Block Websites
How to Block Websites on a Supervised iPhone
Using supervised mode for iPhone, you can block websites and URLs in a more permanent way that is hard to bypass.
When an iPhone is set up in supervised mode, it enables a more robust enforcement of website and URL restrictions. Unlike Apple's standard screen time feature, supervised mode provides a URL filtering approach that blocks adult content in a way that's extremely difficult to circumvent.
iOS devices have a built-in content filter similar to the one available through Screen Time. The content filter can be enforced on a supervised device.
Prerequisites
In order to get access to the supervised mode content filter for iOS, you need to meet the following requirements:
If you've already gone through the process of supervising an iPhone, then you should be able to follow this guide and start configuring the content filter.
Configuring the Supervised Mode Content Filter
To install the Adult Content Filter onto your Supervised iPhone, visit the Tech Lockdown dashboard. Go to Tools > iPhone > Config Presets, then get the Built-in Adult Content Filter preset.
You can then download the preset onto your iPhone in one of two ways:
- By scanning the QR code on the dashboard. This will require that both the camera and default web browser is enabled.
- By downloading the Config Preset onto a computer, then sending it to your iPhone by Airdrop or email.
Continue following the instructions on the Tech Lockdown dashboard to fully install the Config Preset.
If you want to enforce the Config Preset and prevent it from being removed, make sure that the Uninstall Prevented switch is toggled on.
In order to remove the Config Preset later, you will need to unlock your Tech Lockdown profile and install the removable version of the Config Preset.
Compatibility Issues and Additional Considerations
If you're using Safari on your iPhone, this URL filtering approach tends to work pretty well. However, you might notice inconsistent results in other web browsers or you might find that it's difficult to use a default-deny approach effectively without conflicting with the iOS apps you want to whitelist.
To account for this, consider combining supervised website blocking with a DNS Content Policy , which is a more comprehensive and easier to manage approach to website blocking.
You can block entire websites categories without having to specify every URL that should be blocked.
You can even block websites based on keywords to target website domains that use certain words:
This blocking approach works on all kinds of other devices as well and you can manage these block rules in a single unified dashboard.
Another advantage to this approach is that you can schedule app usage on all kinds of devices to disable the internet connection for the app store or web version of apps that you specify depending on the schedule you specify.
This approach works great alongside supervised app blocklists. It saves you the time of determining each URL that you need to add to the supervised Content Filter Unallowed URL section.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enable Supervised mode on an iPhone or iPad?
In general, you will reset the iPhone and use device supervision software on a connected Mac or Windows device to prepare the iPhone.
For the exact steps and process, check out our guides .
Is it possible to disable Private Browsing Windows in Safari?
Yes, by installing the Built-in Adult Content Filtering preset, private browsing is disabled in Safari.
How do I uninstall a Config File or Preset?
Please view our help doc here .