To set contact restrictions on an iPhone, use Screen Time’s Communication Limits: go to Settings > Screen Time (tap your child’s name if you manage their device through Family Sharing) > Communication Limits. Under During Screen Time, choose Contacts Only, Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact, or Everyone, and under During Downtime, choose specific contacts who can always get through. Set a Screen Time passcode, then turn off Allow Contact Editing so the limits can’t be bypassed by adding new contacts.
These limits apply to Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and iCloud contacts. This guide covers setup for a child’s iPhone and your own, managing a child’s contact list, related safety features like Communication Safety, and what the limits can and can’t block.
Before you start
- Your iPhone (and your child’s) should be on iOS 13.3 or later; newer iOS versions add more options.
- iCloud Contacts must be turned on for the device: Settings > your name > iCloud > Contacts. Communication Limits rely on it.
- For a child, set up Family Sharing and add them as a child account so you can manage their settings from your iPhone.
Step 1: Open Communication Limits
- Open Settings > Screen Time.
- If you’re a parent, tap your child’s name under Family. On the device itself, set up Screen Time first if it’s off.
- Tap Communication Limits. Enter the Screen Time passcode if asked.
Step 2: Choose who can communicate during Screen Time
Tap During Screen Time and pick one:
- Contacts Only – calls, FaceTime, and messages are only allowed with people in Contacts.
- Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact – also allows group conversations that include at least one known contact.
- Everyone – no limit, including unknown numbers.
Step 3: Set limits during Downtime
Tap During Downtime and choose Specific Contacts, then pick the people who can always reach the device, like parents. Everyone else is blocked while Downtime is on. Schedule Downtime in Screen Time > Downtime.
Step 4: Lock the contact list
- In Communication Limits, turn off Allow Contact Editing. This stops the child from adding, deleting, or editing contacts.
- Tap Manage [Child]’s Contacts (for child accounts) to add or remove contacts remotely from your iPhone. The first time, your child’s iPhone may ask them to approve.
Step 5: Protect the settings with a passcode
Go to Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode (or Lock Screen Time Settings) and set a code your child doesn’t know. For child accounts, the organizer’s passcode is required to change limits.
Related safety settings
- Communication Safety – in Screen Time > Communication Safety, turn on warnings when nudity is detected in photos and videos your child receives or tries to send in Messages, AirDrop, FaceTime, and more.
- Ask to Buy and app limits – control which messaging and social apps can be installed.
- Block specific numbers – open a contact or recent call and tap Block this Caller.
- Silence Unknown Callers – Settings > Apps > Phone (or Settings > Phone) sends unknown numbers to voicemail.
What Communication Limits don’t cover
- Third-party messaging apps, social media, and games with chat aren’t controlled by Communication Limits. Use app limits, content restrictions, or those apps’ own parental controls.
- Calls to emergency numbers are always allowed.
- If iCloud Contacts is turned off, limits may not work as expected.
On an older phone, see enabling restrictions on an iPhone 7.
Troubleshooting
- Communication Limits is grayed out – turn on iCloud Contacts and make sure Screen Time is on.
- Child can still message strangers – check that the setting isn’t Everyone and that the child isn’t using another app.
- Can’t manage the child’s contacts – the child’s iPhone needs iCloud Contacts on and the latest iOS; they may need to accept the request.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Communication Limits on my own iPhone?
Yes. It’s useful to limit distractions during Downtime while letting family members reach you.
Will my child know which contacts are blocked?
When they try to contact someone outside the limits, the iPhone shows that communication is restricted by Screen Time. They can send a request for more time or permission.
Do these settings work on iPad?
Yes. Communication Limits work on iPad for FaceTime, Messages, and iCloud contacts.
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.