How to Setup Parental Control on Mac?

Every parent wants to invest in their kid’s safety. Whether it’s protecting them from dangers of the physical world or explicit online contents, we want our children to be safe while playing, working or surfing the internet.

Apple understands this. That’s why the tech giant included various parental control features in its Mac. There is just one question to ask now; how can you set it up?

Related: Setup parental control in iPhone.

Setting Up Parental Controls on a New User Account

If you only have one administrator account on your Mac, then you must create a separate login for your kids before you can add parental control. Here is how to set it up.

Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar and select System Preferences. Next, click the Parental Control icon on the last row of the preference menu.

You have two options to either convert your current Apple account to a parental control account or create a new account.

Select the option for creating a new account with the parental control feature and click continue.

A small window pops up where you’ll be required to input your admin Username and Password. Enter your details and click Unlock.

Now, input the following on the next screen.

• The child’s name
• The child’s age group
• Input the username and password
• Verify the password and add a password hint

After clicking on Create User, you may be required to set up an iCloud account. If your child doesn’t have one, then skip the process.

Setup Remote Access to Parental Control

Now that you have created an account with parental control, you have access to a range of other options. For example, you can restrict access and change privileges using another Mac device. All you need is the administrator username and password to begin. Here is how to do it.

Click the padlock symbol under the Parental Control window to access the administrative settings. Then, input the Username as well as the Password and select Unlock. Finally, select the settings icon and tick Allow Remote Setup.

Open the Parental Controls menu on the remote Mac and do the add the child’s Apple ID. Aside from setting up privacy preferences, you’ll be able to limit website access, manage app use and restrict its usage.

Setup Parental Control Time Limit

Another exciting part of the Mac’s Parental Controls feature is the time limit. Upon creating your child’s account, you’ll be able to place restrictions on the time usage on the computer. Here is how to set it up.

From the Parental Control menu, select the account you want to restrict and click on the Time tab to access more options. These include the Limit School Nights and Weekend options.

Setup Parental Control Using Third-Party Software

As compelling as the inbuilt Parental Control feature on Mac is, some third-party apps provide better options. These include;

1. Qustodio

A useful parental control tool, Qustodio offers the opportunity to monitor your kid’s social media activities and web searches. You’ll also be able to block any websites with explicit contents. With this software, you can create a safe place for your kids. So, how much does it cost?

While Qustodio has a free version, the software also offers a premium plan with an annual subscription of $50.

2. Norton

With its compatibility with macOS and the ability to enhance the native feature of the computer’s parental control, Norton may be the best parental control software in the market. So, what makes Norton so unique?

At $15 for the premium plan, this parental control software also provides additional features such as identity protection, location supervision, mobile app supervision, among others. Besides, the software vendor offers 30 days free trial to help you decide.

3. Safe Eyes

Safe Eyes takes parental control to the next level by providing an option of video monitoring. Created by McAfee, this software may be the most comprehensive tool in the market for monitoring your kids’ activities. It’s advanced feature include:

• Monitoring Instant messaging apps and Social Media
• Web Restrictions
• Setting Time Limits

Related: Setup parental control in Windows 10 PC.

Wrapping Up

With social media, online pornography and cyberbullying, not only is it important to know what your kids are doing online, but you must figure out how to protect them too. That’s what the parental control feature on your Mac offers.

However, its functions are a little limited. Although you can set time limit and limit website access, it doesn’t offer advanced features such as video monitoring. That’s where the third-party software come in. It allows you to create a safer environment for your kids at an additional cost.