OS native parental controls
Strengthen WhitelistVideo's protection by configuring your operating system's built-in parental controls.
Important: WhitelistVideo's Advanced Protection is the primary way to prevent bypassing on desktop computers. Native parental controls provide an additional layer of security. For mobile devices (iOS/Android), native parental controls are required for complete protection.
Disclaimer: The guides in this section are provided as general guidance and may not reflect the latest changes to each platform's interface or policies. Apple Screen Time, Google Family Link, and Microsoft Family Safety are third-party services not affiliated with WhitelistVideo. Please refer to the official documentation for each platform for the most accurate and up-to-date instructions.
These guides are current as of May 2026. Operating system interfaces change with updates — if a step doesn't match what you see on your device, check Apple Support (opens in a new tab), Google Support (opens in a new tab), or Microsoft Support (opens in a new tab) for the latest instructions.
Why configure OS parental controls?
Native parental controls help you:
- Prevent app deletion - Stop your child from removing WhitelistVideo
- Block YouTube in browsers - Ensure YouTube can only be accessed through WhitelistVideo
- Restrict app installation - Prevent downloading alternative browsers or apps
- Set time limits - Control overall device usage
- Manage content - Additional filtering at the OS level
Setup process overview
For each operating system, there are two steps:
- Create a Child Account - Set up a separate account for your child with appropriate restrictions
- Configure Parental Controls - Set up the native parental control app to restrict browsers and apps
iOS (iPhone & iPad)
WhitelistVideo supports two protection paths on iOS: FamilyControls (recommended, automatic) and manual Screen Time (fallback).
Recommended for iOS: Enable FamilyControls in WhitelistVideo to block YouTube system-wide in all browsers and shield apps like TikTok and Instagram — automatically. A child Apple ID provides the strongest protection.
Official Documentation: Use Screen Time on iPhone (opens in a new tab)
Android
Google's Family Link provides parental controls for Android phones and tablets.
Recommended for Android: Family Link provides the essential app protection layer that locks WhitelistVideo in place. Configure it to block app deletion.
Official Documentation: Google Family Link (opens in a new tab)
Windows
Microsoft's Family Safety provides parental controls for Windows 10 and 11.
Official Documentation: Microsoft Family Safety (opens in a new tab)
Chromebook
Google's Family Link provides parental controls for Chromebooks.
Official Documentation: Family Link on Chromebook (opens in a new tab)
Mac
Apple's Screen Time provides parental controls for Mac computers.
Official Documentation: Apple Screen Time (opens in a new tab)
Quick comparison
| Feature | iOS | Android | Windows | Chromebook | Mac |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parental Control App | FamilyControls + Screen Time | Family Link | Family Safety | Family Link | Screen Time |
| Block app deletion | Yes (auto with FamilyControls Child Account) | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Block YouTube in browsers | Yes (auto with FamilyControls) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Block app installation | Yes | Yes | Yes (limited) | Yes | Yes |
| Block browsers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shield apps (YouTube, TikTok) | Yes (via FamilyControls) | No | No | No | No |
| Time limits | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Content filtering | FamilyControls (recommended) or Safari off | Chrome only | Edge only | Chrome only | Safari (turn off recommended) |
| Age restrictions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key goals
For WhitelistVideo to work effectively, configure these settings on your child's device:
1. Prevent App Deletion (Mobile Only)
Goal (iOS/Android): Lock the WhitelistVideo app in place so your child cannot delete it.
Native parental controls (Screen Time or Family Link) provide the app protection layer that ensures WhitelistVideo stays installed.
2. Restrict to One Browser (Desktop Only)
Goal (Windows/Mac/Chromebook): Only allow Google Chrome on the device. Block or remove all other browsers.
Why? WhitelistVideo only works in Chrome. If your child can use Safari, Firefox, Edge, or other browsers, they can access YouTube without WhitelistVideo's protection.
3. Direct YouTube Through WhitelistVideo
Goal: Ensure your child accesses YouTube only through WhitelistVideo.
- iOS (mobile app): Enable FamilyControls to block YouTube in all browsers automatically — or turn off Safari in Screen Time manually
- Android (mobile app): Turn off Chrome via Family Link so WhitelistVideo is your child's dedicated YouTube experience
- Windows/Mac/Chromebook (extension): Block YouTube in non-Chrome browsers — the WhitelistVideo extension handles Chrome automatically
4. Block App Installation
Goal: Require parental approval for any new app or software installation.
Why? Without this, your child could download a new browser or app to bypass WhitelistVideo.
5. Set Time Limits (Optional)
Goal: Control how much time your child spends on the device overall.
This complements WhitelistVideo by managing total screen time, not just YouTube content.
Need help?
If you're having trouble configuring native parental controls:
- iOS (iPhone/iPad): Apple Support (opens in a new tab)
- Android: Google Families Help (opens in a new tab)
- Windows: Microsoft Support (opens in a new tab)
- Chromebook: Google Families Help (opens in a new tab)
- Mac: Apple Support (opens in a new tab)
For WhitelistVideo-specific questions, contact support@whitelist.video.
VPN and proxy bypass
A tech-savvy child could install a VPN app to bypass web filtering. To prevent this:
- iOS: FamilyControls with a child Apple ID prevents app installation without parent approval
- Android: Family Link requires approval for all app installs
- Windows: Family Safety can restrict app installation
- Chromebook: Family Link controls app installation
- Mac: Screen Time can restrict app installation
Multiple children sharing one device
- Windows/Mac: Create a separate OS user account for each child. Install WhitelistVideo extension and desktop lockdown on each account separately.
- Android: Each child needs their own supervised Google account via Family Link.
- Chromebook: Each child needs their own supervised Google account. They sign in to their own profile on the shared Chromebook.
- iOS: iOS devices are typically single-user. Use Guided Access or dedicate one device per child.