To block Pornhub on an iPhone, use Screen Time, Content and Privacy Restrictions, then Web Content, and choose Limit Adult Websites. On Android, use Google Family Link and its content restrictions for Chrome, turn on SafeSearch, and require approval in Google Play. Set a parent passcode your child does not know, and add a router filter for extra cover. Menu names can differ by version.
Before you start: three quick decisions
Blocking works best when you set it up with your child, not behind their back. Before you open any settings, decide three things: which device you are protecting, which account the child uses, and who holds the parent passcode.
Write the passcode somewhere safe and choose one that your child cannot guess, such as a birthday or a repeated number. Tell your child what you are about to do and why, in a sentence or two. For example: "Some websites are for adults only, so I am putting a filter on every phone in our house, including mine where it makes sense."
Menu names change between software versions, so if a screen looks slightly different, search the settings for the key words used here.
iPhone and iPad: Screen Time step by step
Apple builds the controls into the device. You can set them on your child's phone directly, or through Family Sharing from your own phone.
- Open Settings and tap Screen Time. Choose to turn it on and mark the device as your child's.
- Create a Screen Time passcode that is different from the phone unlock code.
- Tap Content and Privacy Restrictions and switch it on.
- Open App Store, Media, Web and Games, then Web Content.
- Choose Limit Adult Websites. Apple then tries to filter adult pages in Safari and other apps that use its web engine.
- Under the same screen, use Never Allow to add any extra sites by name.
While you are there, set an age rating for apps, require approval for downloads and purchases under Ask to Buy, and turn on Communication Safety if it is offered for your child's account. These extras help with messages, not just websites.
Android: Google Family Link step by step
Family Link is Google's parental app. You install it on your phone, link your child's Google account and then manage their Android device from afar.
- Install Family Link on your phone and follow the prompts to add your child's account.
- Open your child's profile and tap Controls, then Content restrictions.
- Open Google Chrome and choose the option to try to block explicit sites.
- Open Google Search settings in the same area and keep SafeSearch turned on.
- Open Google Play and set approval for new app downloads and purchases, plus an age rating that suits your child.
Be aware that these filters are strongest in Chrome. If your child installs another browser, the filter may not follow, which is why app approvals matter so much. Many phone makers also add their own family tools, so check your handset settings too.
What the phone filters do not catch
Phone-level filters are a strong start, but they are not complete. Be honest with yourself and your child about the gaps so there are no surprises later.
| Gap | iPhone Screen Time | Android Family Link |
|---|---|---|
| Other browsers | Often covered | May need app approvals |
| Mobile data | Still covered | Still covered |
| Friend's phone | Not covered | Not covered |
| Parent passcode needed | Yes | Parent account |
Add more layers
Once the phone is set up, add layers around it. First, switch on a family DNS filter on your home router so every device is covered. Second, ask your mobile operator whether it offers a content filter for your child's SIM, because mobile data bypasses the router. Third, check the school and tuition centre rules on Wi-Fi and phones.
Finally, check that private browsing is disabled or limited where your phone allows it, and review installed apps every few weeks. Look especially for VPN apps, extra browsers and anything you do not recognise.
Put a reminder in your calendar to review the settings every three or four months. Children grow, apps change, and an update can quietly reset a setting you thought was permanent.
After the setup: keep the conversation going
Settings are the easy part. The harder, more valuable part is telling your child that if something upsetting appears anyway, they can come to you and will not be punished for it.
A good sentence to say aloud is: "No filter is perfect. If you ever see something that worries you, you will never be in trouble for telling me." Children who hear that early are far more likely to speak up later.
If your child finds a way round a block, treat it as information. Ask calmly what they were trying to do. The answer is often curiosity, pressure from friends or boredom, and each of those can be handled kindly.
Key takeaways
- On iPhone, Screen Time with Limit Adult Websites is the built-in block.
- On Android, Family Link plus Chrome filtering and SafeSearch is the usual route.
- Protect your parent passcode, or the other settings will not hold.
- Phone filters miss other browsers, mobile data and friends' devices, so add layers.
- Tell your child why you are doing it and that they can always tell you.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general information, not legal, financial or medical advice. Details about third-party services are based on public information and may change.