5 ways Apple is making child accounts on iPhone safer, more flexible, and easier to manage in iOS 27

Source Domain: www.techradar.com

Child accounts for Apple devices aren’t new, but at WWDC 2026, Apple made a big push into child safety, announcing various new and redesigned features that parents can make use of to keep their kids safe.

But these features don’t come at the expense of flexibility, as parents will be able to customize their child’s experience and access according to their needs and preferences.

These features and improvements will be rolling out with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 later this year, and we’ve detailed them below.

1. Ask to Browse

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple had already solved the problem of kids downloading apps and making in-app purchases with the Ask to Buy feature, which requires parental approval for any of that. But now, the company is adding a similar tool for the internet called Ask to Browse.

With this, if you choose to enable it, your child will have to get parental permission before browsing new sites in Safari. So, rather than simply blocking unsuitable content, you can go a step further and only grant permission for specific sites.

2. Allowed apps

(Image credit: Apple)

When you first set up a child account, you’ll be able to customize exactly which pre-installed apps the child will have access to.

You’ll be able to either choose specific individual apps, what Apple considers “essentials”, or a recommended set. Then, if they ever want to access others, they’ll need parental permission first.

This essentially extends the Ask to Buy feature to apps that are already on the phone, giving you total control.

3. Controlled communication

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple is also making it easier for parents to control who their kids can talk to over Messages, FaceTime, and through the Phone app, with a requirement for kids to ask permission before talking to anyone new.

Plus, Communication Safety — a tool…

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