Let your young child use only a few websites you choose

Why it happens

Screen Time's web filter can work as a short allowed list: your child can open the sites on it, and every other website is blocked. It's made for young children who only need a handful of sites. It covers Safari and web pages shown inside many other apps, but another web browser may not follow it, so it's worth testing.

How to fix it

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings and click Screen Time. If you manage your child through Family Sharing, pick their name from the menu at the top. If they have their own account on this Mac without Family Sharing, log in to their account to set it up.

2. Click Content & Privacy and turn it on if it's off. Then click App Store, Media, Web, & Games.

   Screen Time›Content & Privacy›App Store, Media, Web, & Games

3. Use the pop-up menu next to Safari and choose Allowed Websites Only.

4. Click Customize. Add each site you want with its full address, remove any you don't, and click Done.

5. Back in Screen Time, turn on Lock Screen Time Settings and pick a passcode your child doesn't know, so they can't switch the filter off.

   Screen Time›Lock Screen Time Settings

On macOS 27, once you've upgraded Screen Time for your family and every family device runs version 27, a child's limits move to the Family section of System Settings. There it's called Approved Websites Only, and your child can ask you before opening a new site. Before that upgrade, the Screen Time steps above work the same on macOS 26 and 27.

Still not fixed?

1. On macOS 27 with the upgraded Screen Time, open Family, click your child, then Apps & Websites, Restrictions and Filtering, and choose Approved Websites Only.

   Family›your Child›Apps & Websites›Restrictions›Filtering›Approved Websites Only

2. If another web browser is installed on the Mac, test it with a site that isn't on your list. If the site opens, remove that browser from your child's account, or block it with App Limits in Screen Time: click Add Limit…, pick the browser, set a very short time and turn on Block at end of limit.

   macOS 26 Tahoe Screen Time›App Limits›Add Limit

   macOS 27 Golden Gate Screen Time›App Limits›Add Limit…

3. If a site on your list opens but looks broken, it may load pictures or videos from other addresses. Add those addresses to the list too, or pick a simpler site.

4. If your child can still change the settings, make sure their Mac account is a Standard account, not an Administrator, and that they don't know the Screen Time passcode.

5. If the switches are greyed out, the Mac may be managed by a school or company. Ask whoever runs it.

6. If blocked sites still open with the filter set and the passcode on, restart the Mac and test again in Safari. If they still get through, contact Apple Support.