To enable restrictions on an iPhone 7, open Settings > Screen Time, turn on Screen Time, then tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and switch it on. On iOS 12 and later, this replaced the old Restrictions menu. If the phone still runs iOS 11 or earlier, the setting is at Settings > General > Restrictions > Enable Restrictions. The iPhone 7 can be updated as far as iOS 15, so most iPhone 7s use Screen Time.
Quick Answer
Settings > Screen Time > Turn On Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode > Content & Privacy Restrictions > turn it on, then choose what to limit.
Steps on iOS 12 to iOS 15
- Open Settings and tap Screen Time. Tap Turn On Screen Time if it’s off, and choose whether it’s your iPhone or a child’s.
- Tap Use Screen Time Passcode and set a four-digit code that’s different from the phone’s unlock passcode.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn the switch on. Enter the Screen Time passcode if asked.
- Set the options you need:
- iTunes & App Store Purchases: block installing or deleting apps and in-app purchases.
- Allowed Apps: hide built-in apps such as Safari or the Camera.
- Content Restrictions: set age ratings for apps, films and music, and limit adult websites.
- Privacy and changes: stop changes to Location Services, accounts or the passcode.
Steps on iOS 11 or Earlier
- Open Settings > General > Restrictions.
- Tap Enable Restrictions and create a restrictions passcode.
- Turn off the apps and features you want to block, and set allowed content ratings.
Which Menu Your iPhone 7 Uses
| iOS version | Where restrictions live |
|---|---|
| iOS 11 and earlier | Settings > General > Restrictions |
| iOS 12 to iOS 15 | Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions |
Check your version in Settings > General > About > iOS Version.
Troubleshooting
- Forgot the Screen Time passcode: On iOS 13.4 or later, tap Change Screen Time Passcode > Forgot Passcode? and sign in with the Apple ID used to set it. See what the restrictions passcode is.
- Want to limit who a child can contact? See setting contact restrictions.
- Settings look different: The phone may be on an older iOS. Update in Settings > General > Software Update.
- Changing the unlock passcode instead? See the iPhone 7 passcode guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a child turn restrictions off?
Not without the Screen Time passcode, so keep it private and different from the lock screen code.
Can I manage an iPhone 7 from a parent’s iPhone?
Yes. Add the child to Family Sharing and set Screen Time from your own device.
Is the iPhone 7 still supported?
It can’t update past iOS 15, so it doesn’t get new iOS features. Restrictions keep working on the version it has.
Summary
- Open Settings > Screen Time and turn it on.
- Set a Screen Time passcode.
- Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Choose purchase, app, content and privacy limits.
- On iOS 11 or earlier, use General > Restrictions.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.