Apple’s redesigned parental controls are now live on iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. The update adds a website-approval system for kids and expands what Communication Safety blocks in shared photos and video calls. It also rebuilds Screen Time with a simpler at-a-glance view, according to an Apple newsroom release dated September 14.
Apple first previewed these tools in June. They’re now shipping, not just promised, which matters given how often “coming soon” child-safety features slip.
What’s actually new
Ask to Browse is the headline addition. Parents can now require approval before a child visits any new website in Safari, closing a long-standing gap where content filters could be worked around by simply typing in a new URL. Communication Safety, which already screened out nudity in shared images, now also blocks gore and violent content. That protection now extends to live FaceTime calls, not just messages.
Time Allowances replaces guesswork with expert-informed defaults. Instead of parents picking arbitrary daily limits, Apple now suggests age-tailored allowances for categories like Social Media, Entertainment, and Games. Parents can still adjust those suggestions up or down. The redesigned Screen Time itself shows usage at a glance. It also lets parents make one-tap adjustments in the moment, instead of digging through several settings screens.
New child accounts also get a simpler setup flow with a recommended starter set of apps. That cuts down the initial configuration work parents have to do by hand.
The catch: everyone in the family has to update
Apple’s release includes a caveat worth flagging before parents get excited. In Apple’s own words: “All devices in a Family Sharing group must be updated to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 to use the Screen Time update.” If one family member is still running an older OS, the new Screen Time features won’t work for the whole group, not just partially. Apple also notes some features may not be available in all regions, languages, or device models.
Apple says it’s working with the American Academy of Pediatrics on these tools. The two are adapting the Academy’s Family Media Plan into a reference guide for parents. Apple has also launched a dedicated site with setup details.
Where to find it
On a device already running iOS 27, the new controls live in the existing Screen Time menu inside Settings, under each child’s profile in Family Sharing. Ask to Browse and Time Allowances appear as new options once every device in the family group is updated. There’s no separate app to install.
Source: Apple Newsroom
