How to enable parental controls on Android, iPhone, and Windows

Introduction

Parental controls help you manage what your children can access on their devices — from restricting inappropriate content and app purchases to setting screen time limits. Here's how to set them up on the most common platforms.

Parental Controls on iPhone (Screen Time)

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time
2. Tap Turn On Screen Time
3. Tap This is My Child's iPhone
4. Set a Screen Time Passcode (different from the device passcode)
5. From here you can configure:
   • Downtime — schedule time when only certain apps are available
   • App Limits — set daily time limits for app categories
   • Content & Privacy Restrictions — block explicit content, restrict app purchases, and control privacy settings
   • Communication Limits — control who your child can contact

You can also manage your child's device remotely using Family Sharing via Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing.

Parental Controls on Android (Google Family Link)

Google Family Link is the recommended tool for managing children's Android devices.

1. Download Google Family Link from the Play Store on both your device and your child's device
2. Open the app on your device and follow the setup instructions to link your child's account
3. Once linked, you can:
   • Approve or block app downloads
   • Set daily screen time limits
   • Lock the device remotely
   • View your child's app activity
   • Manage content filters in Google Search and YouTube

For Samsung devices, you can also use Samsung Kids mode via Settings > Digital Wellbeing > Parental Controls.

Parental Controls on Windows

Using Microsoft Family Safety:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users
2. Click Add a family member and add your child's Microsoft account
3. Visit family.microsoft.com to manage settings including:
   • Screen time limits
   • Content filters for websites and apps
   • Spending limits for the Microsoft Store
   • Activity reports showing what your child has been doing online

Windows Content Filters:

You can also set content filters directly in Windows by going to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users and clicking Manage family settings online.

Additional Tips

• Have an open conversation with your children about why these controls are in place
• Review and adjust settings as your child gets older
• Use router-level parental controls for whole-home filtering — many modern routers include this feature
• Consider using YouTube Kids instead of regular YouTube for younger children

Need Help Setting Up Parental Controls?

If you need help configuring parental controls on your family's devices, our team at RepairMedia can assist. Contact us or visit our Huddersfield repair centre.