Apple expands parental controls in iOS 26 and other OS updates

With the upcoming OS updates—iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26 and tvOS 26—Apple is rolling out expanded tools to help parents and guardians manage their children’s digital experience and ensure age-appropriate use.

Key changes

• Age‑based settings: New options let parents specify age ranges to tailor content restrictions and safety measures.
• Simplified child account setup: Easier workflows to create and manage child accounts across Apple devices.
• Automatic nudity blurring for minors: Tools automatically blur sensitive images for users under 18 to reduce exposure to explicit content.
• Improved management controls: More granular controls for screen time, app and content access, and communication limits.

Regional notes

Some reports note region‑specific defaults or recommendations for age thresholds (for example, German coverage referenced 16 as a relevant age boundary). Apple’s official materials outline configurable options so parents can set controls that match local laws and family preferences.

Where to read more

Official Apple announcement: Apple Newsroom — Apple expands tools to help parents protect kids and teens online

Details and feature list (Apple): All New Features — iOS 26 (PDF)

Your thoughts

Which parental control feature do you think will make the biggest difference for families? Share your experience with managing kids’ device use in the comments.

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