Block adult sites in three layers: device controls (Screen Time on iPhone, Family Link on Android), a family-safe DNS or router filter for home Wi-Fi, and browser safe-search settings. Add the site to a blocked list, require approval for new apps, and talk with your child. No tool is perfect, so combine them.
Why one block is not enough
Adult sites are easy to find, there are thousands of lookalikes, and children can reach them through search results, messages or other people's phones. Blocking one name does not stop the others. A layered approach works best: device, network and conversation.
These steps are general, and menu names change between software versions, so look for the nearest option if you cannot find an exact label.
Before you start, check your own account security. Use a strong password and two-step login for the family account you manage with, since a child who gets into it can switch off every limit.
Step 1: iPhone and iPad (Screen Time)
Set up Family Sharing so you can manage your child's device from your own. Then turn on Screen Time and open the content restrictions.
- Open Settings and choose Screen Time for your child.
- Switch on Content and Privacy Restrictions.
- Choose Web Content, then Limit Adult Websites.
- Add the site names you want to block under the never-allow list.
- Set a Screen Time passcode your child does not know.
On Samsung and some other phones there is also a built-in digital wellbeing or kids mode with web filters. If your child uses a shared tablet, create a separate restricted profile for them rather than sharing an adult profile.
Step 2: Android (Google Family Link)
Create a supervised account for your child and install Family Link on your own phone. Then use its filters.
- Open Family Link and select your child.
- Go to Controls, then Content restrictions.
- Open Google Chrome settings and choose to try to block explicit sites.
- Turn on SafeSearch for the Google account.
- Under Google Play, set age ratings and require approval for installs.
Check that the child cannot simply install another browser or a VPN app to get round the rules. Both Screen Time and Family Link let you require approval before installing, and that single setting closes the most common loophole.
Step 3: Windows and the home network
On a Windows computer, Microsoft Family Safety has web filtering for the Edge browser. For all devices at home, a family-safe DNS service or the parental controls in your router can block adult categories on every device that connects to your Wi-Fi.
Mobile data is not covered by home Wi-Fi filters, so keep device-level controls turned on as well.
What each tool covers
| Tool | Covers | Weak spot |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Time | Apple devices, all networks | Needs a strong passcode |
| Family Link | Android, Chrome, Play | Other browsers need limits |
| Router or DNS filter | Every device at home | Not on mobile data |
| Safe-search | Search results | Not a full block |
Do not forget the devices of other families. Children may use the phone of a friend or a school computer, so the conversation matters as much as the technology. Ask other parents what controls they use, and agree on shared basics.
The RTA label and age checks
Many adult sites tag their pages with a Restricted to Adults label so that filtering software can recognise them. Parental control tools that read this label can block those pages even if the exact site is not on a list. Keep your filters switched on so they can use it.
Age verification laws in places such as France, the UK and parts of the US also make it harder for children to enter some sites, but they are not a substitute for your own controls.
Finally, test your setup. Try to open an adult site on your child's device while you are watching, then try through a private window and on mobile data. If a route gets through, tighten that layer. A ten-minute check now can save months of worry.
Review the list of installed apps monthly and remove anything you do not recognise.
Talk, do not just block
Children will meet adult content eventually, often by accident. Tell them calmly that some sites are for adults, that it is not their fault if they see something upsetting, and that you want them to tell you. Review the settings every few months.
If your child sees something illegal or is being pressured online, keep a record and report it. To report a problem site, use the report page.
Key takeaways
- Use layers: device controls, a network filter and an open conversation.
- On iPhone, use Screen Time and limit adult websites with a never-allow list.
- On Android, use Family Link with Chrome and SafeSearch settings.
- A router or family-safe DNS filter protects every device on home Wi-Fi.
- Keep controls updated and talk to your child, since no filter is perfect.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general information, not legal, financial or medical advice. Details about third-party services are based on public information and may change.