How to Set Up Parental Controls and Screen Time on iPhone and Android in Canada

Handing a child a phone feels simple until you think about what is on the other side of the screen: games with chat rooms, videos that never end, and apps that ask for money. Parental controls do not solve all of that, but they give you practical levers: limits on screen time, filters on content, approval before purchases, and a clear view of how the phone is actually being used.

Both iPhone and Android have these tools built in for free. This guide walks through the setup on both systems, with the Canadian details that matter, like purchase approval in Canadian dollars.

Start with a child account linked to yours

The single most useful step is to set your child up with their own account linked to yours, rather than handing them a phone signed in as you. On an iPhone, that means Apple Family Sharing: open Settings, tap your name, tap Family Sharing, then Add Member and choose Create Child Account, verifying with your payment method.

On Android, the equivalent is Google Family Link. Install the Family Link app on your own phone, create or link a Google account for your child, and follow the setup to connect the child's device. It works on most recent Android phones and tablets, and on Chromebooks too. A linked child account is what makes the rest of the controls work, because without it, limits set on one phone can be bypassed by signing in somewhere else.

Set screen time limits on iPhone

On an iPhone or iPad signed in with your child's account, open Settings and tap Screen Time. From your own phone, go to Settings, tap Family, choose your child's name, then tap Screen Time, and set a passcode only you know.

Downtime is the first limit worth setting. It blocks most apps during hours you choose, such as bedtime and school hours, while still allowing phone calls and any apps you specifically allow. Pick the hours together with your child if they are old enough.

App Limits come next. You can set a daily limit for a whole category, such as games or social media, or for a single app. A common starting point is one hour a day for games and social media combined, with no limit on school or reading apps. When the limit runs out, the app icon greys out and you can approve or refuse extra time from your own device.

Content and Privacy Restrictions are where you filter what the child can see and do. You can block explicit music and podcasts, set the age rating for apps and movies, block adult websites in Safari, and stop the child from installing or deleting apps without permission. Turn off in-app purchases to prevent surprise charges from games, and turn on Ask to Buy under iTunes and App Store Purchases, so every download or purchase request comes to your phone for approval, priced in Canadian dollars. Also turn on Communication Safety in Messages, which blurs images that may contain nudity and gives your child a safe way to get help.

Set screen time limits on Android

On Android, most of this is handled through the Family Link app on your phone. Open Family Link, choose your child's profile, and you will see their screen time for today, which apps they used, and how long each one ran. That report alone is often the most useful part.

To set a daily limit, tap the screen time card and choose a total daily limit, plus a bedtime schedule. During bedtime, the device locks except for calls and any apps you allow. You can also set a limit for a single app from the usage list.

Content filters live in a few places. In Family Link, set the maturity level for Google Play so only apps rated for your child's age group can be downloaded, and require your approval for every purchase, including free downloads. In the YouTube app, switch to YouTube Kids for younger children, or use the supervised experience in the main app for older children. Digital Wellbeing on the child's phone adds Bedtime mode, which turns the screen greyscale and silences notifications at night, and Focus mode, which pauses distracting apps during school hours.

Agree on rules, not just settings

Controls work best when your child knows they exist and understands why. Agree on the basics: which hours are phone-free, how much time games and social media get, and what happens when a limit is hit. Write the rules down somewhere visible, like on the fridge.

Expect the first week to involve negotiation. A child who has had unlimited access will test every limit, and may find workarounds you did not expect, such as watching videos in a browser instead of an app. Check the usage reports weekly, tighten the settings that are being bypassed, and talk about what you found. Model the behaviour yourself: if the rule is no phones at dinner, it has to apply to the adults too.

What parental controls cannot do

Be honest with yourself about the limits. No filter catches everything, and age ratings are a guide rather than a guarantee. A determined teenager can find ways around most controls, from resetting a device to borrowing a friend's phone. Controls also do not replace conversations about online safety, such as not sharing personal information and telling an adult about anything that feels wrong. If your child encounters something harmful online, report it to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection through Cybertip.ca, and to your local police if it involves a crime.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can my child have their own Apple ID or Google account in Canada?

Apple lets a parent create a child Apple ID for a child under 13 through Family Sharing, and Google allows a supervised account for children under 13 through Family Link. The parent manages the account until the child turns 13.

Can my child bypass Screen Time or Family Link?

It is possible, and determined children do try. Common workarounds include guessing the passcode, using a browser instead of a blocked app, or resetting the device. A passcode only you know and regular checks of the usage reports will catch most of it. No control is foolproof.

Do parental controls cost anything in Canada?

No. Screen Time is built into every iPhone and iPad at no extra cost, and Google Family Link is a free app. Some third-party apps charge a monthly fee, but the built-in tools cover most families' needs.