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Tablet parental controls explained: how to keep your kids safe
A certified smartphones, tablets and wearables whizz, Adam's been hands-on with tech for more than six years, sharing expert knowledge and buying advice.
The rules you set on a new tablet are one thing; making sure they can't be easily bypassed is another. Parental controls can help you manage everything from screen time and app downloads to the websites and content your child can access.
Apple and Google both offer free tools that give you plenty of control over how your child uses their iPad or Android tablet, but you need to know which settings to use and where to find them.
Here, we break down the essential parental controls for iPads and Android tablets. And, most importantly, explain how to close the backdoors and loopholes your kids might use to get around them.
See our expert pick for the best tablets for kids to help you get the ideal choice for your child.
What are parental controls?
These let parents and carers restrict what children can do on their device.
Parental controls can be used to block specific websites, control which apps can be downloaded, manage privacy settings and limit screen time.
They aren't foolproof, however, particularly if your child knows their way around a tablet. It's worth understanding how the controls work and the ways children might try to get around them.
How do I set parental controls on a tablet?
Where you'll find parental controls depends on whether your child uses an iPad or Android tablet. Both Apple and Google offer free tools for managing screen time, apps and the content your child can access.
- On an iPad – Apple's parental controls are managed through Screen Time. If you've set up Family Sharing and added your child's Apple Account, go to Settings > Screen Time, then select your child's name under Family.
- On an Android tablet – use Google Family Link to manage your child's parental controls. Open Family Link and select your child to access controls for screen time, apps, Google Play and more.
We'll explain the most useful Screen Time and Family Link settings in more detail below.
Apple Screen Time vs. Google Family Link
Depending on whether you have an Apple iPad or Android tablet, your child’s device will use either Apple's Screen Time or Google's Family Link. Both are powerful, free systems designed to help keep kids safe.
Below, we compare what each offers and explain whether the built-in controls are enough without paying for a third-party app.
Are free parental controls on iPad and Android enough for kids?
Let's get straight to it: for most younger children, yes. The free parental controls available on Apple and Google devices offer plenty of tools for managing how children use their tablet.
For children aged 4 to 11, you may not need to pay for a third-party parental control app. Many offer additional features aimed at older children and teenagers, while the built-in tools from Apple and Google cover essentials such as screen time, app downloads and content restrictions.
Apple iPad: using Screen Time
Apple's Screen Time is great for its simplicity. It's a good choice if you want to create a 'walled garden' of apps and content for your child to play in.
A good place to start is Content & Privacy Restrictions. From here, you can prevent app installations and in-app purchases, restrict inappropriate content and limit which websites your child can access.
To access these settings, go to Settings > Screen Time. Under Family, choose your child's name, then tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and switch it on.
Other useful Screen Time features include:
- App Limits – lets you set daily time limits for individual apps or categories such as games.
- Downtime – schedule periods when most apps and notifications are blocked, although calls and apps you've chosen to allow can still be available.
- Communication Limits – gives you control over who your child can communicate with through supported apps and services, including FaceTime and Messages. You can set different restrictions for normal screen time and during Downtime.
- Communication Safety – can detect and blur photos and videos that appear to contain nudity and provide warnings and safety guidance. It works in Messages, AirDrop, FaceTime and other supported apps and services. On devices running the latest software, it's turned on by default for children under 18.
Looking for a new Apple tablet for your child? Take a look at our expert choice for the best iPad for kids.
Android tablets: using Google Family Link
There are built-in parental controls on Android devices, and you can access more on the Google Family Link app (download from the Google Play Store or access settings via the Family Link site). These controls allow you to limit your child's screen time for a device or individual apps, block apps, and restrict access to certain features.
You will need a Google account for yourself and your child.
One useful feature is the ability to manage individual apps. To set an app limit, open Family Link and select your child, then go to Screen time > Time limits > App limits. Choose the app, tap Set limit, select how much time you want to allow and tap Done.
Other useful Family Link features include:
- App activity – shows you how much time your child spends using individual apps, such as Roblox or YouTube Kids.
- Daily limits – let you set how much screen time your child gets each day.
- Downtime – lets you schedule periods when access to most apps is restricted, such as at bedtime.
- Website restrictions – let you block or allow specific websites and manage access to sites through Chrome.
- School Time – limits available apps and silences notifications during school hours. You can choose which apps remain available.
- App approvals – let you require your child to ask permission before downloading content from Google Play.
You can also restrict the maturity level of apps, games, films and TV programmes your child can download from Google Play. In Family Link, select your child > Controls > Google Play, then choose the type of content you want to restrict and the appropriate maturity level.
How kids can bypass parental controls (and what to do)
It's smart to assume that your child's curiosity will lead them to test the boundaries. Knowing how they might try to get around the rules is the best way to stay one step ahead.
- Password peeking – the oldest trick in the book. Your child simply watches over your shoulder as you type in your passcode, so they can use it themselves later.
- Asking a voice assistant – kids may quickly learn they can ask Siri to open iMessage and continue to use it, even when the app has been restricted, bypassing your settings. It's an easy fix, though; you just need to block 'Siri & Dictation' too.
- In-game browsers – Many games and apps include links that open up a built-in web browser, which can lead to unfiltered websites or videos without ever leaving the game.
To counter this, both the NSPCC and the UK Safer Internet Centre suggest that the best defence is a good offence.
Get curious about the games they love, sit down and look at the safety settings with them, and create a simple family agreement about the rules. It all helps build an environment where they know they can talk to you if they run into trouble.
How to choose the right tablet for your child
Choosing your child's first tablet is all about peace of mind. Thankfully, strong parental controls are now commonplace, giving you a great starting point for online safety. But the ideal tablet for your child isn't just about software.
To find the right fit for your family and budget, you also need to think about durability, performance that's fast enough for their favourite games, and enough storage for all their apps and videos. Here are some tips on choosing the right one:
- Don't overpay for power – for playing games and watching YouTube, a basic tablet is all you need; a high-end model would be overkill. A standard Apple iPad, for example, has plenty of speed and a great screen for videos. Plus, it will get important security and software updates for years, making it a great long-term value.
- Plan for inevitable drops – let's be realistic: a kid's tablet is going to get dropped. You can either buy a device designed for kids that includes a tough, built-in case, or you can budget for a quality, shock-absorbent case for a standard tablet. For smaller children, a more compact tablet, like the iPad Mini or Samsung Galaxy Tab A9, are easier for little hands to hold on to.
- Make room for games and videos – games and downloaded videos can fill up a tablet's storage faster than you'd think. While a standard iPad has enough space for many, you can't add more later. This is a big advantage for most Android and Amazon Fire tablets: you can easily and cheaply expand their storage with a microSD card.
Take a look at our best iPad and tablet deals to find the latest offers.