Apple's new parental controls wait until the whole family updates
The redesigned Screen Time controls need every eligible family device on version 27 before parents can switch.
Apple · Macfolio · 7 October 2026
Apple redesigned parental controls in version 27 of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, with some features on watchOS 27. Changes include Screen Time Schedules, Time Allowances for games and social media, and Ask to Browse approvals for new websites in Safari.
Apple's family guide says the redesigned experience requires updating all eligible devices in a Family Sharing group to version 27 or later. That covers every eligible device in the group, not only the child's. Parents can then transfer existing controls or set up new ones.
This does not mean older hardware loses parental controls. Apple says devices that cannot update can keep using the Screen Time and Family Sharing settings from version 26 or earlier.
Check the family device list before changing rules
Our take: in Settings, or System Settings on a Mac, open Family, choose View Family Devices, and update what you can first. A forgotten Mac in a drawer or a student's laptop can hold up the switch.
Apple's guide does not spell out how legacy devices and the new controls work together in a mixed family. Early reports of slow rollouts suggest allowing extra time and removing devices you no longer use from your Apple Account.