How to enable Ask to Browse on iPhone, iPad, or Mac
Ask to Browse is a new feature in iOS 27 that blocks all websites by default, and it allows your child to send you a request to access a new website.
If you're a parent who would like to tightly control what kind of websites your younger child can access, then chances are Apple's new Ask to Browse feature is exactly what you're looking for. If set up properly, it automatically blocks all websites except for ones you've specifically allowed (with a few minor exceptions), and your child can easily send you a new request if they need to access a website you haven't already added.
It's worth noting that some websites cannot be restricted, especially Apple's own websites. You should also combine Ask to Browse with Ask to Buy to fully control what kind of apps can be installed, because otherwise, it might be too easy for your child to accidentally download a different web browser that doesn't work with Screen Time.
Also, Ask to Browse cannot fully monitor or block content that appears in other apps, especially social media like Snapchat, Instagram, or Discord. Check out our dedicated guide for monitoring a child's iPhone for more advice on monitoring those kinds of apps specifically.
Prerequisites
First, we strongly recommend setting up an Apple Family Group if you plan on using Ask to Browse on a child's device. It's possible to set it up on an adult's iPhone, but it's just not the same kind of enforcement. See our dedicated guide for setting up Apple Family for help getting started.
Next, Ask to Browse is a new feature introduced in Apple's OS 27 release, so unfortunately, Ask to Browse requires both the parent's and child's devices to be upgraded to iOS 27 first. If you've already upgraded to iOS 27 on both your child's and your own devices, then it's worth double-checking if you have any other devices that still need to be updated (yes, that includes devices your child will not use). You may want to double-check Apple's support doc and carefully review the devices listed; if necessary, you can update or temporarily sign out of devices that aren't possible to upgrade.
Apple also recommends that you add your own Contact details to your child's Apple account to make the process of sending approval requests as easy as possible.
How to Get Started With Ask to Browse
First, go to your child's Family Sharing settings from your own iPhone (or Mac) by going to Settings > Family and selecting your child's name.
If all your devices are updated to iOS 27 correctly, you should see an updated view like the one below:
If you scroll down, you should see Apps & Websites:
From here, set up Ask to Browse like so:
Now, if your child tries to visit a website you haven't added yet, they'll see a page like this:
They can then send you a request that you can view and approve using the Messages app:
Frequently Asked Questions
I don't see "Ask to Browse" under my child's Family Sharing settings
If you don't see an "Apps & Websites" section under your child's screen time settings, first, double-check that you're viewing their Family Sharing settings. You can view this on your own Apple device by going to Settings > Family, and then selecting your child's name.
If you still don't see "Apps & Websites" and see a screen like the one below:
Then that probably means that one of your or your child's devices has not updated to iOS 27 yet. Unfortunately, in the earliest versions of OS 27, Apple is very strict about requiring all devices on both the parent's and child's Apple accounts to be upgraded to OS 27. Even having one old device you don't use anymore could be enough to prevent these features from displaying.
Here's how to check all devices listed on your Apple account . You will need to do this on your own Apple account as well as your child's Apple account.
It's also worth noting that even if all devices listed here are updated, OS 27 is still a bit glitchy at the time of writing, so it may be worth waiting a little longer for iOS 27 to receive another update.
How do I find websites that I've already given my child permission to view?
First, go to your child's Family Sharing settings on your device by going to Settings > Family, and then selecting your child's name.
You should see both an Allowed and Blocked section:
You can find the websites you've allowed in this list (it's a mixture of both apps and websites you've allowed). In our example, I'm looking for Google Search:
How do I remove a website that I've already given my child permission to view?
First, go to your child's Family Sharing settings on your device by going to Settings > Family, and then selecting your child's name.
You should see both an Allowed and Blocked section:
You should see a screen like the one below:
Why can my child still access Apple websites even though I haven't allowed those sites?
Unfortunately, Apple enforces its own internal list of websites on Screen Time that parents can't block, even if you try to block the site directly.
The only workaround is to use DNS-based website filtering. See our dedicated guide on how to block websites on iPhone for several options we recommend.
Can Ask to Browse be used to manage an adult's iPhone?
Technically, yes, but it's relatively easy to disable if you already know your Screen Time passcode. We also believe Apple may change how this feature works on an adult's device in future updates (it happens all the time, unfortunately).
Can I allow a webpage while blocking the rest of that website?
This is a common question for apps like Reddit, where you might want to generally prevent a child from exploring all subreddits freely while allowing access to something like /r/gaming.
Unfortunately, Screen Time only allows parents to either completely allow or completely block a website based on its domain name. Fortunately, parents can use screenshot monitoring to better track how websites are being used.