Apple Time Allowance adds more parental controls to its devices in iOS 27 — here's what's new

Child safety on iMac at WWDC 2026 — (Image credit: Apple)

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Better app management
Browser management
Questionable content
Screentime

At WWDC 2026, Apple unveiled a few new parental control features in iOS 27 designed to let parents better manage what their kids can see and do on the iPhones, iPads, and Macbooks.

Here's a quick rundown of the new parental control features coming to iOS.

Better app management

Child Account at WWDC 2026 — (Image credit: Apple)

When setting up a child account, parents will be able to select which apps their kid will have access to; you can either whitelist certain apps, or blacklist ones that you find questionable.

Browser management

Screen Time Scheduler across Apple OSes — (Image credit: Apple)

Similar to apps, parents will be able to block or whitelist individual websites; it's being expanded so that kids will be able to ask their parents for permission to browse a site, so that an adult can check it before approval.

Questionable content

What kids can see on iPhone at WWDC 2026 — (Image credit: Apple)

Currently, if a kid attempts to receive or send nude photos or videos— be it via text or FaceTime — they'll receive a warning about questionable content. Apple is expanding this feature to include both gore and violent content.

Screentime

Lastly, Apple is expanding ScreenTime so parents can better see and manage how their kids are using apps and other features of their phones. You'll be able to see how much time they spend on entertainment, games, and social media, and can set specific time limits for each.

In addition, you'll be able to set custom limits for each day, block specific apps, and more, so that your kid isn't using Instagram while they should be at school.

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Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.