Secure your child's device

What device does your child use?

Choose your child's device below to find practical guidance on parental controls, privacy, content restrictions, screen time and safer use.

Before you start

Your child may use more than one type of device. Check each device they regularly use, including personal devices, shared family devices and games consoles.

Select a device below to get started.

Home Wi-Fi & Broadband

Protect devices connected at home

Many UK broadband providers offer parental controls that can filter inappropriate websites on devices connected to your home broadband.

Start with your broadband provider

Sign in to your broadband account or provider's application and look for parental controls, online safety, content filtering or security settings.

Recommended checks

  1. Change the router's default administrator password.
  2. Use a strong and unique Wi-Fi password.
  3. Install router or hub updates when available.
  4. Enable the broadband provider's parental controls.
  5. Choose content filters appropriate for your family.
  6. Review whether different family members can have different settings.
  7. Consider Wi-Fi schedules or bedtime controls where available.
  8. Test that restricted content is blocked.
  9. Continue to use parental controls on each individual device.

Home Wi-Fi controls do not travel with the device

Controls applied to your home broadband only cover the device while it is connected through that service. Also configure controls on your child's device, accounts and applications.

UK broadband guidance

BT Broadband

Guidance for setting up and managing BT Parental Controls.

View BT guidance ›

Virgin Media

Guidance for configuring Virgin Media broadband parental controls.

View Virgin Media guidance ›

Other providers

Find parental-control guidance for broadband and mobile providers.

Find your provider ›

Protection away from home

A phone or tablet may use mobile data, public Wi-Fi or another household's internet connection. Check:

  • Parental controls on the device
  • Your child's Apple, Google or Microsoft account
  • Controls provided by the mobile network
  • Settings inside individual apps and games

Trusted UK guidance

NSPCC parental controls Broadband and device guides

Apple iPhone & iPad

Set up a safer Apple device

Apple provides parental controls through Family Sharing and Screen Time. These settings can help you manage apps, websites, communication, purchases, content and time spent using the device.

What you will need

  • Your own Apple Account
  • A separate Child Account for your child
  • Family Sharing set up on your device
  • Access to your child's iPhone or iPad
  • A Screen Time passcode that your child does not know

Recommended settings

  1. Create or connect your child's Apple Account through Family Sharing.
  2. Open Screen Time and select your child's account.
  3. Set appropriate Downtime and App Limits.
  4. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  5. Choose age-appropriate app, film, programme and web-content restrictions.
  6. Enable Ask to Buy for downloads and purchases.
  7. Review Communication Limits and who your child can contact.
  8. Review location sharing, camera, microphone and photo permissions.

Important

Give your child a separate Apple Account rather than sharing an adult account. Keep the Screen Time passcode private and different from the device unlock code.

Official and trusted guidance

Apple parental controls Apple Screen Time Step-by-step device guides

Check that it works

  • Try downloading an age-restricted app.
  • Check that a purchase requires approval.
  • Test a website that should be restricted.
  • Check what happens when Downtime begins.
  • Review the settings again after major software updates.

Android Phones & Tablets

Set up Google Family Link

Google Family Link can help parents manage a child's account, apps, content, permissions and screen time on supported Android devices.

What you will need

  • Your Google Account
  • A separate Google Account for your child
  • The Google Family Link app on the parent's device
  • Access to your child's phone or tablet

Recommended settings

  1. Install or open Google Family Link.
  2. Add your child's Google Account to your family group.
  3. Connect and supervise your child's Android device.
  4. Set appropriate daily limits and downtime.
  5. Review app permissions and installed applications.
  6. Require approval for downloads and purchases.
  7. Review Google Play content restrictions.
  8. Configure Chrome website restrictions and SafeSearch.
  9. Review location, camera, microphone and contact permissions.

Important

Controls can vary depending on the version of Android and the device manufacturer. Review both Family Link and the device's own privacy and security settings.

Official and trusted guidance

Get started with Family Link Family Link walkthrough UK phone safety guidance

Check that it works

  • Try installing a new application.
  • Check that purchase approval is required.
  • Test the daily limit and bedtime settings.
  • Test a website that should be restricted.
  • Check that your child cannot add another unsupervised account.

Amazon Fire Tablet

Create an appropriate child profile

Amazon Fire tablets include parental controls and Amazon Kids child profiles. These can help parents manage content, purchases, web access and device use.

Choose the right profile

  • For a younger child, create an Amazon Kids child profile.
  • For an older user, review the parental controls available on the profile.
  • Do not allow a child unrestricted access to the main adult profile.

Recommended settings

  1. Open Settings and locate Profiles & Family Library.
  2. Create a separate child profile.
  3. Choose suitable content and age filters.
  4. Set daily time limits and bedtime.
  5. Review access to apps, games, books and videos.
  6. Restrict purchasing and downloads.
  7. Review web-browser access.
  8. Protect the adult profile with a secure password or PIN.

Do not rely on the adult profile

A child profile gives parents more appropriate controls. Check that your child cannot switch to the adult profile without entering the adult password or PIN.

Official and trusted guidance

Create a child profile Fire parental controls Amazon Parent Dashboard

Check that it works

  • Try switching from the child profile to the adult profile.
  • Try making a purchase or downloading new content.
  • Confirm the selected age filters are applied.
  • Test the bedtime or daily time limit.

