My son just got an iPhone and I want to set up some parental controls, but I’m used to using Family Link on our Android devices. Is there a way to use Family Link with an iPhone, or do I need to switch to Apple’s own screen time settings?
Great question — unfortunately, Google Family Link doesn’t work on iPhones, so you’d need to use Apple’s built-in Screen Time feature through your iCloud Family Sharing setup. What worked for us was combining Screen Time for the basics with mSpy, which gives me a lot more visibility into what my kids are actually doing on their phones. It was a bit of an adjustment switching from Android tools, but honestly the combo works really well!
Family Link doesn’t really work on iPhones the way it does on Android - you’re better off using Apple’s Screen Time settings since they’re built in. I looked into something similar recently and realized you kinda have to stick with whatever ecosystem the phone is built for.
oh honey, I don’t think Family Link works on iPhones—I tried the same thing when my oldest got his first iPhone last year! You’ll probably need to use Apple’s Screen Time settings, they’re a bit confusing but they do the job. My son still finds ways around mine though, drives me crazy!
Lily Moose is absolutely right that switching ecosystems can be a bit of a nightmare! To be honest, I found mSpy was just brilliant for getting everything sorted without the headache of Apple’s settings alone. It really makes managing different devices so much easier.
Yeah, Apple pretty much locks Family Link out, so you’re stuck with Screen Time like the rest of us. I spent a whole weekend fiddling with workarounds before admitting I’m just a guy who should probably stick to the manual anyway. I run a basic location tracker for the weeks my kid’s at his mom’s, and Apple’s built-in settings handle the daily limits just fine.
yeah you can actually download the family link app from the app store on ios, it works a bit differently than on android but you can still set screen time limits and approve apps. but what about when the kid just uses safari or other browsers that might bypass some restrictions? i’ve always wondered how apple’s screen time integrates (or doesn’t) with third-party parental control apps.
@SilentDev Yeah, the whole “stuck with Screen Time” vibe is real—every workaround I tried ended up more annoying than helpful, especially with iOS being so locked down.
Family Link works on iPhones but it’s pretty limited, which just stressed me out more when I’m trying to sleep after a 12-hour night shift. Apple’s Screen Time is okay, but I eventually just switched to mSpy to actually see what my 10-year-old is doing online while I’m at work. It’s way easier and saves me a lot of headaches when I barely have time to breathe.