iOS Screen Time access for WhitelistVideo

Approve Screen Time access so WhitelistVideo can restrict YouTube in other browsers while still playing approved videos inside WhitelistVideo.

What does FamilyControls do?

When enabled, WhitelistVideo uses Apple's built-in FamilyControls framework to:

1. Restrict YouTube in other browsers after you approve Screen Time access
2. Keep Safari and Chrome available while preventing unfiltered YouTube access through them
3. Close common bypass routes while WhitelistVideo keeps its Screen Time authorization

What do I need?

• Your child's iPhone or iPad with iOS 16 or later
• The regular YouTube app uninstalled from the device
• WhitelistVideo installed and activated on the device
• Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode to approve the setup
• About 2 minutes

How to enable FamilyControls

On your child's iPhone or iPad

1. Open the WhitelistVideo app

2. If not already activated, activate with your parent code first

3. A consent screen appears asking for Screen Time access

4. Tap Allow Screen Time Access

5. Authenticate with Face ID / Touch ID / passcode

6. Confirm the Screen Time Protection status shows as active

7. Keep youtube.com permitted in Screen Time. Do not add YouTube domains to Never Allow

8. Setup complete — WhitelistVideo now restricts YouTube access through other browsers

Protection modes

WhitelistVideo automatically detects which protection mode is available on the device:

The app tries Child Account mode first. If the device doesn't have a child Apple ID, it falls back to Individual mode.

What a child can do in Individual mode

In Individual mode, a child with access to device Settings can:

• Go to Settings → Screen Time → scroll to the bottom → tap Turn Off Screen Time to remove all restrictions
• Go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management to check for or remove configuration profiles

How to prevent this

Set up a child Apple ID via Family Sharing. With a child account:

• FamilyControls authorization is managed through the family setup rather than granted only by the individual device user
• The child cannot revoke WhitelistVideo's FamilyControls authorization in the same way as Individual mode
• The authorization itself protects the provider app from deletion
• Still set Deleting Apps to Don't Allow as defense-in-depth; this separate restriction is required in Individual mode

How to check your protection mode

In the WhitelistVideo app on your child's device:

1. Enter your PIN to access Settings
2. Look for the Screen Time Protection row
3. You'll see:
   • Status: Green checkmark (authorized) or red (revoked)
   • Protection mode: "Child Account" or "Individual"

Remove the regular YouTube app and control new apps

1. Uninstall the regular YouTube app from the child's iPhone or iPad.
2. In Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases, set Deleting Apps to Don't Allow.
3. Require parent approval for app installations, or set Installing Apps to Don't Allow.
4. Keep Safari and Chrome available if your child needs them.
5. Remove or restrict other already-installed browsers unless you have tested them as part of your setup.

The deletion restriction is useful defense-in-depth with a child Apple ID and is required for Individual authorization mode.

What gets blocked and what doesn't

YouTube access restricted in other browsers

After Screen Time access is approved, WhitelistVideo restricts access to these domains through other browsers:

• youtube.com and www.youtube.com
• m.youtube.com (mobile YouTube)
• youtu.be (short links)
• music.youtube.com (YouTube Music)

What still works

• YouTube inside WhitelistVideo — plays normally with your filtering rules
• Other websites — remain available under the broader Screen Time settings chosen by your family
• Safari and Chrome — can remain installed for general browsing
• App Store — require parent approval or prevent app installation in Screen Time
• Apple's Screen Time settings — coexist with FamilyControls (they're separate systems)

Screen Time settings when using FamilyControls

If you've previously configured Screen Time to block YouTube, some settings now conflict with FamilyControls. Here's what to keep, change, and avoid:

If YouTube is blocked inside WhitelistVideo

If YouTube won't load inside the WhitelistVideo app:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content
2. Check the "Never Allow" list — if youtube.com is there, remove it
3. Keep the broader Web Content setting appropriate for your family, but do not list YouTube domains under Never Allow
4. Confirm approved playback in WhitelistVideo, then test YouTube access in Safari and Chrome

Conflicts with other parental control apps

Apps that may conflict: Bark, Kidslox, Qustodio, OurPact, Net Nanny, Kaspersky Safe Kids, and other parental control apps that use Apple's FamilyControls or Screen Time API.

Apple's own Screen Time is NOT affected — it's a separate system that coexists with third-party FamilyControls apps.

How to resolve a conflict

1. On the child's device, go to Settings > Screen Time
2. Look for which third-party app has Screen Time access
3. Remove that app's Screen Time access (or uninstall the app)
4. Return to WhitelistVideo and tap Allow Screen Time Access again

For detailed steps, see Resolving FamilyControls Conflicts.

If you want to keep both apps

If you prefer to keep the other parental control app:

• The other parental-control app can manage app installation, app deletion, and browser restrictions
• WhitelistVideo will filter approved YouTube content within its own app
• Do not configure the other app to blanket-block YouTube domains if that prevents approved playback in WhitelistVideo
• WhitelistVideo can claim browser restriction only while it holds Screen Time authorization

Important limitation

TestFlight builds

FamilyControls features do not work in TestFlight builds due to an Apple sandbox limitation. They work in App Store builds and development-signed builds.

Checking FamilyControls status

In the WhitelistVideo app Settings, the Screen Time Protection row shows:

• Green checkmark — FamilyControls is active and protecting the device
• Red indicator — Access was revoked (tap to re-authorize)
• Not available — Device doesn't meet requirements (iOS 16+)

If access was revoked (e.g., by the child in Individual mode), tap the Re-authorize button to re-request access.

FamilyControls setup complete

With Screen Time access approved and the setup tested:

• YouTube access is restricted through Safari and Chrome
• The regular YouTube app is uninstalled
• Safari and Chrome cannot be used for unfiltered YouTube while WhitelistVideo remains authorized
• App deletion and new app installations are restricted separately in Screen Time
• Your filtering rules, whitelist, and blacklist all apply