How To Set Up Mojave Parental Controls

Apple’s desktop operating system, Mojave (10.4), comes packed with powerful new tools and features. You want your kids to have a safe and happy experience, and by using Mojave parental controls preferences, you can manage, monitor, and control the time your kids spend on the Mac and the websites they visit.

Find out which version of macOS is installed on your device

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen.
2. Click About This Mac.
3. You’ll see the macOS name, followed by its version number.

Create a New User Profile on Your Mac

1. Log in to your administrator account.
2. Click the System Preferences icon in your Dock.
3. Click Users and Groups.
4. Click the lock icon to make changes.
5. Enter your password when prompted.
6. Click the + button below the list of users to add a new user.
7. In the New Account drop-down menu, choose Managed with Parental Control.
8. Select your child’s age (either 4+, 9+, or 12+).
9. Enter your child’s full name.
10. Enter an Account Name.
11. Enter a password for the user, and then enter it again to verify it.
12. Create a password hint in case the child forgets the password.
13. Click Create user.
14. Click the lock again to prevent further changes.

Set Parental Restrictions on Your Mac

1. Go to the Apple menu.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. Select Parental Controls.
4. Click the lock icon to unlock it.
5. Enter your administrator name and password (or use Touch ID if your Mac has a Touch Bar).
6. Select a user, then begin to customize their restrictions:
   • Time: Set time limits for weekdays, weekends, and bedtime.
   • Privacy: Allow your child to make changes related to privacy.
   • Web: Limit access to websites, or allow unrestricted access.
   • Apps:
     • Prevent your child from using the built-in camera.
     • Restrict them from joining multiplayer games in the Game Center.
     • Limit your child’s contact with other people through Mail.
     • Specify which apps your child can access.
   • Stores:
     • Disable access to the iTunes Store and the iBooks Store.
     • Limit a child’s access to music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books to only those with age-appropriate ratings.
   • Other:
     • Prevent your child from using Siri and Dictation.
     • Adjust printer and scanner settings.
     • Limit CD-burning and DVD-burning.
     • Hide profanities in the dictionary and other sources.
     • Prevent the Dock from being modified, and instead show your child a simplified, easy-to-use view of the Mac desktop.

Manage Parental Controls From Another Mac

After you set restrictions for a child on one Mac, you can manage parental controls from a different Mac that’s on the same network. Here’s how:

On the Mac your child uses:

1. Go to the Apple menu.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. Select Parental Controls.
4. Click the lock icon to unlock it.
5. Enter your administrator name and password (or use Touch ID if your Mac has a Touch Bar).
6. Select Manage parental controls from another computer.
   
   NOTE: If you don’t see this option, there may be a user selected on the left side of Parental Controls preferences. Command-click the selected user so there isn’t a user selected.

On the Mac you want to use to manage your child’s parental controls settings (i.e. your own personal Mac):

1. Go to the Apple menu.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. Select Parental Controls.
4. Click the lock icon to unlock it.
5. Enter your administrator name and password (or use Touch ID if your Mac has a Touch Bar).
6. Select the Mac your child uses.
7. Enter the administrator name and password for the Mac your child uses.
8. Select the user to be managed (your child).

That’s it! You can now change your child’s parental controls settings and monitor their activity logs.