How to turn off content filtering on iphone

On supervised devices, a web content filter lets you filter web pages in Safari and other web browsers, and network traffic from apps. On non-supervised devices, you can assign a web content filter to individual managed apps to filter their network traffic.

Table of Contents Show

Create a Web content filter configuration
Configure the app
Assign the policy to devices
Install the app on devices
Apple iPhone & iPad
What do I need?
Step by Step instructions
Search for Guides
Need to know more?
More to explore
Why is there content filtering on my iPhone?
How do I turn off restrictions on iPhone?

This page describes the web content filter for managed apps on non-supervised devices. For the web content filter on supervised devices, see Web content filter configuration (iOS device policy).

Restriction

The web content filter for managed apps on non-supervised devices is only available for iPhones and iPads with iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, or later.

Overview

To configure a web content filter for an app, you must do as follows:

Create a device policy with a Web content filter configuration.
Configure the app to use the Web content filter configuration.
Assign the policy to the devices.
Install the app on the devices as a managed app.

For details on these steps, see the sections below.

On devices with Sophos Intercept X for Mobile installed and managed by Sophos Mobile, you can use its Web Filtering feature instead of a Web content filter configuration. See Configure the app.

For details on configuring the Web Filtering feature of Intercept X for Mobile, see Web Filtering configuration (Mobile Threat Defense policy for iOS).

Create a Web content filter configuration

Skip this step if you use the Web Filtering feature of Sophos Intercept X for Mobile as a web content filter.

To create a device policy with a Web content filter configuration, do as follows:

On the menu sidebar, under CONFIGURE, click Policies > iOS & iPadOS.
Choose one of the following options:
- To add a Web content filter configuration to a new policy, click Create > Device policy.
- To add a Web content filter configuration to an existing policy, click the arrow next to the policy name and select Edit.
On the Edit policy page, click Add.
Select Web content filter.
Configure the settings as required. See Web content filter configuration (iOS device policy).
Make sure to select Use web content filter for managed apps on non-supervised devices.
On the Web content filter page, click Apply.
On the Edit policy page, click Save.

Configure the app

To configure the app to use the web content filter, do as follows:

On the menu sidebar, under CONFIGURE, click Apps > iOS & iPadOS.
Click the arrow next to the app name and select Edit.
Click Show next to Settings and VPN.
In Web content filter used by the app, select the policy that contains the Web content filter configuration, or select Sophos Intercept X to use the Web Filtering feature of Sophos Intercept X for Mobile.
On the Edit settings and VPN page, click Apply.
On the Edit iOS app page, click Save.

Assign the policy to devices

Skip this step if you use the Web Filtering feature of Sophos Intercept X for Mobile as a web content filter.

To make the web content filter available for the app, you must assign the policy with the Web content filter configuration to the devices that have the app installed.

Choose one of the following options:

If you added the Web content filter configuration to a new policy, assign the policy to the devices. See Assign a policy.
If you added the Web content filter configuration to an existing policy, update the policy on the devices:
1. On the menu sidebar, under CONFIGURE, click Policies > iOS & iPadOS.
2. Click the arrow next to the policy name and select Update devices.

Install the app on devices

You must install the app as a managed app.

For details on managed apps, see Managed apps for iPhones and iPads.

For general information on installing an app on devices, see Install app.

Apple iPhone & iPad

Controls & Settings guide

You can enable restrictions to stop your children from using specific features and social media or gaming applications on an iPhone or iPad. This includes blocking access to iTunes and restricting explicit content and in-app purchasing. You can also limit access to the camera and the sharing of photos.
pdf link

What do I need?

iPhone or iPad device, Apple ID and password

Restrictions you can apply

Apps Access

Browser Access

In App purchasing

Inappropriate content

Media streaming

Online games

Parental control

Sharing Data

Sharing location

Social networking

Timer

Step by Step instructions

Enable screen time

Using Screen Time to set content privacy restrictions and manage in-app purchases

Go to “Settings” and tap “Screen Time”.

Tap Continue, then choose “This is My [Device]” or “This is My Child’s [Device].”

If it’s a shared device and you’d like to ensure settings are not changed then tap “Use Screen Time Passcode”.

