Parental Controls in 2026: The Complete Setup Guide for Every Device
Step-by-step instructions for setting up parental controls on iOS, Android, Xbox, PlayStation, and routers — plus the limits of what they can actually do.
Before You Start
Parental controls work best as a supplement to conversation — not a replacement. Research by the NSPCC and Internet Matters consistently shows that children who can talk to a parent about what they encounter online are far better protected than those subject to controls alone.
iPhone and iPad (iOS Screen Time)
- Open Settings → Screen Time → Turn On Screen Time
- Select "This is My Child's [device]"
- Set a Screen Time passcode (different from the device passcode)
- Under Content & Privacy Restrictions: enable restrictions, set age ratings for apps/films/music, and block explicit websites
- Use Communication Limits to restrict who your child can contact
- Set Downtime schedules — screen turns off during school hours and at bedtime
- Enable Share Across Devices to monitor via your own iPhone using Family Sharing
Android Devices (Google Family Link)
- Download Google Family Link on both your phone and your child's Android device
- Create or link your child's Google account
- Set app download approvals — any new app requires your permission
- Enable SafeSearch in Google and content filters on YouTube (YouTube Kids for under-13s)
- Set daily screen time limits and bedtime schedules
- Track device location via the Family Link app
Router-Level Filtering (Protects All Devices on Your Wi-Fi)
Router-level filtering is more robust than device controls alone because it covers every device on your home network — including friends' phones when they visit.
- BT, Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and EE all offer free parental controls via their router settings — log in to your router's admin page or contact your ISP
- Vodafone Secure Net — available for Vodafone broadband customers
- Circle Home Plus — third-party device that attaches to any router; offers per-device controls, screen time limits, and content filtering
- DNS filtering (advanced) — change your router's DNS server to Cloudflare 1.1.1.3 (Families) or CleanBrowsing for free adult content filtering
Key Apps to Monitor or Restrict
| App / Platform | Recommended Age | Key Safety Setting |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 13+ | Family Pairing, Screen Time limits, private account |
| 13+ | Supervised Accounts, private account, message restrictions | |
| Snapchat | 13+ | Family Centre (connect parent account), ghost mode on |
| Roblox | 7+ | Pin-protected settings, restrict chat, no real-name profile |
| Discord | 13+ | Limit to known servers, disable DMs from strangers |
| 16+ (UK ToS) | Privacy settings: profile photo/status visible to Contacts only |
Further Resources
- Internet Matters: internetmatters.org — step-by-step parental control guides for every device and platform
- NSPCC Net Aware: net-aware.org.uk — parent reviews and safety ratings for apps and social networks
- Ofcom's Online Nation Report 2024 — the latest data on children's internet use
Sources: NSPCC, Online Safety for Children: What Parents Need to Know (2024); Internet Matters, Parental Controls Guide 2026; Ofcom, Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report 2023 (2024); UK Safer Internet Centre, Parents and Carers Online Safety Resources (2024). Last reviewed: April 2026.