How to Block YouTube on iPad (iOS 17 & iPadOS 18)
Block YouTube on iPad using Screen Time, including Split View workarounds, Shared iPad setup, and blocking Safari access. Free, built-in to every iPad.
What You'll Need
- The iPad your child uses
- Your own iPhone or iPad (for remote Family Sharing management)
- About 10–15 minutes
Blocking YouTube on iPad uses the same Screen Time system as iPhone. However, iPads have a few extra YouTube access points that iPhones don't — particularly Split View, Slide Over, and the iPadOS web clip feature. This guide covers all of them.
Part 1: Set Up Screen Time with a Passcode
If you've already done this on a shared Apple Family account, your iPad Screen Time passcode is already set. Verify it's active before continuing.
Open Settings on the iPad
Tap Settings → Screen Time.
Turn on Screen Time
If Screen Time is off, tap Turn On Screen Time → This is My Child's iPad.
Set a Screen Time Passcode
Tap Use Screen Time Passcode and set a 4-digit code your child does not know. This is separate from the device PIN — make them different.
Link to Family Sharing (if not already done)
For remote management, ensure the iPad is part of your Apple Family. Settings → [child's name at top] → Family Sharing. If they don't appear, invite them from your own Apple ID on your device.
Part 2: Delete the YouTube App and Block Reinstallation
Block app installation first
Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → iTunes & App Store Purchases → set Installing Apps to Don't Allow.
Delete YouTube
Long-press the YouTube app → Remove App → Delete App. With installation blocked, it cannot be reinstalled without your Screen Time passcode.
Also delete YouTube Kids if present
Repeat for YouTube Kids — it's filtered, but it's still YouTube content and can be a stepping stone back to the main app.
Part 3: Block YouTube in Safari
Go to Content Restrictions → Web Content
Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Content Restrictions → Web Content → Limit Adult Websites.
Add YouTube to the Never Allow list
Scroll to Never Allow → Add Website and add:
youtube.comyoutu.bem.youtube.commusic.youtube.com
Block YouTube Music too
YouTube Music (music.youtube.com) shows music videos and can be used to watch content. Add it to the Never Allow list.
Part 4: iPad-Specific — Close Split View and Slide Over YouTube Access
iPadOS supports Split View (two apps side by side) and Slide Over (floating panel). If Safari is blocked but another app has a built-in browser, YouTube content could appear in a split-screen panel.
Block all third-party browsers
Ensure no alternative browsers are installed — Chrome, Firefox, DuckDuckGo, etc. With app installation blocked (Part 2), no new browsers can be added.
Restrict Multitasking (optional, for younger children)
Settings → Home Screen & Multitasking → toggle off Allow Multiple Apps to disable Split View and Slide Over entirely. This is quite restrictive but appropriate for children under 8.
Check for web-clip shortcuts on the home screen
iPadOS lets users add website shortcuts to the home screen via Safari's Share menu. Check the home screen for any icon that looks like a YouTube shortcut (red play button) but isn't the official app. Delete any you find.
Part 5: Shared iPad Setup (School/Shared Family Device)
If multiple children — or you and your children — share one iPad, use Shared iPad mode or Managed Apple IDs.
Shared iPad mode requires Apple School Manager
Formal Shared iPad mode is an enterprise/education feature requiring Apple School Manager. For a home setup with multiple children, the simpler approach is separate Apple IDs under Family Sharing, each with their own Screen Time settings.
Set up separate user accounts per child
On a shared home iPad, each child should sign in with their own Apple ID (child accounts managed via Family Sharing). Screen Time settings are per-account — your child's account has YouTube blocked; your account doesn't.
Password-protect switching accounts
Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Account Changes → set to Don't Allow. This prevents them from signing out and creating a new Apple ID.
Restrict the iCloud account to one Apple ID per sign-in
Go to Settings → [child's name] → iCloud. Ensure the signed-in account is the family child account, not a personal account they've created.
Part 6: Block YouTube in Spotlight Search
iPadOS Spotlight Search can sometimes surface YouTube content from the Siri Suggestions or web search results.
Restrict Siri web search
Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Allowed Apps → toggle off Siri & Dictation if you want to prevent any web-connected Siri queries. Alternatively, leave Siri on but restrict web results.
Disable Spotlight website suggestions
Settings → Siri & Search → toggle off Show in App Library, Show in Spotlight, and Suggestions in App Library for any browser apps.
How Kids Bypass This
iMessage links: Friends can send YouTube links via iMessage, which open directly in an in-app browser — sometimes bypassing the web filter. To reduce this risk, go to Settings → Screen Time → Communication Limits and restrict who they can message.
AirDrop from another device: Content can't be "received" as a YouTube session this way, but a YouTube link dropped via AirDrop opens in Safari — where it will hit the Never Allow block. This is handled by your Safari filter, but monitor AirDrop: Settings → General → AirDrop → set to Contacts Only or Receiving Off.
Physical Screen Time passcode reset: Apple allows the Screen Time passcode to be reset via the Apple ID used to set it. Ensure your Apple ID has a strong password and two-factor authentication. Don't let them see you enter your Apple ID password.
Embedded YouTube in other apps: Apps like Reddit, Tumblr, and some games embed YouTube videos in-app. These bypass the Safari filter because they use in-app web views, not Safari. Screen Time's web filter doesn't cover in-app browsers from third-party apps in all cases. Add DNS filtering as a second layer.
Counter-Measures
DNS filtering covers embedded YouTube: Set your router's DNS to CleanBrowsing Family (185.228.168.168). This blocks youtube.com at the network level, catching in-app embeds that Screen Time misses on Wi-Fi.
Screen Time weekly reports: Go to Settings → Screen Time to see a weekly report of exactly which apps and websites were used. Review it on Sunday mornings. Any spike in Safari usage on a blocked domain will show as blocked attempts.
Check the Screen Time passcode is unique: The Screen Time passcode and the device PIN should be different numbers. Kids often try sequences like birth years — use something completely unguessable.
Apple Family Checkin: Enable Location Sharing in Family Sharing. It's not directly YouTube-related, but knowing you can see the device location tends to reduce all rule-bending.
Related Guides
How to Block YouTube on iPhone (iOS 17 & iOS 18)
Step-by-step guide to block YouTube on iPhone using Screen Time. Works on iOS 17 and iOS 18. Free, no apps needed.
By DeviceHow to Block YouTube on Android (Google Family Link)
Block YouTube on Android phones and tablets using Google Family Link. Free, works on all Android devices with a child Google account.
By MethodBlock YouTube with DNS Filtering (All Devices, Home Network)
Use DNS filtering to block YouTube on every device connected to your home Wi-Fi — including smart TVs, game consoles, and anything else. Free options available.
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