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Documentation
Setup by Device
iPhone & iPad
Screen Time Setup

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.

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Using FamilyControls? If you enabled FamilyControls in the WhitelistVideo app, skip the "Block YouTube websites" section below. FamilyControls already blocks YouTube system-wide. Adding youtube.com to Screen Time's "Never Allow" list will block YouTube inside WhitelistVideo too, with no exemption possible. See FamilyControls Setup instead.

If you enabled FamilyControls during WhitelistVideo setup, YouTube is already blocked system-wide in all browsers. Most steps on this page are handled automatically. See what Screen Time settings to keep for the simplified setup.

When do you need manual Screen Time setup?

ScenarioWhat to do
FamilyControls enabled (recommended)Only configure a few complementary settings — YouTube blocking is automatic
FamilyControls not available (another app has it, or iOS < 16)Follow the full Screen Time setup below
Chose to keep another parental control appFollow the full Screen Time setup below

Screen Time settings when using FamilyControls

If FamilyControls is active, it handles YouTube browser blocking and app shielding automatically. Configure only these complementary Screen Time settings:

SettingRecommendationWhy
Deleting Apps → Don't AllowSet this (Individual mode only)Child Account mode prevents deletion automatically; Individual mode doesn't
Always Allowed → WhitelistVideoSet thisEnsures WhitelistVideo works during Downtime
Installing Apps → Ask to BuySet thisPrevents child from installing alternative browsers or apps
YouTube app → 0-min limitNot needed if shieldedApp shielding handles this already
DowntimeOptionalSet daily screen time windows if desired
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Do NOT add youtube.com to Screen Time's "Never Allow" list when using FamilyControls. This blocks YouTube in ALL apps including WhitelistVideo, with no exemption possible. FamilyControls handles YouTube blocking automatically and exempts WhitelistVideo's player.

Learn more about FamilyControls setup →

Full Screen Time setup (without FamilyControls)

The steps below are for parents who are not using FamilyControls — either because another parental control app has Screen Time access, or the device runs iOS 15 or earlier.

⚠️

Without FamilyControls, WhitelistVideo filters YouTube only within its own app. Screen Time is needed to block YouTube in browsers and prevent app deletion.

Screen Time is Apple's built-in parental control system. 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

Open Screen Time settings

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

  1. Tap Turn On Screen Time

  2. Tap Continue

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

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

  5. Create a Screen Time Passcode (4 digits)

⚠️

Choose a passcode your child won't guess! Don't use birthdays, simple patterns (1234), or anything they might know. Store this passcode somewhere safe.

Create Screen Time passcode

[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

Content & Privacy Restrictions

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Content & Privacy Restrictions menu]

  1. Enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted

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

  3. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases

iTunes & App Store Purchases

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

  1. Tap Deleting Apps

  2. Select Don't Allow

Don't Allow Deleting Apps

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

What this does: Your child will no longer see the "X" button to delete apps. They cannot remove WhitelistVideo or any other app.

How to block YouTube in Safari

⚠️

FamilyControls users: Skip this section. FamilyControls blocks YouTube in all browsers automatically. Adding YouTube to Screen Time's "Never Allow" list will break YouTube inside WhitelistVideo. See FamilyControls setup.

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

Web Content restrictions

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Web Content restrictions screen]

  1. Select Limit Adult Websites

  2. Under Never Allow, tap Add Website

    Do not do this if you are using FamilyControls — it will block YouTube inside WhitelistVideo.

  3. Add these websites:

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

Block YouTube websites

[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 to block it

Disable Safari

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

Tip: If your child needs to browse the web for school, use Option 1 to block only YouTube sites while keeping Safari available.

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

Always Allowed apps

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Always Allowed apps screen]

  1. Find WhitelistVideo in the list

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

Add WhitelistVideo to Always Allowed

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing WhitelistVideo added to Always Allowed]

⚠️

Don't set app limits on WhitelistVideo. If you use Screen Time's App Limits feature, make sure WhitelistVideo isn't included—otherwise your child won't be able to watch approved videos during their allowed time.

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 protected:

  • WhitelistVideo filters YouTube within the app
  • Screen Time prevents app deletion
  • YouTube is blocked in Safari (or system-wide via FamilyControls)
  • Your child can only watch approved content

Want stronger protection? Enable FamilyControls to block YouTube system-wide in all browsers and shield the YouTube app, TikTok, and other apps automatically.

Enable FamilyControls (Recommended)Back to iOS OverviewApprove Channels

Screen Time protection levels by age

Child's AgeRecommended Setup
Under 7Block app deletion + Block Safari entirely + Supervised mode (optional)
7-12Block app deletion + Block YouTube in Safari + Always Allowed
13-17Block app deletion + Block YouTube in Safari

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

  • Recommended: Enable FamilyControls to block YouTube in all browsers and shield the YouTube app automatically
  • If not using FamilyControls: 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 (only if NOT using FamilyControls)

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

FamilyControls SetupOverview
Summarize with