How iOS 26 Changes Parental Controls and Screen Time for Parents
We tested iOS 26's Screen Time updates. Here what actually got better (and what didn't).
Apple iOS 26 has introduced several changes to Screen Time and parental controls that parents should be aware of before updating. Many of these changes work in parents' favor, adding new features and removing old bypass methods that existed in Screen Time previously.
Parents can (finally) completely disable an App
The biggest change is that Screen Time can finally block apps completely using App Limits. Previously, parents could only limit an app by setting a time limit of 1 minute, since iOS never allowed them to set this to zero.
Now, parents can completely block an app by adding a new app limit and setting it to zero:
App Permissions are Protected by Screen Time Pin
Previously, an app that depended on Screen Time could easily be bypassed by turning off the app's screen time permissions. iOS 26.4 protects app permissions by requiring the Screen Time pin rather than the iPhone's password or FaceID. This protects apps with screen time access reliably on an adult's iPhone or iPad.
Simplified process for uninstalling an Apple Family Screen Time App
Previously, if a child's device was set up with Apple Family and used an app that depended on Screen Time, uninstalling the app required two steps. First, the parent would need to turn off the app in "Apps with Screen Time Access" by using their child's phone and accessing screen time settings.
After turning off the app's screen time permission, it could be deleted just like any other app. However, this isn't very intuitive and tends to create a lot of customer support requests for parental control apps.
With iOS 26.4, a parent can simply delete the app like any other app. However, they'll have to enter a parent's Apple account email/password to delete the app.
The level of enforcement is still the same, but the process for removing an app is more intuitive now.
Disable In-App Browser windows with Downtime
One of the biggest frustrations parents run into when trying to restrict the internet on their child's iPhone has been the In-App Browser window that can appear in some apps. Previously, if a parent made an exception to the downtime rule with an app, the In-app browser would also be allowed even if Safari was disabled.
Now, the In-app browser is disabled if Downtime is active, as explained in this Reddit post .
If you want to completely disable the In-app browser, there are now two main approaches to consider:
- Create a Downtime that applies always, then manually add apps you'd like your child to access.
- Limit websites to a small list of URLs.
See our dedicated parents' guide for iPhone parental controls to learn more about each of these approaches.
Easily add children to Apple Family sharing
Apple has made it significantly easier for parents to bring their child's existing Apple account into parental controls, as well as start from scratch and create a completely restricted child account for younger children.
If you are just getting started setting up your child's account (as in, they don't have an Apple account yet), it's significantly easier to create a child account for them first.
Child accounts are any accounts with a birthdate that makes the user under the age of 13. Instead of a parent needing to borrow their child's iPhone to unlock screen time and make changes, parents can do this completely remotely if they've set up Apple Family Sharing on their account. This is called Managed Screen Time.
To convert an existing account into a child's account:
Apple Family Sharing works on most recent iOS versions, including iOS 18. iOS 26 introduces new ways for parents to set up accounts for their child that are more streamlined.
Manage contacts for a child's account
If you're child has been added to your Family Group, you can manage both Screen Time and Contacts for your child. To enable this feature:
Here, you can view your child's contact list, as well as add, edit, or delete them for your child.
Additionally, you can disable Allow Contact Editing to prevent your child from changing their existing Contacts without permission.
Private browsing in Safari is no longer disabled when adult websites are filtered
If your child's iPhone uses iOS 18.6 or older, then you can disable Private tabs by following these steps:
However, on iOS 26, parents should know that this no longer disables private tabs. Consider taking these precautions:
Note that Supervised Mode is typically recommended for adults restricting their own iPhones or iPads, but tech-savvy parents can still combine Supervised Mode and Screen Time .
App Ratings have been updated to be more accurate
Apple updated the App Store ratings to cover more topics and age groups, and the final age rating list includes 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, and 18+.
Previous age ratings had some ambiguity. For example, apps could be rated 17+, but still be accessible to minors.
Parents should review these settings on their child's Screen Time: