Apple's iOS 27 Parental Controls Expand as Engadget Details Data and Live Activity Tips

The main change replaces App Limits with Time Allowances, which lets parents set daily totals and divide that time among categories such as social media, entertainment and gaming, or create custom categories. Ask to Browse requires parental approval before a child visits an unapproved website, with requests arriving in Messages. Communication Safety, which previously flagged nudity in Messages, AirDrop and FaceTime, now also detects and blurs graphic violence and gore. Ask to Add Contacts requires approval before a child can call or text a new phone number, and Pause Devices lets parents lock a child's device with one tap.

Apple simplified setup with age-appropriate app recommendations for new child accounts instead of placing every default app on the home screen. Default settings vary by age: for children under 13, Ask to Browse, Limit Adult Websites and contact management are on by default, while Communication Safety is enabled for everyone under 18. After a child turns 13, most other restrictions become parental decisions. Parents can build separate weekday and weekend schedules, layer category-specific caps within an overall daily limit, and enable Ask to Buy for purchases. The redesigned Screen Time dashboard provides an overview of usage, and Apple recommends revisiting settings periodically with the AAP's age-group guidance. Devices that cannot update will continue using older iOS 26 controls, creating a gap for families with older hardware.

Engadget also published a guide to reducing mobile data usage on an iPhone, aimed at users with limited plans, international travel or hotspot needs. The first option is Low Data Mode, found in Settings, then Cellular, where the iPhone lowers streaming and video call quality, turns off automatic updates and backups, and limits how often feeds refresh. Background App Refresh can be restricted in Settings, then General, then Background App Refresh, either by setting the master switch to Wi-Fi or by disabling it for individual apps. Apps can also be cut off from mobile data entirely in Settings, then Cellular, by disabling their sliders under the Cellular Data section.

The guide says users should review individual app settings, especially apps that show high data usage, to disable autoplay, lower default streaming quality, or enable data-saving modes such as those in Instagram and Spotify. Downloading media for offline use, including maps, shows, playlists and podcasts, can also cut data use, though downloads may expire or have limits. Engadget flagged Connectivity Assist in Settings, then Wi-Fi, as an easy-to-miss data waster because it uses mobile data alongside weak or busy Wi-Fi; it is not used when roaming or when Low Data Mode is on. Other suggestions include turning off automatic App Store downloads under Cellular Data, setting App Downloads to Always Ask or Ask If Over 200 MB, and disabling iCloud Backup over cellular. Using Wi-Fi and subscriber hotspots, such as Xfinity's xfinitywifi networks, can further reduce data use.

Another Engadget guide explains how to enable Live Activities on iPhone and CarPlay. Live Activities appear on the Dynamic Island and Lock screen, showing timers, navigation directions, music playback, sports scores, food delivery and flight tracking without requiring users to open the associated app. They should be enabled by default, but if they are missing, users can check Settings, then Apps, select the app and make sure the Live Activities slider is on. For Lock screen display, users can go to Settings, then Face ID & Passcode, confirm the passcode, scroll to Allow Access When Locked and ensure Live Activities is enabled.

On CarPlay, Live Activities are automatically displayed on the Dashboard, the split-screen view to the left of the app list, and appear as notifications at the bottom of the display when a full-screen app is in use. If they do not appear, users can open Settings in CarPlay, scroll down and confirm the Live Activities toggle and Suggestions in CarPlay or Suggestions in Dashboard option are on. Turning off Driving Focus may also help. CarPlay widgets can be added to the leftmost section of the Dashboard for quick controls and information.

Editor's Summary

Apple's iOS 27 parental controls add Time Allowances, Ask to Browse, Ask to Add Contacts, Pause Device and expanded Communication Safety, but require updated devices across a Family Sharing group. Engadget also detailed iPhone settings to reduce mobile data use, including Low Data Mode, Background App Refresh controls and Connectivity Assist, and explained how to enable Live Activities on iPhone and CarPlay. The guides show that many of the features depend on manual settings rather than automatic activation.