How To Change Parental Controls on iPad

Changing parental controls on iPad happens in Settings > Screen Time, where you can edit limits, content rules, and purchase blocks.

“Parental controls” on iPad mostly means Screen Time. That’s where Apple groups app limits, content restrictions, purchase settings, and a passcode that keeps those settings from being changed. If you’re tweaking rules on your own iPad, you’ll edit Screen Time on that device. If you manage a child’s iPad, you’ll usually change settings from the organizer’s device with Family Sharing.

This guide walks you through both setups, shows where each control lives, and points out the spots kids try to use to wiggle around limits. You’ll finish with a clean checklist you can use any time you need to adjust rules for school days, weekends, travel, or a new app.

Know Which iPad Setup You’re Using Before You Change Anything

Screen Time behaves a little differently based on who set it up. Before you start flipping switches, figure out which situation you’re in. It saves a ton of backtracking.

Manage A Child Through Family Sharing — You see your child’s name under Settings > Screen Time (or Settings > Family), and you can change their limits from your device.
Screen Time Set Up On The Child’s iPad Only — The controls exist, but they’re locked with a passcode you set on that iPad, not through a family group.
Screen Time On Your Own iPad — You’re setting limits for yourself (or for a shared household iPad) and you can change them anytime if you know the passcode.

If you’re not sure, open Settings, tap Screen Time, and scroll. If you see a “Family” section with names, you’re in the Family Sharing flow. Apple’s overview of Screen Time parental controls is here: Use parental controls to manage your child’s iPhone or iPad.

Where Each Parental Control Lives In Screen Time

Screen Time has a lot of menus, and it’s easy to miss the one you actually need. This table is the fast map.

Screen Time Area	What It Changes	Where To Find It
Downtime	Blocks most apps on a schedule (bedtime, school hours)	Settings > Screen Time > Downtime
App Limits	Sets daily time caps per app or category	Settings > Screen Time > App Limits
Always Allowed	Apps that keep working during Downtime	Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed
Communication Limits	Who your child can contact, and when	Settings > Screen Time > Communication Limits
Content & Privacy Restrictions	Web filters, content ratings, purchases, account changes	Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions
Screen Time Passcode	Keeps Screen Time settings locked behind a code	Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode

Most “change parental controls” requests boil down to editing Content & Privacy Restrictions, adjusting App Limits, or fixing the Screen Time passcode so settings stay locked.

Change Parental Controls On A Child’s iPad Using Family Sharing

If your child is in your Family Sharing group, manage their Screen Time from the organizer’s device. This keeps rules consistent, even if the child resets their iPad or signs in on another Apple device.

Get To Your Child’s Screen Time Settings

Open Settings — On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings and tap Screen Time.
Select Your Child — Scroll to the Family section and tap your child’s name.
Enter The Passcode — Type your Screen Time passcode if prompted.

Adjust Time Limits That Actually Stick

Time limits work best when you pair a schedule with a couple of tight exceptions. That keeps school apps usable while the noisy stuff stays capped.

Edit Downtime — Tap Downtime, pick a schedule, then turn on “Block At Downtime” so limits act like a lock, not a suggestion.
Set App Limits — Tap App Limits, add categories or specific apps, then choose a daily limit and enable “Block At End Of Limit.”
Trim Always Allowed — Tap Always Allowed and remove entertainment apps that don’t need to run after hours.

Change Content Rules And Web Filters

This is the part most people mean when they say parental controls. It covers App Store purchases, explicit content, website access, and account tweaks.

Open Content & Privacy Restrictions — Toggle it on, then tap into the menu.
Lock Purchases — Go to iTunes & App Store Purchases and set Installing Apps, Deleting Apps, and In-App Purchases to “Don’t Allow.”
Set Age Ratings — Open App Store, Media, Web, & Games and choose content ratings that match your child’s age.
Filter Websites — In Web Content, pick “Limit Adult Websites” or “Allowed Websites Only,” then add any school portals your child needs.
Block Account Changes — In Account Changes, stop password and account edits that can break family controls.

Control Who They Can Message Or Call

If you want fewer late-night chats and more sleep, Communication Limits is the cleanest lever. It can also reduce spam messages on a child’s device.

Open Communication Limits — Set limits for “During Screen Time” and “During Downtime.”
Pick Allowed Contacts — Choose “Contacts Only” or a tighter list if you want.
Check Contact Editing — If you manage contacts from your device, confirm whether the child can edit contacts on their iPad.

Make The Passcode Hard To Guess

If a child learns the Screen Time passcode, they can grant themselves more time when an app limit pops up. A passcode change takes two minutes and resets the playing field.

Open Manage Screen Time — From your child’s Screen Time page, go to Change Screen Time Passcode.
Change The Code — Tap Change Screen Time Passcode, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode, then enter a new Screen Time code.
Keep It Off The Same Digits — Skip birthdays and repeating numbers that are easy to spot over your shoulder.

