Content Filtering
How to Enforce a Content Filter on an iPhone
There are many different ways that a content filter can be effectively enforced on iPhones or iPads.
If you have configured content filtering on your iPhone, you've probably realized that there are numerous loopholes that allow a user to bypass filtering entirely. If you are focused on blocking addictive web content, then you also need to prioritize protecting content filtering on the iPhone so that it isn't bypassed (either intentionally or accidentally). Contrary to popular belief, there are some effective ways to protect content filtering on an iPhone, even for adults.
In order to effectively enforce content filtering on an iPhone, you'll need to go further than the traditional approaches.
Choosing an Approach for Protecting Content Filtering
We're using a special approach in this guide that you've probably never heard of - here's why.
If you are using network settings (DNS or VPN settings) to connect to a content filtering service, this connection cannot be adequately protected on a standard iPhone.
You are limited to the built-in content filtering provided by Screen Time or apps downloaded from the app store that leverage Screen Time's content filtering. However, these apps that depend on Screen Time can be easily disabled in Screen Time settings (even without the Screen Time pin).
Furthermore, if Screen Time is being configured for an adult, the adult can easily bypass Screen Time settings even if a passcode is set.
As a result, this guide focuses on a more reliable approach that applies to anyone using an iPhone (adults as well as kids).
Enable Supervised Mode for Advanced Content Filtering Protection
Apple provides an alternative to Screen Time , called supervised mode, which can be used to effectively protect content filtering on an iPhone even for adults who want to filter web content for themselves.
Supervised Mode works a bit differently: instead of adding apps or configuring settings on the phone, you install config files that protect these settings.
Supervised mode manages Settings on your iPhone in a way that can't be disabled. Plus, you can protect VPN and DNS settings that are necessary for most content filtering services.
Enforce a Filtered VPN
Content filters can use different approaches or techniques to block websites and apps, but the most common way is by using an app that adds a VPN configuration to your iPhone.
It's important to ensure that this filtered VPN can't be disabled, removed, or bypassed. See our dedicated guide for enforcing VPNs on iPhone for full instructions.
Block Conflicting VPNs
VPNs tend not to mix well with content filters, and a VPN's network settings will likely override other network settings on your iPhone.
Even worse, if your content filter uses a VPN, you're limited to using one VPN at a time. Since you can't chain VPN connections, switching to a non-filtered VPN needs to be prevented.
Fortunately, there are several ways that you can effectively block VPNs on iPhones , and depending on how strict of a setup you need, it's possible to:
- Completely prevent new VPNs from being added by an app or manually through settings
- Restrict VPN or "privacy" browsers from being added to the iPhone
Enforcing Apple's Adult Content Filter
Apple provides a built-in content filter that lets you block websites and filter adult content automatically. You can force on this filter and prevent it from being disabled.
You can toggle on "Enable Automatic Adult Content Filter" in our Apple Config Generator :
This will lock on an protect Apple's automatic adult content filter.
Then, you can customize your own list of extra websites that you want to block:
Since these settings are managed by a config file, you don't have to worry about websites being unblocked or adult content filtering being turned off.
Adding Fallback DNS Settings
Another area to consider is to add DNS settings that point to your Content Policy . This ensures that if your content filtering VPN is bypassed for some reason, the iPhone's connection will fallback to DNS settings and continue to filter content as if the content filtering VPN were still active.
If you'v enabled Supervised Mode on your iPhone, you can install a protected DNS config to ensure that DNS settings can't be modified: