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Father setting up parental controls on a tablet
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Setting Up Parental Controls

Apple Screen Time, Google Family Link, FRITZ!Box and more: step-by-step guides.

Technical guardrails are not a sign of distrust -- they take pressure off both sides. When the system sets the boundary, you don't have to argue about it every day. Children often accept technical limits better than parental bans because they are impersonal and consistent.

Platforms

Guides by Device

Choose the platform you want to set up. Each guide is structured step by step.

Apple Screen Time (iPhone / iPad)

Apple's built-in parental controls for all iOS and iPadOS devices. Works via Family Sharing.

  1. 1Settings > Screen Time > Turn on Screen Time
  2. 2Select "This is My Child's Device"
  3. 3Set Downtime (e.g., 8:00 PM - 7:00 AM)
  4. 4Set App Limits (e.g., Social Media: 30 min/day)
  5. 5Configure Communication Limits
  6. 6Set a Screen Time Passcode (one only you know)
  7. 7Enable Content Restrictions (age ratings, web filter)

Tip

Use Family Sharing to manage settings conveniently from your own device. This way you don't need to pick up the child's device every time.

Google Family Link (Android)

Google's free app for managing Android devices for children. Also works for Chromebooks.

  1. 1Install the Google Family Link app on your device
  2. 2Create a Google account for your child (under 13) or link an existing one
  3. 3Set up Family Link on the child's device
  4. 4Set daily usage limits
  5. 5Configure bedtime (device will lock)
  6. 6Enable app approvals (child must ask before installing)
  7. 7Enable location sharing if needed

Tip

Family Link shows you weekly activity reports. Use these as a conversation starter -- not as a surveillance tool.

FRITZ!Box (Home Network)

Many European households use a FRITZ!Box router. It offers built-in parental controls at the network level -- for all devices at once.

  1. 1Open fritz.box in your browser and log in
  2. 2Navigate to Internet > Filters > Parental Controls
  3. 3Create access profiles (e.g., "Child Weekday", "Child Weekend")
  4. 4Set time budgets (e.g., 2 hours per day)
  5. 5Block time periods (e.g., 8:00 PM - 7:00 AM)
  6. 6Assign devices to profiles
  7. 7If needed: Block specific websites or categories

Tip

FRITZ!Box parental controls work at the network level -- this also secures devices that don't have their own parental controls (e.g., Smart TV, game consoles).

Windows Family Safety

Microsoft's built-in parental controls for Windows 10/11 and Xbox. Managed via the Microsoft Family Safety Dashboard.

  1. 1Create a Microsoft account for your child
  2. 2Add the child to your Microsoft Family (family.microsoft.com)
  3. 3Set screen time limits per device
  4. 4Configure app and game limits
  5. 5Set age ratings for apps and games
  6. 6Enable web filter (only effective in Edge browser)
  7. 7Enable activity reports

Tip

Screen time limits apply across devices: If your child has a combined 2-hour limit for PC and Xbox, the time is tracked together.

Nintendo Switch Parental Controls

Nintendo's free app for controlling play time and content on the Switch console.

  1. 1Install the "Nintendo Switch Parental Controls" app
  2. 2Connect the app to the Switch console (QR code)
  3. 3Set a daily play time limit
  4. 4Choose what happens when the limit is reached (warning or pause)
  5. 5Select an age restriction level
  6. 6Restrict communication with others if needed

Tip

The app shows you which games were played and for how long. This is a great basis for conversations about gaming habits.

Technology Is Just One Building Block

Technical boundaries work best in combination with clear rules and a shared plan.

Create Media Agreement →Rules That Work