If you’re locked out, Apple explains how to reset a Screen Time passcode for your device or a child’s device here: If you forgot your Screen Time passcode.

Change Parental Controls Directly On The iPad Itself

If you don’t use Family Sharing, you can still change parental controls on iPad by editing Screen Time on that iPad. This is common with a shared household iPad, a single-parent setup, or a hand-me-down device that isn’t tied into a family group.

Turn Screen Time On If It’s Off

Open Screen Time — Go to Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap Turn On Screen Time.
Choose The Profile — Pick “This Is My iPad” for self-use limits or “This Is My Child’s iPad” for child-focused prompts.
Set A Passcode — Tap Use Screen Time Passcode and create a code the child won’t guess.

Change App Limits And Downtime

Edit Downtime — Tap Downtime and adjust the schedule for school nights, weekends, or vacations.
Adjust App Limits — Tap App Limits, pick an existing limit, then edit time or remove apps that no longer need a cap.
Review Always Allowed — Keep phone, messages, or class tools allowed if you use the iPad for calls or school logins.

Change Content & Privacy Restrictions

When a child says “I can’t download this app” or “Safari won’t open that site,” this menu is where you fix it.

Open Content & Privacy Restrictions — Toggle it on if it’s off, then tap the menu to edit.
Adjust Web Content — Switch between “Limit Adult Websites” and “Allowed Websites Only,” then add or remove specific URLs.
Change Purchase Rules — Set Installing Apps and In-App Purchases to Allow or Don’t Allow based on your household rules.
Edit Privacy Toggles — In Privacy, control Location Services, Contacts, Photos, Microphone, and other permissions.

Change The Screen Time Passcode Or Remove It Safely

A lot of “parental controls won’t change” problems come from passcode mix-ups. You can change the passcode, turn it off, or reset it if you forgot it. The exact steps depend on how Screen Time was set up.

Change Or Turn Off The Passcode On Your Own iPad

Open Screen Time — Go to Settings, tap Screen Time.
Choose Passcode Options — Scroll down and tap Change Screen Time Passcode.
Select What You Need — Tap Change Screen Time Passcode to set a new code, or tap Turn Off Screen Time Passcode to remove it.

Reset A Forgotten Passcode Without Guessing

Guessing locks you into a loop and wastes time. If you forgot the code, use the Apple Account credentials linked to that Screen Time setup to reset it. Apple’s reset flow is spelled out step by step in their help page for forgotten Screen Time passcodes.

Common Problems When Changing Parental Controls On iPad

Screen Time is reliable, but a few settings can make it feel “stuck.” Here are the fixes that solve most headaches.

Changes Don’t Apply Across Devices

If you set limits on one device and the child uses another iPad or iPhone, settings can feel inconsistent.

Turn On Share Across Devices — On the organizer’s device, enable Screen Time sharing so limits sync to devices on the same Apple Account.
Check The Apple Account — Confirm the child is signed in to the same Apple Account you manage in the family group.
Restart Both Devices — A quick restart can pull down updated Screen Time settings after a change.

Safari Blocks A School Site

Web filters can block even harmless sites when the category flags content in the background.

Open Web Content — Go to Content & Privacy Restrictions > App Store, Media, Web, & Games > Web Content.
Add The Allowed URL — In Allowed Websites, add the exact domain the school uses.
Test In A Fresh Tab — Use a new tab to make sure cached pages aren’t masking the change.

App Limits Are Easy To Extend

Kids often tap “One More Minute” over and over, or ask for more time when you’re busy. You can tighten this.

Enable Block At End Of Limit — Make the limit require the Screen Time passcode to keep using the app.
Move Fun Apps Out Of Always Allowed — Entertainment apps in Always Allowed keep running during Downtime.
Change The Passcode — If you suspect the child knows it, swap it right away.

Restrictions Vanish After A Reset

If Screen Time was set up only on the child’s iPad, a full erase and setup can wipe local settings. Family Sharing management reduces this risk since controls are tied to the organizer’s device and the child’s account.

Taking A Parental Controls Change From One-Off To Routine

The best parental controls are the ones you’ll actually keep up with. A simple routine keeps Screen Time helpful instead of turning into a weekly argument.

Review Weekly Reports — Check the Screen Time summary once a week and spot apps that suddenly spike.
Use School Night Schedules — Keep one Downtime schedule for school nights and adjust weekend start and end times when you need a change.
Whitelist Real Needs — Add school portals, classroom apps, and messaging with family to Always Allowed, then keep the rest behind limits.
Revisit Content Ratings — As kids get older, tweak ratings gradually instead of flipping everything open at once.
Lock Purchases — Keep in-app purchases blocked unless you’re actively approving a purchase.

Once you know where Screen Time stores each control, changing parental controls on iPad becomes a quick Settings visit, not a troubleshooting marathon. The trick is matching the right path to your setup: Family Sharing for managed child devices, Screen Time on-device for single iPads, and a passcode that stays private.