How to set up Screen Time for WhitelistVideo on iOS

Configure iOS Screen Time to prevent your child from deleting the WhitelistVideo app or accessing YouTube through Safari. This is a required step for complete protection.

Why is Screen Time required?

The WhitelistVideo app filters YouTube only within the app itself. iOS does not allow apps to:

• Prevent their own deletion
• Block access to websites in other apps
• Control what other apps can do

Screen Time is Apple's built-in parental control system that fills these gaps. You need it to:

1. Block app deletion so your child can't remove WhitelistVideo
2. Block Safari YouTube access so your child can't bypass the filter
3. Keep WhitelistVideo available during Downtime periods

What do I need to set up Screen Time?

• Your child's iPhone or iPad with WhitelistVideo installed and activated
• A Screen Time passcode that your child doesn't know
• About 5 minutes to configure settings

How to enable Screen Time

If Screen Time isn't already enabled on your child's device:

On your child's iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app

2. Tap Screen Time

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of iOS Settings app showing Screen Time option]

3. Tap Turn On Screen Time

4. Tap Continue

5. Select This is My Child's iPhone/iPad

6. Follow the prompts to set up Family Sharing if needed

7. Create a Screen Time Passcode (4 digits)

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Screen Time passcode creation screen]

How to block app deletion

This prevents your child from deleting WhitelistVideo.

On your child's iPhone or iPad

1. Open Settings > Screen Time

2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Content & Privacy Restrictions menu]

3. Enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted

4. Toggle Content & Privacy Restrictions to ON (green)

5. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of iTunes & App Store Purchases settings]

6. Tap Deleting Apps

7. Select Don't Allow

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing Deleting Apps set to Don't Allow]

How to block YouTube in Safari

This prevents your child from accessing YouTube through the Safari browser.

Option 1: Block YouTube websites specifically

1. Open Settings > Screen Time

2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions

3. Enter your Screen Time passcode

4. Tap Content Restrictions

5. Tap Web Content

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Web Content restrictions screen]

6. Select Limit Adult Websites

7. Under Never Allow, tap Add Website

8. Add these websites:

   • youtube.com
   • m.youtube.com
   • youtu.be
   • youtube-nocookie.com

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing YouTube domains in Never Allow list]

Option 2: Block Safari entirely (more restrictive)

If your child doesn't need Safari access:

1. Open Settings > Screen Time

2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions

3. Tap Allowed Apps

4. Toggle Safari to OFF

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Allowed Apps with Safari toggle OFF]

How to add WhitelistVideo to Always Allowed

This ensures WhitelistVideo works even during Downtime or when app limits are active.

1. Open Settings > Screen Time

2. Tap Always Allowed

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Always Allowed apps screen]

3. Find WhitelistVideo in the list

4. Tap the green + button next to it to add it to Always Allowed

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing WhitelistVideo added to Always Allowed]

How to verify your Screen Time settings

After configuration, test that everything works:

Test app deletion blocking

1. On your child's device, press and hold any app icon

2. The apps should wobble, but there should be no "X" or minus button to delete apps

3. If you see a way to delete apps, go back and check the "Deleting Apps" setting

Test YouTube blocking in Safari

1. Open Safari on your child's device

2. Go to youtube.com

3. You should see a "Website Restricted" message

4. If YouTube loads normally, go back and check your web content restrictions

Test WhitelistVideo works

1. Open the WhitelistVideo app

2. Search for a video from an approved channel

3. The video should play normally

4. If blocked, check that WhitelistVideo is in "Always Allowed"

Screen Time setup complete

Your child's iOS device is now fully protected:

• WhitelistVideo filters YouTube within the app
• Screen Time prevents app deletion
• YouTube is blocked in Safari
• Your child can only watch approved content

Screen Time protection levels by age

Screen Time troubleshooting

My child knows the Screen Time passcode

• Change the passcode immediately in Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode
• Use a passcode they can't guess
• Consider using Screen Time via Family Sharing so you control it from your device

Screen Time passcode won't work

• Make sure you're entering the Screen Time passcode, not the device passcode
• If you forgot it, you can reset it using your Apple ID (Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode > Forgot Passcode)

My child disabled Screen Time

• This is only possible if they know the Screen Time passcode
• Re-enable Screen Time and change the passcode
• Consider managing Screen Time remotely via Family Sharing

YouTube is still accessible somewhere

• Check for the YouTube app—delete it or block installing apps
• Check other browsers besides Safari (Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
• Add all YouTube domains to the "Never Allow" list

WhitelistVideo is blocked during Downtime

• Make sure WhitelistVideo is in the "Always Allowed" list
• Remove any App Limits that include WhitelistVideo

I can't find Screen Time settings

• Make sure you're running iOS 12 or later
• On older iOS versions (11 and earlier), look for "Restrictions" instead

More iOS troubleshooting