Kids nowadays spend hours on YouTube, which may not always be good. To restrict this, you can block YouTube on their iPhone and iPad. Once that's done, your child can't access it via the app or the browser. Here, we'll list all the different ways to block YouTube on an iPhone or iPad.

But before you do that, it's worth knowing Google has a YouTube Kids app. You may want to give that a go; it will only show kid-friendly videos. However, if your child is old enough to download and use normal YouTube, which you don't want, here is how to restrict or block it.

1. Restrict YouTube on iPhone Using Screen Time

Screen Time is a powerful feature that offers several blocking options, including parental controls. If you haven't enabled it, make sure you set up Screen Time on your kid's iPhone or iPad first.

Once that's done, here is how to use Screen Time to block YouTube on an iPhone and iPad:

1. Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
3. Enable Content & Privacy Restrictions and tap Content Restrictions.
4. Tap Apps and set the limit to 9+ or anything less than this.
5. Now, your iPhone will only show apps with an age rating of 9+ and below. YouTube's age rating is 12+, so it will be blocked.

If the YouTube app is already installed on the iPhone, it will vanish and become inaccessible. If it isn't installed, the App Store won't let anyone download it due to these restrictions.

The drawback of this method is that, along with YouTube, it will also hide other apps on your iPhone rated aged 12 and above. Any time you wish to unblock YouTube, follow the same steps as above, but in step 4, choose 12+ or Allow All Apps.

2. Remove the YouTube App and Block New App Installations

Another method to block YouTube is to delete the app from your kid's iPhone or iPad and, after that, restrict the installation of new apps.

The primary benefit of using this method over the first one is that you can download and keep apps of any rating. Once you think every app you need is there, you can delete the YouTube app and prevent new app installations.

Here's how to restrict YouTube on the iPhone or iPad by preventing your child from re-downloading the app again:

1. Take your kid's device and, from the Home Screen, long-press the YouTube app icon, then select Remove App > Delete App > Delete.
2. Now go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
3. Toggle on Content & Privacy Restrictions. Then, tap iTunes & App Store Purchases right below.
4. Tap Installing Apps and choose Don't Allow.

After doing this, the App Store will disappear and become inaccessible on the device. Therefore, you or your child can't download any new apps. To revert this, follow the same steps as above but choose Allow in step 4.

3. Block YouTube in Safari and Other iPhone Browsers

You can block the YouTube app using the above two methods. But a smart kid might figure it out and use Safari or any other browser to access it.

So, here's how to block YouTube in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers on an iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings and tap Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode.
2. Enter a four-digit passcode.
3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Toggle on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
4. Tap Content Restrictions > Web Content.
5. From here, choose Limit Adult Websites, which will block all such sites.
6. However, YouTube is not an adult site. So, by default, it won't be blocked. Therefore, under Never Allow, tap Add Website.
7. Type https://www.youtube.com and exit the Settings menu.

From now on, your child can't access YouTube inside Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or any other iOS or iPadOS browser. When they visit YouTube, they will see a notification explaining the site is restricted. Tapping Allow Website prompts them for the Screen Time passcode. Please note that your child will lose the option to use Private tabs in Safari after limiting adult websites.

To allow YouTube, follow the same steps as above, but under Never Allow, swipe left on the YouTube URL and tap Delete.

4. Set a Time Limit for YouTube on iPhone and iPad

If you don't want to block YouTube entirely but want to keep your kid's watch time in check, you can add a time limit to the app. Once your kid exceeds that time limit, Screen Time will block YouTube for the rest of the day.

Here's how you can add a time limit to restrict YouTube on your child's iPhone or iPad:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time. Remember to enable Use Screen Time Passcode. Otherwise, Screen Time will not be able to block YouTube later.
2. Tap App Limits > Add Limit.
3. To limit all entertainment apps, check the box for Entertainment. Otherwise, tap the dropdown arrow for Entertainment and choose YouTube > Next.
4. Set the desired time limit. Toggle on Block at End of Limit. Optionally, you may tap Customize Days to give more time on certain days of the week.
5. Finally, tap Add.

You have successfully set a time limit for YouTube. Your child can use the app for the amount of time specified by you. And once they reach the time limit, they'd have to resort to another app for entertainment. Your child can request more time, which you may then allow or deny from your device. Just don't share the Screen Time passcode with them!

Please note that this method won't prevent your child from watching YouTube in Safari or other browsers. To do so, you'll have to carry out another similar set of steps:

1. Go to Screen Time > App Limits > Add Limit.
2. Scroll down the list for Websites. Tap the dropdown arrow.
3. Tap Add Website and type youtube.com. Tap Done > Next.
4. Set the time limit. Toggle on Block at End of Limit. Tap Add to save.

To remove the app or website limit, just go to Screen Time > App Limits. Then, swipe left on YouTube or youtube.com, and tap Delete.

5. Use Guided Access to Keep Your Kid Limited to Just One App

You may use Guided Access to confine your child to any other app (like a learning app) except YouTube. When Guided Access is enabled, the iPhone or iPad restricts itself to just a single app.

Since swiping up or pressing the Home button doesn't exit the app, YouTube will be blocked or inaccessible for your child. Here's a detailed guide that shows you how to use Guided Access on an iPhone or iPad.

YouTube Is Now Successfully Blocked or Limited!

By now, you may have figured out which of the above methods to block YouTube works best for you. You may also use a combination of one or more methods if required. For instance, you could remove the app, limit the installation of new apps, and restrict YouTube in browsers.

Although YouTube Kids may be a safe route, you can still find several other video sites that are safe and fun for your kids today. You may want to explore and switch them over to those platforms instead.