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Category: Tech Help

Phones, computers, passwords and backups.

How to Set Up Parental Controls on an iPhone

October 22, 2026 /

Handing a kid a phone is a big step. These settings make it a little less nerve-wracking.

Quick answer Set up Family Sharing and give your child their own Child Account. Then, from your own iPhone, go to Settings > Family > your child’s name. From there you can approve apps (Ask to Buy) and websites, set Screen Time schedules and daily time allowances, choose who they can contact, and set age-based content restrictions.
How to Set Up Parental Controls on an iPhone
Photo: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
What you need

  • Your iPhone and your child’s iPhone, both updated to the latest iOS
  • Family Sharing set up, with your child on their own Apple Account

Steps

  1. Get set up. Turn on Family Sharing and create a Child Account for your kid if they don’t have one. Make sure they aren’t sharing anyone else’s Apple Account, and add yourself to their contacts so their requests reach you.
  2. Open their settings. On your iPhone: Settings > Family > tap your child’s name. Set a Screen Time passcode they don’t know when asked.
  3. Approve app downloads. Tap Apps & Websites > Restrictions > Ask to Buy, and turn on Require Purchase Approval. Their downloads and purchases come to you for a yes or no.
  4. Filter websites. Apps & Websites > Restrictions > Filtering. Choose Limit Adult Websites, or Approved Websites Only so they have to ask for each new site.
  5. Set a schedule. Tap Screen Time Schedule, turn on Schedule, and add schedules (for example school nights) for the days you choose.
  6. Set time limits. Tap Time Allowances, then Add, to set daily limits for things like games or social media.
  7. Control contacts. Tap Allowed Contacts. Choose who they can talk to during Screen Time, and turn on Manage Contacts to approve their contact list.
  8. Turn on Communication Safety. It helps keep kids from viewing or sending photos and videos with detected nudity or violence.
  9. Set content ratings. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and pick age ratings for apps, music, movies, TV and books.

Good to know

Some of these settings, like Ask to Buy for kids under 13 and Limit Adult Websites for kids under 18, are on by default for child accounts. Menu names can shift a bit between iOS versions, and Apple’s support site has the current steps.

How to Back Up an iPhone

October 22, 2026 /

A phone at the bottom of a creek is a lot less painful when everything’s backed up.

Quick answer Easiest: Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, turn on Back Up This iPhone, then tap Back Up Now. After that it backs up on its own when the phone is locked, charging and on Wi-Fi. Or plug it into a Mac (Finder) or Windows PC (Apple Devices app) and back up there. You can do both.
How to Back Up an iPhone
Photo: Ka Kit Pang / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tools & materials

  • Wi-Fi and enough iCloud storage, or
  • A Mac or Windows PC and a charging cable

Steps

  1. iCloud: connect to Wi-Fi. Open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then iCloud Backup.
  2. Turn on Back Up This iPhone, then tap Back Up Now and stay on Wi-Fi until it finishes. If it says there isn’t enough space, you’ll need to free up iCloud storage or buy more.
  3. From now on, iCloud backs up automatically when the phone is locked, plugged in and on Wi-Fi. Check the “last successful backup” time on that same screen now and then.
  4. Mac: plug the iPhone in, open Finder, and select the iPhone in the sidebar. Tap Trust on the phone if asked.
  5. Under General, choose Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac. Check Encrypt local backup if you want your Health, Activity and saved passwords (Keychain) included, and write down the password. Click Back Up Now.
  6. Windows: install and open the Apple Devices app, plug in the iPhone, select it, and go to General. Choose to back up all of the data to this computer, optionally encrypt it, and click Back Up Now.
Safety: Don’t lose your encrypted backup password. Without it, that backup can’t be restored.

Good to know

  • iCloud backups are always encrypted. Computer backups are only encrypted if you turn it on.
  • If you use iCloud Photos or Messages in iCloud, those already sync to iCloud and aren’t part of the backup itself.
  • Computer backups don’t include things already in iCloud, Face ID or Touch ID settings, Apple Pay, or Apple Mail data.
  • If you turn off iCloud Backup, Apple keeps your last backup for 180 days before deleting it.

How to Spot a Phishing Text or Email

October 22, 2026 /

I get these fake “your package is delayed” texts all the time. Here’s how to know one when you see it.

Quick answer Be suspicious of any message you weren’t expecting that wants you to click a link, open an attachment, pay something or “confirm” personal information. Don’t click. If you think it might be real, contact the company using a phone number or website you already know is genuine. Report phishing texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM), phishing emails to reportphishing@apwg.org, and either one to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How to Spot a Phishing Text or Email
Photo: Chris Lappas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

How to spot it and what to do

  1. Ask: was I expecting this? And do I even have an account with this company? If not, it’s very likely a scam.
  2. Look for the usual stories. “Suspicious activity on your account.” “Problem with your payment.” An invoice you don’t recognize. A package that can’t be delivered. A government refund. Free prizes or gift cards. A low-interest card or student loan help.
  3. Look for pressure. Scams want you to act now, before you think it over.
  4. Look at the greeting and the ask. Generic greetings are a warning sign. Real companies won’t text or email you a link to update your payment information or ask for account details by text.
  5. Don’t click, don’t reply. Links can lead to a fake login page that steals your password, or install harmful software. Attachments can too.
  6. Check it the safe way. Go to the company’s real website or app by typing it yourself, or call a number from your statement or the back of your card. Not the number in the message.
  7. Report it, then delete it. Forward texts to 7726 (SPAM), use “Report Junk” in your messaging app, forward emails to reportphishing@apwg.org, and report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Safety: Clicked or typed something in? If you gave out a Social Security, credit card or bank number, go to IdentityTheft.gov for the exact steps. Change the password on that account and anywhere you reused it. If you opened an attachment, update your security software and run a scan.

Protect yourself ahead of time

  • Turn on automatic updates for your phone and computer.
  • Turn on multi-factor authentication (a code or key on top of your password) for email and banking.
  • Back up your phone and computer, so a bad click can’t take everything with it.

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