Raising Parental controls: step-by-step guides
Where each platform hides its parental controls, and the exact menu steps to turn on content limits, screen time, spending approval, and chat settings. Every step comes from the company's own help pages, checked in October 2026.
Checked October 2026.
Roblox
Link a parent account, set content maturity, turn chat off, and cap monthly Robux spending.
iPhone
Set up a Child Account, Screen Time, content ratings, Ask to Buy, and who your child can contact.
Disney+
Turn on Junior Mode, set a content rating per profile, add a Profile PIN, and lock profile creation.
Nintendo Switch and Switch 2
Link the free Parental Controls app, pick an age level, set play time, approve GameChat, and block eShop buys.
YouTube
Choose YouTube Kids or a supervised account, set a content level, block channels, and limit Shorts.
iPad
Set up Screen Time for your child's iPad, or lock a shared iPad to one app with Guided Access.
Xbox
Use the Xbox Family Settings app to set age filters, screen time, Ask to buy, and who can play and chat.
TikTok
TikTok is 13+; Family Pairing links your account to a teen's to set screen time, content filters, and DMs.
What the settings can't teach, and what your child can learn
Parental controls are a fence, not a skill. They decide what reaches your child, but not what your child does when the timer ends, a purchase is declined, or a game goes badly. In our program, 5- and 6-year-olds practice those moments offline: "The Pause Button" (stop, breathe, choose) for ending screen time, "I'm the Boss of My Want" (practicing the pause between wanting something and getting it) for in-app purchases, and "The Wave" (big feelings rise, peak, and pass) for losing. The lessons run in 20-minute sessions twice a week, so the skills are familiar before kids need them online.
FAQ
Which parental controls should I set up first?
Start with the device your child uses most (iPhone or iPad Screen Time, or a console's parental controls app), then the apps inside it, like YouTube or Roblox, which have their own separate settings.
Do parental controls work across devices?
Usually they follow the account, not the device. Apple's Screen Time applies to devices signed in with the child's Apple Account, and Xbox says its family settings might not apply when Xbox games are played on other devices or platforms.
Can my child turn parental controls off?
Not without your passcode, PIN, or account password. Several companies, including Xbox and Nintendo, note that anyone who knows them can change or lift the restrictions.
Do I need to pay for parental controls?
The controls described here are built into each company's app, console, or account settings; Nintendo describes its Parental Controls app as free. You still need the device or subscription itself.