With just a click or a tap, you can extend your Mac desktop using your iPad, effortlessly share files with friends, and more. Learn how to use your Mac and devices together. To browse the macOS User Guide, click Table of Contents at the top of the page. If you need more help, visit the macOS Support website. MacOS User Guide. Apr 14, 2020 The best free parental control software for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android By Jon Martindale April 14, 2020 Everything in this world has gone digital, and that includes homework if you have kids.
You don't have to hover over your children's shoulders, watching their every move, to keep them safe. Apple has several parental control features for the Mac to help protect them as they browse the internet, use apps, and play games. You can even set time limits for your little ones' computer activities, so they don't overuse their allotted screen time. Here's how to set up and manage Parental controls on your Mac.
If you are looking for how to use parental controls on iOS, check out our ultimate guide to parental controls on iPhone and iPad.
How to create a new user account on Mac
If you currently only have one user account (your administrator account), you'll need to create a new account for your kids.
- Select System Preferences from the Mac Dock.
- Choose Users & Groups.
Tap the lock at the bottom left.
Source: iMore
- Enter your administrative username and password to unlock your accounts.
Tap the + at the bottom left.
Source: iMore
- Toggle the type of account. Use Standard as your choice.
- Enter the full name of the child that will be using the new account.
- Create a password for the account.
- Verify the password.
- Add a password hint in case you forget it.
Click on Create User to create a new account.
Source: iMore
- Repeat Steps 5 to 11 for additional children accounts.
Once you create an account for your child, you must set restrictions by activating Screen Time in macOS Catalina.
How to turn on Screen Time on macOS
Screen Time is located in System Preferences in macOS Catalina. To get started:
- Click Screen Time in System Preferences. Make sure the administrator account is selected at the top left. By default, it is.
- Select the Options button at the bottom left.
Click the Turn On button at the top right.
Source: iMore
You can now start using Screen Time on Mac. For further information on Screen Time for Mac, see:
- How to use Screen Time on your Mac.
The following steps are exclusive to establishing parental controls on Mac using Screen Time.
How to set restrictions across all devices
Thanks to Screen Time, you can establish restrictions for your children across all of your devices. As changes are made on one device, they'll carry over to the others. However, they must be set up to do so.
On Mac:
- Click Screen Time in System Preferences. Make sure the administrator account is selected at the top left. By default, it is.
- Select the Options button at the bottom left.
Check the box next to Share across devices.
Source: iMore
How to add a passcode to Screen Time on macOS
So your child can't change restrictions, it's best to set a passcode on the account.
- Click Screen Time in System Preferences.
- On the left, toggle the child account.
Select the Options button at the bottom left.
Source: iMore
- Check the Use Screen Time Passcode box.
- Add a four-digit passcode
Re-enter the four-digit passcode
Source: iMore
How to schedule Downtime using Screen Time for macOS
During Downtime, only the apps you choose to allow will work for your child on Mac. To set up a Downtime schedule:
- Click Screen Time in System Preferences.
- On the left, toggle the child account.
Select Downtime on the left side.
Source: iMore
- Click the Turn On button to activate Downtime.
- Using the radio buttons, select Every Day or Custom depending on the schedule you'd like to set.
With Every Day selected, Downtime is enforced during the same time each day. With Custom picked, you can adjust the time for each day of the week or uncheck the box next to a day to turn Downtime off for that day.
You can also select Block at Downtime if you want the machine completely blocked to your child during Downtime.
How to set app limits using Screen Time for macOS
In Screen Time for Mac, you can also set app time limits.
- Click Screen Time in System Preferences.
- On the left, toggle the child account.
- Select App Limits on the left side.
Click the Turn On button to activate App Limits.
Source: iMore
- Select the + to add an app category.
Next, check the box next to the app category you'd like to limit.
Source: iMore
- Tap the expand icon to see the apps affected by this limit. The list will include apps across all devices, when applicable.
- With the app category highlighted, set the total limit using the radio buttons. You can set the limits Every Day or using a Custom schedule.
- Repeat Steps 5-6 for each app category you'd like to limit.
Click Done to complete.
Source: iMore
To remove app limits:
- In Screen Time for Mac, toggle the child account.
- Select App Limits on the left side.
- On the right, uncheck the box next to each app category you no longer want to limit.
To turn off app tracking, click the Turn Off button.
Source: iMore
How to set always allowed content in Screen Time for macOS
You might want specific processes available on the Mac at all the time for your child, regardless of other restrictions. This can include communication with certain people or apps.
To set always allowed content:
- Click Screen Time in System Preferences.
- Toggle the child account.
- Select Always Allowed on the left side.
Check the box next to each of the items that you want always to allow.
Source: iMore
How to set content and privacy using Screen Time for macOS
Finally, you can restrict content and privacy using Screen Time.
- Click Screen Time in System Preferences.
- Toggle the child account.
- Select Content & Privacy on the left side.
