How to set up Screen Time for WhitelistVideo on iOS

Configure the Screen Time settings that support WhitelistVideo without blocking approved YouTube playback.

Required iPhone and iPad setup

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Screen Time settings for WhitelistVideo

After approving Screen Time access for WhitelistVideo, configure these settings:

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Learn more about FamilyControls setup →

Set up the supporting Screen Time controls

Screen Time is Apple's built-in parental-control system. Use it alongside WhitelistVideo to:

1. Block app deletion so your child cannot remove WhitelistVideo (recommended)
2. Control new app installation if you want new apps to need your approval (optional)
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

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)

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

3. Enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted

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

5. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases

6. Tap Deleting Apps

7. Select Don't Allow

Keep YouTube domains permitted

1. Open Settings > Screen Time > your child's name (under Family) > Content & Privacy Restrictions. On a child Apple ID, do this on your own iPhone.
2. Open App Store, Media, Web & Games > Web Content.
3. If it is set to Only Approved Websites, add youtube.com and m.youtube.com to the approved websites, or switch to Limit Adult Websites (Only Approved Websites blocks youtube.com unless it is approved).
4. Review the Never Allow list and remove youtube.com, m.youtube.com, youtu.be, youtube-nocookie.com, and any other YouTube domains.
5. Keep Safari available. You don't need to block it: WhitelistVideo blocks youtube.com in Safari and other browsers whenever it isn't on screen.

Optional: add google.com to Never Allow (Google results play video snippets), and set DuckDuckGo (privacy-focused) as Safari's search engine in Settings → Apps → Safari → Search Engine.

Control new app installs (optional)

1. Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
2. Open iTunes & App Store Purchases.
3. Set Installing Apps to Don't Allow, or use your family's approval process for every download.
4. You don't need to remove other browsers: WhitelistVideo's Screen Time access blocks youtube.com in every browser whenever it isn't on screen. Test Safari after setup.

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

3. Find WhitelistVideo in the list

4. Tap the green + button next to it to add it 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 browser restriction

1. Open Safari on your child's device

2. Go to youtube.com

3. YouTube should be blocked by WhitelistVideo

4. Repeat the test in any other browser installed

5. If unfiltered YouTube loads in a browser, confirm WhitelistVideo still has Screen Time access

Test the regular YouTube app is unavailable

1. Confirm the regular YouTube app is blocked (1.4.8 picker) or deleted (newer app versions)

2. Confirm the YouTube access check in WhitelistVideo passes

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 protected:

• WhitelistVideo filters YouTube within the app
• Screen Time prevents app deletion (recommended)
• YouTube domains are never blocked in Screen Time, so approved videos can play inside WhitelistVideo
• WhitelistVideo blocks youtube.com in Safari and other browsers whenever it isn't on screen, while Screen Time access remains active
• The parent PIN is set

Screen Time protection levels by age

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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

• Confirm WhitelistVideo has Screen Time access
• Confirm the regular YouTube app is blocked or deleted
• Test Safari and any other installed browser
• Confirm YouTube domains are not blocked in Screen Time (keep it off Never Allow; with Only Approved Websites, approve youtube.com and m.youtube.com; Limit Adult Websites is fine)

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