Windows PC & Laptop

Set up Microsoft Family Safety

Microsoft Family Safety can help families manage screen time, applications, games and supported web filtering on Windows devices.

What you will need

  • Your own Microsoft account
  • A separate Microsoft account for your child
  • Your child added to your Microsoft family group
  • Your child's Windows device connected to the account

Recommended settings

  1. Create a Microsoft family group.
  2. Add your child's Microsoft account.
  3. Connect the Windows device to the child's account.
  4. Make the child's Windows account a Standard user, not an Administrator.
  5. Set suitable device and application time limits.
  6. Review installed apps and games.
  7. Apply age-appropriate content restrictions.
  8. Configure web and search filters.
  9. Protect the adult administrator account with a secure password.

Web filtering

Microsoft Family Safety web and search filtering uses supported browsers. Review Microsoft's current guidance before relying on the filtering.

Official and trusted guidance

Set up Family Safety Web and search filters Set screen-time limits

Check that it works

  • Confirm the child cannot install software as an Administrator.
  • Test a restricted website using the supported browser.
  • Test an application or game limit.
  • Check that the child cannot switch to an unrestricted account.

Apple Mac

Set up a safer Mac

Apple provides Screen Time and Family Sharing controls on supported Mac devices. Create a separate account for your child rather than sharing an adult account.

Recommended settings

  1. Create a separate Apple Account for your child.
  2. Add the child to your Family Sharing group.
  3. Create a separate Standard account on the Mac.
  4. Do not give the child administrator access.
  5. Set up Screen Time for the child's account.
  6. Configure Downtime and App Limits.
  7. Review Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  8. Review website, application and communication access.
  9. Protect the adult administrator account with a secure password.

Shared family Mac

Every family member should use their own account. Check that your child cannot open or sign in to an unrestricted adult account.

Official and trusted guidance

Apple family safety guide Apple Screen Time Parental-control guides

Check that it works

  • Confirm the child is using a Standard account.
  • Try opening an application that should be restricted.
  • Test a restricted website.
  • Check that the Screen Time passcode is required for changes.

Chromebook

Supervise a Chromebook with Family Link

Google Family Link can help parents supervise a child's personal Chromebook, including applications, screen time and Chrome website access.

Recommended settings

  1. Connect the child's Google Account to Family Link.
  2. Make the parent account the Chromebook owner where appropriate.
  3. Sign the child in using the supervised Google Account.
  4. Set appropriate daily limits and downtime.
  5. Review applications and extensions.
  6. Configure Chrome website restrictions.
  7. Review camera, microphone and location permissions.
  8. Disable Guest browsing where appropriate.
  9. Control whether additional users can be added.

School-managed Chromebooks

A school-issued or school-managed Chromebook may have settings controlled by the school's Google Workspace for Education administrator. Contact the school if you need help with a setting on a managed device.

Official and trusted guidance

Manage a child's Chromebook Get started with Family Link Chrome child-account controls

Check that it works

  • Check that Guest browsing is unavailable if you have disabled it.
  • Try adding another user to the Chromebook.
  • Test a restricted website.
  • Try installing an application or extension.
  • Check that screen-time limits apply to the supervised account.

Games Consoles

Make Gaming Safer

Games consoles can provide access to online multiplayer games, voice and text chat, purchases and contact with other players. Use the guidance below to review the parental controls for the console your child uses.

Check These Settings on Your Child's Console

  • Use a child or family-managed account where available.
  • Apply age-appropriate game and content restrictions.
  • Review multiplayer settings.
  • Review voice and text chat.
  • Check who can contact your child.
  • Review friend requests and social features.
  • Control purchases and spending.
  • Consider appropriate play-time limits.
  • Show your child how to block and report another player.
  • Protect adult accounts and parental settings.

Xbox

Xbox provides family settings that allow parents and carers to manage areas including screen time, privacy, social interaction, access to mature content and online purchases.

Things to Review

  • Your child's Xbox account
  • Age-appropriate content filters
  • Screen-time settings
  • Privacy settings
  • Online multiplayer access
  • Voice and text communication
  • Purchases and spending

Xbox Family Hub Xbox Family & Online Safety

PlayStation

PlayStation provides Family Management and parental controls for PS4 and PS5. Parents and carers can review age restrictions, play time, communication, content sharing and spending.

Things to Review

  • Your child's PlayStation account
  • Age restrictions for games and media
  • Daily play-time settings
  • Chat and messaging
  • Communication with other players
  • User-generated content
  • Web browsing
  • Monthly spending limits
  • Console and parental-control passcodes

PlayStation Parental Controls PlayStation Family App

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo provides parental controls for Nintendo Switch systems. Parents and carers can manage access to age-rated games and online features and use the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.

Things to Review

  • Age restrictions for games
  • Online and communication features
  • Play-time settings
  • Social features
  • Nintendo eShop purchasing arrangements
  • Your parental-control PIN

Nintendo Parent Guide Nintendo Parental Controls

Remember to Check Individual Games

Console parental controls are only one part of safer gaming. Games and online services may also have their own privacy, communication, multiplayer and purchasing settings. Check the settings inside the games your child regularly uses.

Talk About Online Gaming

Make sure your child knows they can talk to you if another player makes them uncomfortable or if something happens during an online game.

Encourage your child not to share personal information such as their address, school details, passwords or other private information with people they meet through games.