Apple will significantly expand its child-safety features for millions of its device owners in the coming months. The Californian company previewed several new features designed to keep younger users safe during its Worldwide Developers Conference at its Apple Park headquarters, where it showcases the latest iterations of its software.
"At Apple, our mission has always been to create technology that empowers people and enriches their lives, while helping keep them safe,” said Sumbul Desai, M.D., who serves as Apple Vice President of Health and Fitness. “Our approach to helping families create safer digital experiences is grounded in the belief that every child is unique.
"That’s why we build simple and intuitive tools, based on expert guidance, to let parents tailor their kids’ digital journey. Today, we’re introducing major updates to help families thoughtfully establish age-based protections and develop healthy digital habits.”
Apple will already automatically block nudity on-screen for younger users, but it's expanded the safeguarding technology to include violence and gore with iOS 27
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With its expanded controls, parents will be able to control exactly what apps or content children can see — including approving or blocking websites whenever their child attempts to visit a new domain. Likewise, the next major updates to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS will let parents approve individual contacts for children to message and call.
Apple will also implement automatic filters to block out violence and gore on devices used by younger users, building on the automatic blocks for nudity that are already available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
The announcement of these features arrives hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a warning to Apple and Google with a three-month deadline to make it impossible for children to take, share, or view nude images on smartphones and tablets.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a three-month ultimatum to technology companies to protect younger users
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Speaking at London Tech Week, Mr Starmer said: "Tech should adapt to the needs of society, not the other way around. That is why today I am calling on tech companies operating in this country to introduce device controls that prevent children from sending and receiving sexually explicit images.
“Because this is not an impossible challenge. These are some of the most innovative companies in the world, and I believe they can solve it. But if they choose not to, then we will act, and we will change the law because when it comes to the safety of our children, standing by is not an option.”
The rules from No.10 will apply to both new and existing devices sold in the UK, and adults will need to verify their age to access such content. The new tools announced for the next major software updates coming to Apple devices are part of a broader push to strengthen child safety.
Apple has expanded its Communication Safety feature, which already automatically detects and blurs images or videos containing nudity before a child can view them. Now the system has expanded to catch gore and violent content, too
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The new child safety tools coming to iPhone, iPad, and Mac build on several features that are already available on millions of devices, like Screen Time, which lets you limit the amount of time younger users can spend using a particular application or category of apps. It also offers daily and weekly reports, so you can monitor how much time family members are spending on screens.
Likewise, Communication Safety already automatically detects and blurs nudity in photographs and videos on devices with a child account. It can even kick-in during a FaceTime video call — offering real-time protection for younger people. It works when kids receive potentially inappropriate content or try to send it themselves.
The whole system is designed to warn children about what they're about to view, giving them a chance to step back rather than stumbling across harmful material unexpectedly.
With the arrival of its next software updates, expected to roll out later this year, Apple will expand Communication Safety to encompass gore and violent content too. So, if someone shares a disturbing image or video with a child, the operating system will intervene and blur it before they see it.
An Apple child account will block adult websites, restrict App Store downloads to suitable content, and only allow age-appropriate media
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Parents will be guided through the process of creating a Child Account when setting up a new iPhone, iPad, or Mac for their child. Apple will require a child account for anyone under 13, although it's available for anyone under 18-years-old. If your child already has an Apple device, it's possible to convert the account they're using into a Child Account – adding the guardrails and additional checks outlined below.
As part of the set-up process, parents will be able to choose exactly which apps are available for their child. These can be changed over time, so you can slowly expand the options available to younger users as they grow up.
By default, Apple will also block adult websites, violent content, and restrict downloads from the App Store based on age ratings provided by developers.
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There's a new feature called Ask to Browse built into the Safari web browser available on all Apple devices. When younger users want to visit a new website, they'll need to request parental approval first.
This is similar to Ask to Buy, which applies the same principle to new software available in the App Store. Both features are switched on automatically for under-13s, though parents can enable them for teenagers too.
Parents can also manage who their children communicate with, starting with immediate family and gradually expanding their contacts as they get older.
If you're signed into a device with a Child Account and want to visit a new website, you will need to request approval for each domain, which sends a notification to the parent(s)
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Screen time has had a complete makeover, offering parents a much clearer picture of how their children use their devices. There's a new time allowance feature that puts entertainment, games, and social media front and centre, with daily limits parents can set across all three categories.
What's particularly clever is that there will be recommended time limits based on a child's age and developed with input from the American Academy of Paediatrics. Apple says it will keep updating these suggestions as research evolves.
Parents can now set up schedules that change throughout the day, so different apps are available at different times. School hours can be kept focused on learning, while weekends might allow extra time for watching films.
Apple is launching a website dedicated to assisting you with its child safety features across all of its devices
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And if you need any assistance with Apple's child safety features, the tech firm has launched a new website dedicated to assisting with any related questions. This includes queries regarding how to get started, screen time passcode notifications, app access, and more.
The new safeguards for children will be coming as part of the next software updates for Apple devices, including iOS 27 for iPhone, iPadOS 27 for iPad, macOS 27 Golden Gate for Mac, watchOS 27 for Apple Watch, and tvOS for Apple TVs.
During his appearance at London Tech Week, the Prime Minister declared that technology firms must activate built-in features on their devices or come up with technological solutions on phones and tablets to detect and block adult content. It means all adults will need to verify their age if they want to take or view nude images.
Firms must implement changes or face new legislation, which could lead to fines, and as a last resort, criminal liability for tech bosses. The changes will apply to both existing and newly sold smartphones and tablets in the UK.
Home Office officials said they are already working on draft legislation, but would not say how long it might take to become law.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “As a society, we have not kept pace with the changing threats that children face. Abuse online is far too common, and we will not tolerate it.
“Tech companies have a moral duty to act, by making it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images. If they don’t, we will legislate.”