Click Turn On to activate Content & Privacy.
Source: iMore
There are four sections here: Content, Stores, Apps, and Other. Under each, check the box to restrict content and add privacy. See samples below.
Source: iMore
Source: iMore
Any questions?
Do you have any questions about setting up and customizing parental controls or enabling remote access to parental controls on a different computer? Let us know in the comments and we'll help you out.
macOS Catalina
Main
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Want to keep your children’s activities in check? Want that your children shouldn’t watch an offensive content online? As such content commonly have malicious codes attach with them. Worry not Apple has a feature named parental control that will help you protect your machine and kids from the infections while they are online, using an app or playing games online.
Not only this even you can set limits for the machine usage. Here’s how you can enable and manage Parental controls on Mac Os High Sierra.
Creating new account having parental control
If you have administrator account, to enable parental control you need to create a new account.
To do so follow the steps below:
1. Open System Preference by clicking the Apple iconpresent at the extreme left of the Mac homescreen and from here chose System Preferences.
2. In the new window that opens select and hit Parental Controls.
3. Next, select the radio button with option that reads “Create a new account with parental controls” and click Continue button.4. You will see a window asking to enter username and password. Here enter your administrative username and password and click Unlock.5. Now under Parental Controls window, select age group and enter name of the account holder.6. Give it a username and create password for the account.
7. Re enter the password to verify it.8. If you think you can forget the password Add a password hint.
9. Next hit Create Userto complete the process.
Also Read:Low Storage on Mac? Here are The 10 Best Mac Cleaners
To create multiple accounts for each child, repeat the steps when asked for signing into iCloud, skip it if your kid doesn’t have one.
Enabling remote access
Once account with parental controls is created you can access it from another system. Meaning you don’t have to be in front of that system. To remotely access the machine, make sure both machines are on same network and you have access to the administrator username and password.
1. Open System Preference by clicking the Apple iconpresent at the extreme left of your Mac’s screen and from here chose System Preferences.2. Select Parental Controls in the System Preferences window that opens.
3. Next hit the lockicon and enter administrator username, password for your Mac in the new window that opens.4. Now, select the box next to “Manage parental controls from another computer.” To avoid making any further changes without your knowledge click the lock icon.
Also Read:How to Remove Malware and Adware from Your Mac
Accessing parental control from another Mac:
1. Click on the Apple icon as you did in previous steps to open System Preferences.2. Now select and click on Parental Controls followed by selection of radio button that reads “Manage parental controls on another Mac.”
3. Click Continue
After following all the steps, you will now be able to manage all parental control operations remotely.
Hack Parental Controls Macbook
Manage app usage
Once the account with parental controls is created you can specify the apps your child can use. Also you can specify if certain app can use camera, play multiplayer games with Game Center and more.
Open parental control by following the steps already discussed and then follow the steps mentioned below:
1. Enter administrator username and passwordand click Unlock2. Next, choose the account with parental control and click on the Apps3. To disallow camera from being used unselect the box next to “Allow use of camera.”
4. To allow multiplayer gaming to select the box next to “Allow joining Game Center multiplayer games.”5. Now to limit the app usage select the box next to “Limit Applications on the Mac”and select the apps manually that you want him to play. Unapproved apps will ask for administrator name and password.
Before exiting the window click on the lock icon to avoid any further changes to be done.
Also Read: 5 Best Ransomware Protection Tools For Windows
Restricting website access
Internet is a scary place for children, they need to access it under supervision. But we all know it isn’t practical so to protect them and restrict access to specific sites use parental control.
To do so follow the same steps as discussed above and click on Web tab instead of App followed by steps mentioned below:
1. Next to give unrestricted access to websites select the radio button that reads “Allow unrestricted access to websites.”
2. To limit access, select “Try to limit access to adult websites” and specify the sites by clicking Customize3. Once specified the sites select “Allow access to only these websites” to limit website usage.
Note: Use (+) button to add sites and (-) to remove sites.
How To Hack Parental Controls On Mac Without Password
4. To view what your child tried to access and has visited click Logs
Note: Don’t forget to click lock icon before closing the Parental Controls window.
To restrict usage of iTunes, follow the same steps and select the iTunes tab.
Hack Parental Controls Mac
Plus, you can set time limits for computer usage to do so select Time tab under Parental Controls and follow the steps below to proceed.
How To Hack Parental Controls On Macbook
1. To restrict weekday usage select “Limit weekday use to”, likewise to restrict weekend usage select “Limit weekend use to.”
You can select between 30 minutes and eight hours.
Get Around Parental Controls Mac
Also Read:10 Best Anti-Malware Software for Windows
Parental Controls Macbook
These were the steps to use Mac Parental Control on Mac OS High Sierra. Using these simple steps, you can keep a check on your child’s internet activity and can be vigilant. This will not only make your child learn how to intelligently use internet but will also help him to differentiate between the right and the wrong content.