Screen Time, web content limits, app restrictions, and passcodes held by a trusted person.
Choose your level
Pick the one that matches how much help you need. The names are meant to be plain.
Level 1
Simple guardrails
Best for non-technical users. Use Screen Time, Family Link, or Family Safety first.
Open the guide → Level 2More friction
Add DNS filtering, hosts files, browser limits, and account separation.
Open the guide → Level 3Hard lockout
For power users and sysadmins. Use trusted-person control, network enforcement, and admin separation.
Open the guide →Use the light page first if you need the exact menus. Friction and lockout pages build on it.
Platforms
Each device gets its own path. Start with the built-in OS tools. If a step says “keep Screen Time on” or “keep Family Link on,” it means the setup from the Light page still applies.
Family Link, SafeSearch, Private DNS, approved sites, and app install approval.
Family Safety, standard accounts, browser limits, and host or DNS blocks.
Screen Time, content restrictions, app limits, and managed admin access.
Hosts files, allowlists, proxies, firewall rules, and account hardening.
Best when the whole home needs to be filtered. One control point can cover every device.
What to do first
- Pick your level.
- Set the built-in OS controls.
- Remove easy bypasses.
- Add a trusted person where the platform supports it.
- Only then add third-party tools if you still need more friction.
Resources
Only the official docs I’d trust first.
Why this is organized this way
People are at different levels. Some need a quick setup. Others need a real lockout. The site should match that reality.
Light should feel doable in 10 minutes. Friction should be annoying to bypass. Lockout should need another person to reverse.
Trusted person setup
The recovery path should live with someone else. If you can reset it alone, it is not strong enough.
- Choose one trusted person.
- Give them the passcode, admin login, or recovery code.
- Delete your own copies.
- Decide what they control and what you can still change.
FAQ
Short answers before you start.
What level should I start with?
Start with Light if you want the fastest clean setup. Move to Friction if you keep bypassing the basics. Use Lockout if you need another person to hold the recovery path. Each later level still assumes the earlier one exists.
Do I need third-party software?
No. Use built-in controls first. Add third-party tools only when the native OS tools are not enough.
Can I use this for myself, not a child?
Yes. The main difference is who holds the passwords and passcodes. For self-control, a trusted person should hold anything that reverses the setup.