Apps blocked with Apple's picker, block hours, scheduled device lock, the family website filter and location. Family Sharing (Full control) is recommended. With Face ID (Basic), your child can turn Guardian's Screen Time access off in Settings.
What works on iPhone and iPad
Every item is labeled by what the device really allows. Select a dash to see why something isn't available.
iPhone
Apps blocked with Apple's picker, block hours, scheduled device lock, the family website filter and location.
Protection levelDepends on setup
Full control · Screen Time approved in Family Sharing
or Basic · Screen Time allowed with Face ID. Your child can turn it off
or No app controls · Until Screen Time is allowed
App blocking: Via Apple's app picker. On iPhone and iPad, Apple only blocks apps a parent picks with its own picker, so an app list from here can't be used. Choose apps in Guardian on your iPhone, or in parent mode on the child's device after entering your Guardian password.
Block hours
Daily time limits: not on iPhone. Daily time limits aren't available on iPhone or iPad yet. Guardian uses Apple's app choice for blocking only.
Lock now: not on iPhone. iPhone or iPad doesn't let other apps lock the screen. Use block hours or blocked apps instead.
Scheduled device lock
Website filtering
Pause internet: not on iPhone. Pause internet isn't available on iPhone or iPad yet. Block websites and whole categories with the family website filter on the Content filtering page instead.
Location
App usage: not on iPhone. iPhone and iPad don't let other apps read app usage.
Calls & messages: not on iPhone. iPhone and iPad don't let any app read calls or texts.
iPad
Same app and the same limits as iPhone.
Protection levelDepends on setup
Full control · Screen Time approved in Family Sharing
or Basic · Screen Time allowed with Face ID. Your child can turn it off
or No app controls · Until Screen Time is allowed
App blocking: Via Apple's app picker. On iPhone and iPad, Apple only blocks apps a parent picks with its own picker, so an app list from here can't be used. Choose apps in Guardian on your iPhone, or in parent mode on the child's device after entering your Guardian password.
Block hours
Daily time limits: not on iPad. Daily time limits aren't available on iPhone or iPad yet. Guardian uses Apple's app choice for blocking only.
Lock now: not on iPad. iPad doesn't let other apps lock the screen. Use block hours or blocked apps instead.
Scheduled device lock
Website filtering
Pause internet: not on iPad. Pause internet isn't available on iPhone or iPad yet. Block websites and whole categories with the family website filter on the Content filtering page instead.
Location
App usage: not on iPad. iPhone and iPad don't let other apps read app usage.
Calls & messages: not on iPad. iPhone and iPad don't let any app read calls or texts.
Set it up, step by step
The same steps apply to iPhone and iPad.
1Install Guardian from the App Store and open it.
2Choose the child option and enter the 6-character code from "Add a device" on this website or in your parent app.
3Allow Screen Time when asked. In Family Sharing (a child or teen Apple account), you approve it and your child can't turn it off: Full control. Without Family Sharing, it's allowed with Face ID and your child can turn it off in Settings: Basic.
4Share location: choose "Always" so you can see where it is even when Guardian is closed.
5Choose the apps to block with Apple's picker: in Guardian on your own iPhone, or in parent mode on this device after entering your Guardian password. Tap Choose apps.
Good to know
iPhone
This website and the Android parent app show counts only, like "3 apps · 1 category blocked on Emma's iPhone". There's no list of app names: Apple gives Guardian private tokens, not names, and only its own picker can show them.
Family Sharing (Full control) is recommended. With Face ID (Basic), your child can turn Guardian's Screen Time access off in Settings.
Not on iPhone: daily time limits, Lock now and Pause internet.
Websites are blocked with the family website filter. Turn it on for your child on the Content filtering page, then download its settings file on the iPhone and install it in Settings. Websites added on this device's page don't apply on iPhone.
iPad
Same app, setup and limits as iPhone. See its notes above.
Questions parents ask
Does Guardian work on iPhone and iPad?
Apps blocked with Apple's picker, block hours, scheduled device lock, the family website filter and location. Not on iPhone: daily time limits, Lock now and Pause internet. Family Sharing (Full control) is recommended. With Face ID (Basic), your child can turn Guardian's Screen Time access off in Settings.
Can my child turn it off?
It depends on the device. Full control: Guardian applies your rules directly on this device. Basic: Guardian closes blocked apps when they open; a determined user could get around it. Family Sharing (Full control) is recommended. With Face ID (Basic), your child can turn Guardian's Screen Time access off in Settings.
Ready to set it up?
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