Apple Rolls Out New Child Safety and Parental Controls Across iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27

Apple announced that a new set of child safety and parental control features is now available with the official release of iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27. The features are designed to manage what children can see, whom they can contact and how long they can use apps. Apple said the tools were first previewed in June 2026 and build on existing parental control features.

Apple has added an Ask to Browse feature. When a child attempts to visit a website in Safari that has not been visited before, parents can require the child to obtain permission first. After the child sends a request, parents can approve or deny it directly. The feature works in a similar way to Ask to Buy in the App Store and is available across iPhone, iPad and Mac.

On communication, parents can manage whom children contact through Messages, FaceTime and Phone. When a child wants to communicate with a new contact, parents can require prior approval. Apple's existing Communication Safety feature was previously used mainly to detect nudity in Messages and FaceTime calls, blurring the content and issuing a warning. With this system update, the feature can also intervene in response to graphic or violent content in shared images and videos. Apple said image and video analysis related to Communication Safety is performed on device and that such content is not sent to Apple or third parties. End-to-end encryption remains in place, the fact that nudity or violent content has been detected does not leave the device, and parents or others are not notified because the system performed a detection.

For managing app usage time, Apple introduced Time Allowances, which let parents set time limits for children by category, such as entertainment, games and social media. Parents can use the Schedules feature to specify which apps children can access at different times of day and on different days of the week, for example limiting entertainment apps during class time, and can also temporarily restrict device access for meals, outdoor activities and family time. Apple has also redesigned Screen Time so parents can see the average time their child spends on the device each day and the apps used most, and adjust access to apps and websites directly. If a child is completing a task and needs extra time, parents can extend access or pause device use.

Apple is working with the American Academy of Pediatrics to adapt its Family Media Plan into a reference guide for parents managing Apple devices. Apple also said it will continue working with relevant researchers to study the impact of technology products on children's digital lives and physical and mental development. Apple launched a website for parents that brings together child safety tools, related resources and frequently asked questions.

Some existing child safety tools continue to be offered. For example, Screen Time Passcode Notifications can alert parents when the Screen Time passcode they set is entered on a child's device. A user reporting tool is available in some countries and regions, allowing users to report harmful content directly to Apple, and Apple plans to gradually expand the feature's coverage. For children who do not have their own iPhone, Apple offers Apple Watch for Kids, which lets parents stay in contact with their child through Apple Watch and use Find My to see the child's location. Children can use Phone and Messages to contact family and friends, and can also use Apple Maps, Apple Music and some other features, and develop more independent usage habits through features such as activity goals. In Schooltime mode, the device can block notifications and disable some apps.

Apple's update also brings developers into the child safety system. Developers can also use the Age Range API to obtain a child's age range without obtaining the child's specific date of birth, and adjust the app experience accordingly. If a family manages multiple devices through Family Sharing, the relevant devices in the family group need to be updated to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 and visionOS 27 to use the new Screen Time features in full.