Raising iPad parental controls: how to set them up
iPad parental controls use the same Screen Time system as iPhone: from your own device, open Settings > Family, tap your child's name, and set up Screen Time. If the iPad belongs to your child, give them a Child Account and turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions and Time Allowances. If the iPad is yours and you hand it over, Guided Access locks it to a single app, with an optional time limit and a passcode to exit. Ask to Buy is on by default for children under 13.
At a glance
| Where | Settings > Family > your child's name; or Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access on a shared iPad source |
|---|---|
| Time needed | About 20 minutes for Screen Time; about 5 minutes for Guided Access |
| You need | Family Sharing and a Child Account for Screen Time; only a passcode for Guided Access |
| Works on | iPad with iPadOS 27 for the new Screen Time controls |
| Age rules | A parent must create the Apple Account for a child under 13 (age requirements vary by country or region) source |
| Official guide | Apple Support: Use Screen Time to manage your child's iPhone or iPad source |
Checked October 2026. Menus change with updates; the official help page linked above has the latest steps.
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
How to set up Screen Time for your child's iPad
Short answer: Create a Child Account in Family Sharing, then set up Screen Time from your own device.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings and tap Family.
- Tap the Add Member button, then Create Child Account, then Continue, and enter your child's name and correct birthday.
- Sign in to your child's iPad with that Child Account.
- On your device, go to Settings > Family, tap your child's name, tap Screen Time, and follow the onscreen instructions.
The full menu-by-menu walkthrough is the same as on iPhone; see our iPhone parental controls guide.
How to set content ratings and Ask to Buy on iPad
Short answer: Choose age ratings in Content & Privacy Restrictions, and keep Require Purchase Approval on.
- Open Settings, tap Family, then tap your child's name.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, enter your Screen Time passcode if asked, select a type of content, and choose an age rating.
- Go back, tap Apps & Websites, tap Restrictions, tap Ask to Buy, then turn on Require Purchase Approval.
How to set a daily time limit on iPad
Short answer: Time Allowances set a daily budget; Screen Time Schedule sets the hours.
- Open Settings, tap Family, then tap your child's name.
- Tap Time Allowances, tap the Add button, and follow the onscreen instructions.
- Tap Screen Time Schedule, turn on Schedule, then tap Add Schedule and choose the days.
How to lock a shared iPad to one app with Guided Access
Short answer: Turn on Guided Access, open the app, and triple-click the top button to start a locked session.
- Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then tap Guided Access and turn it on.
- In Passcode Settings, set a Guided Access passcode.
- Open the app your child will use, then triple-click the top button (or the Home button on older iPads).
- Tap Session Settings (or Options) and turn on Time Limit if you want the session to end after a set time.
- Tap Start. To end the session, triple-click, enter your passcode, and tap End.
What these settings can't do
- Guided Access isn't a Child Account. It locks one app for one session, but it doesn't filter what's inside that app.
- Emergency features pause. Apple says Crash Detection and emergency services aren't available during a Guided Access session.
- Mixed software versions limit features. The new iPadOS 27 Screen Time controls need every device in the family group updated; otherwise the previous version applies.
- They don't reach inside other apps. Chat, purchases, and content inside apps have their own parental controls, set separately.
What the settings can't teach, and what your child can learn
Settings are a fence, not a skill: Guided Access can end the session, but it can't hand the iPad back for your child. In our program, 5- and 6-year-olds practice:
- "The Pause Button" (stop, breathe, choose) for the "Time Expired" screen.
- "The Wave" (big feelings rise, peak, and pass) for the tears that can follow it.
- "Two Baskets" (what's up to me, and what isn't) for knowing the limit is set, while what they play next is still their choice.
In our program, these are practiced offline, in 20-minute sessions twice a week, before kids need them online.
Parent guides for iPad
YouTube Kids
Is YouTube Kids safe? The facts for parents of kids 4–7: how filtering works and where it fails, age settings, parental controls, ads, and the FTC settlement.
Roblox
Is Roblox safe for kids? The facts for parents of 4- to 7-year-olds: the ESRB rating, the risks, state lawsuits, Roblox Kids accounts, and what research says.
Minecraft
Minecraft age rating explained for parents of 4- to 7-year-olds: ratings by country, online play and chat, purchases, child-account defaults, and the movie.
Why you can trust this page: the main facts link to their sources, a separate reviewer checks each page before it goes live, and the date shows when we last checked. How we review · Report an error
FAQ
How do I set parental controls on an iPad?
From your own device, go to Settings > Family, tap your child's name, then Screen Time, and follow the onscreen steps. Your child needs a Child Account in your Family Sharing group.
Can I set a time limit on an iPad?
Yes. Use Time Allowances for a daily budget and Screen Time Schedule for set hours, or use Time Limit in a Guided Access session on a shared iPad.
What is Guided Access on iPad?
It's an Accessibility feature that temporarily restricts the iPad to a single app, with optional time limits and screen areas turned off, until someone enters the passcode.
Are iPad and iPhone parental controls the same?
Yes. Both use Screen Time with the same menus, and Apple's guides cover them together.
More parental control guides
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.
Raising Stoics is a 12-week program for ages 5–6, built on Stoic philosophy and developmental psychology. One lesson is "The Pause Button": stop, breathe, choose.