Then re-enter the passcode to confirm. If it’s a child’s device, you can follow prompts until you get to Parent Passcode and enter a passcode. Re-enter to confirm.

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. If asked, enter your passcode, then you can turn on Content & Privacy.

Once you have set up your code, in this section, you can manage in-app purchase, access to apps and automatically filter website content to limit access to adult content in Safari and apps on your device.

Managing in-app purchases in Screen Time

Tap “iTunes & App Store Purchases”. Choose a setting and set it to “Don’t Allow”.

Please note you can also change your password settings for additional purchases from the iTunes & App Store or Book Store. Follow steps 1-3, then choose Always Require or Don’t Require.

Guided Access

Guided Access allows you to lock your iPhone or iPad when in an app. This may be useful for children as they won’t be able to come out of that particular app and will stop them from accessing other apps and settings.

To enable:

Go to your “Settings” tap “Accessibility” then scroll down and tap “Guided Access”.

Tap the Guided Acess toggle so it turns green.

Then to start the Guided Access, tap the side (power) button three times. When enabled, the buttons and touchscreen will be disabled.

In this section, you can also set a passcode, time limit and enable auto-lock features.

To turn it off, tap the side button three times.

You can change the options which will appear in the bottom left of your screen which will allow the configure the settings for the app you or your child is on.

Tip: Alternatively, you can easily turn on Guided Access by giving the command to Siri which Siri will automatically do for you.

Prevent web content

iOS can automatically filter website content to limit access to adult content in Safari and apps on your device. You can also add specific websites to an approved or blocked list, or you can limit access to only approved websites. Follow these steps:

Go to Settings, then Screen time. Tap ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ and enter your Screen Time passcode. Then, tap ‘Content Restrictions’, then tap ‘Web Content’.

Choose Unrestricted Access, Limit Adult Websites, or Allowed Websites Only.

Restrict Siri web search

Go to Settings, then Screen time. Tap ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ if asked, enter your Screen Time passcode. Then, tap ‘Content Restrictions’. Scroll down to Siri, then choose your settings.

You can restrict these Siri features:

– Web Search Content: Prevent Siri from searching the web when you ask a question
– Explicit Language: Prevent Siri from displaying explicit language

Restrict game centre

Go to Settings, then Screen time. Tap ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ and enter your Screen Time passcode. Then, tap ‘Content Restrictions’ Scroll down to Game Center, then choose your settings.

You can restrict these Game Center features:

– Multiplayer Games: Prevent the ability to play multiplayer games
– Adding Friends: Prevent the ability to add friends to Game Center
– Screen Recording: Prevent the ability to capture the screen and sound

Turn off tracking

If you have the iOS 14.5 update or above, the App Tracking Transparency feature lets you decide if you want apps to track your activity for advertising purposes. This may not be suitable for children as it may encourage in-app spending.

To disable:

Go to Settings, then ‘Privacy’. Tap ‘Tracking’. The toggle button should be grey – this means the feature is disabled. Green means enabled.

Important: If you allow apps to ask to track you, you’ll start to see prompts when you launch updated apps requesting permission to track your activity. If you don’t allow apps to ask you for permission, all apps will automatically be blocked from tracking your activity.

Allow changes to privacy settings

The privacy settings on your device give you control over which apps have access to information stored on your device or the hardware features

Go to Settings, then Screen time. Tap ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ if asked, enter your Screen Time passcode. Tap ‘Privacy’, then choose the settings you want to restrict

Allow changes to other settings and features

You can allow changes to other settings and features, the same way you can allow changes to privacy settings.

Go to Settings, then Screen time. Tap ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ if asked, enter your Screen Time passcode. Always Allowed, select the features or settings you want to allow changes to and choose Allow or Don’t Allow.

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Need to know more?

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More to explore

See more resources and articles to help children stay safe online.

Why is there content filtering on my iPhone?

Apple devices can restrict Safari and third-party apps to specific websites. Organizations with simple or limited content-filtering needs use this feature. Organizations with complex or legally mandated content-filtering requirements should use global HTTP proxy or advanced content-filtering options.