6. Remote management: Download the Amazon Parent Dashboard app to your phone to adjust settings remotely.

See our best kids tablets 2026 for which Amazon Fire model to choose.

Windows Computers

Microsoft Family Safety provides parental controls for Windows PCs and Xbox.

Step-by-Step

  1. Create a child account: Settings > Accounts > Family & Other Users > Add a Family Member > Add a Child.
  2. Sign in to Family Safety: Go to family.microsoft.com on any browser and sign in with your Microsoft account.
  3. Set screen time limits: Click on your child’s name > Screen Time. Set daily limits for Windows PC use.
  4. Filter web content: Activity > Web & Search Filters. Block adult content across Microsoft Edge (other browsers are automatically blocked on the child’s account).
  5. App and game limits: Set time limits for specific apps and games individually.
  6. Activity reports: Enable weekly email reports summarizing your child’s activity.

Chromebook

Chromebooks use Google Family Link for parental controls, following the same setup as Android devices. Additionally:

  1. The child’s Chromebook user account must be the supervised Google Account.
  2. Guest mode should be disabled (Settings > People > Manage Other People > disable guest browsing).
  3. SafeSearch is enforced automatically on supervised accounts.

Gaming Consoles

Nintendo Switch

System Settings > Parental Controls. Download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app to your phone for remote management. Set play time limits, content restriction levels, and communication restrictions.

PlayStation

Settings > Family Management > Parental Controls. Set age restrictions for games and media, limit communication features, and set monthly spending limits.

Xbox

Uses Microsoft Family Safety (same as Windows). Settings > Account > Family Settings. Set screen time, content restrictions, and communication filters.

Network-Level Protection

Device-level controls protect individual devices. Network-level controls protect everything connected to your Wi-Fi.

Router-Level Controls

Most modern routers offer parental controls in their admin panel. Access your router at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (check your router’s manual), and look for Parental Controls or Access Restrictions. You can block categories of websites and set internet access schedules.

DNS-Level Filtering

For stronger filtering, change your router’s DNS settings to a family-safe DNS:

  • OpenDNS Family Shield: 208.67.222.123 / 208.67.220.123
  • CleanBrowsing Family: 185.228.168.168 / 185.228.169.168

These block adult content, malware, and phishing sites before they reach any device on your network. Setup takes five minutes and requires no software installation.

Maintenance Schedule

Parental controls are not set-and-forget. Review and adjust:

FrequencyAction
MonthlyReview activity reports. Check for new apps.
QuarterlyAdjust time limits based on behavior and maturity.
Twice yearlyReview content restrictions (loosen appropriately as child ages).
AnnuallyReassess whether the current device and controls match the child’s stage.

For more on age-appropriate limits, see our screen time calculator. For a broader safety strategy, see our online safety guide.

Limitations to Understand

Parental controls are a tool, not a solution. Be aware:

  • Tech-savvy children can find workarounds (VPNs, secondary accounts, factory resets)
  • Controls on one device do not protect on a friend’s uncontrolled device
  • Content filters occasionally block legitimate educational content (false positives)
  • No filter catches everything (false negatives)

Ongoing conversation remains the most effective parental control. See our digital parenting FAQ for guidance on building that dialogue.

Sources

  • Kaspersky, “How to Set Up Parental Controls on iPhone and Other Devices”
  • Cloudwards, “How to Put Parental Controls on iPhone and iPad in 2026”
  • Safety Detectives, “How to Set Parental Controls on iPhone: 2026 Guide”
  • Compare Internet, “2026 Internet Parental Controls Guide”

Sources

  1. Common Sense Media — accessed March 2026
  2. AAP Screen Time Guidelines — accessed March 2026