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iPad · iPad · 4 min · Updated September 2026

Parental controls on iPad

Many children use an iPad for games and video — often without parents having set up Screen Time on that specific device. An iPad can feel like «just» a screen in the living room, but purchases and apps follow the same rules as on iPhone.

Phone and an hourglass

In short

Check your child is in Family Sharing. Set up Screen Time on the iPad with a passcode they do not know. Turn off purchases and use Share Across Devices if they also have an iPhone. Test that limits actually work — it takes a minute.

  1. 1

    Check Family Sharing

    On your iPhone: Settings → Family. Your child should appear as a child under your Apple ID — not as an adult. If the iPad uses a different Apple ID than the phone, that account also needs linking to the family. Ask your child which account the iPad is signed in with.

  2. 2

    Open Screen Time on the iPad

    On iPad: Settings → Screen Time. If you manage from your phone: Settings → Family → your child → Screen Time. Set a passcode your child does not know — not the same as the iPad lock passcode. Without a passcode they can change limits themselves.

  3. 3

    Set limits and purchases

    Turn on Downtime and App Limits for the apps they use most. Under Content & Privacy Restrictions: set age limits and In-app Purchases → Don't Allow. With Family Sharing: turn on Ask to Buy for your child. iTunes and App Store purchases on iPad follow the same Apple ID as the phone.

  4. 4

    Share across devices

    If your child has both iPhone and iPad on the same Apple ID: turn on Share Across Devices under Screen Time so limits apply on both. Check the Screen Time report — it shows iPad and iPhone together. Without sharing, the iPad can be «open» even if the phone is limited.

  5. 5

    Test that it works

    Try opening an app that should be blocked, or start a purchase. If the iPad is still “open”, Screen Time may only be set on the phone — or your child uses a different Apple ID on the tablet. Fix it now — easier than after an unexpected purchase.

iPad is often the device parents forget — especially when a child “just” watches YouTube or plays games. Set it up before arguments about time and spending start. Re-check after holidays or new apps.

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More help in Denmark

If you need someone to talk to, use these — they are free, and they take parents and children.

  • Parents’ Helpline 35 55 55 57

    Børns Vilkår. Free, anonymous counselling for parents and relatives in Denmark on 35 55 55 57. They take calls about screens, conflict and online problems.

  • Media Council for Children and Young People

    Public guidance in Denmark on children, young people and digital media. Advice on age, content and parent conversations — without sales language.

Sources