The simplest way to block YouTube on iPad

The fastest method is to use Screen Time, Apple's built-in restriction tool. Screen Time lets you block specific apps entirely or limit how long they can be used each day. You do not need to jailbreak the iPad or install anything extra — the feature is already there.

Open Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap App Limits. From there you can add YouTube to a list of blocked apps, set a daily time limit, or restrict it during certain hours. If you set a time limit and the time runs out, YouTube becomes unusable until the next day resets. If you block it outright, the app icon stays on the home screen but tapping it does nothing.

The trade-off: whoever knows the Screen Time passcode can change these rules. If you are setting this up for a child or to limit your own use, choose a passcode you will not guess under pressure — something random, not a birthday or pattern.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Time is built into every iPad and blocks YouTube without installing anything or paying a fee.
  • You can block YouTube entirely, limit it to a certain number of minutes per day, or restrict it to specific hours.
  • Screen Time requires a passcode to change the rules, so choose one that is not straightforward to guess if you are trying to enforce the limit on yourself.
  • If you forget the Screen Time passcode, you will need to erase the iPad and set it up again to change the restrictions.
  • YouTube can still be accessed through a web browser unless you also block Safari or use a separate DNS-level filter.

Blocking YouTube completely with Screen Time

To block YouTube so it cannot be opened at all, go to Settings > Screen Time. If this is your first time using Screen Time, tap Continue and choose whether this is your iPad or a child's iPad. Then tap App Limits.

Tap Add Limit, then scroll down and tap YouTube. Set the limit to 1 minute. When the time runs out, the app will lock and show a message saying time is up. You can still unlock it by entering the Screen Time passcode, but this creates a friction point — you have to consciously override the block each time.

If you want YouTube completely gone without the option to unlock it, there is no single setting for that in Screen Time. The alternative is to delete the app from the home screen entirely. Long-press the YouTube icon, tap Remove App, then tap Remove from Home Screen. The app stays installed but is no longer visible, which works if you are trying to reduce temptation rather than enforce a hard rule.

Setting daily time limits instead of a complete block

If you want to allow YouTube but only for a set amount of time each day, Screen Time's App Limits feature does this. Go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits > Add Limit, select YouTube, and choose how many minutes per day you want to allow.

Once the time runs out, YouTube locks until midnight. The user can tap Ask for More Time and request an extension, which sends a notification to whoever set the Screen Time passcode. This is useful if you are managing an iPad for a child and want them to ask permission rather than having a hard cutoff.

You can set different limits for weekdays and weekends. Tap Edit on the limit you just created, then toggle on Customize Days. This lets you set 60 minutes on school days but 120 minutes on Saturday and Sunday, for example.

Blocking YouTube during specific hours

Screen Time also has a Downtime feature that blocks all apps during hours you choose. This is broader than blocking just YouTube — it affects everything except phone calls and apps you mark as Always Allowed.

Go to Settings > Screen Time > Downtime and toggle it on. Set the start and end times — for example, 9 PM to 7 AM. During those hours, all apps lock except the ones you add to Always Allowed. If you want YouTube blocked only at night but other apps available, add those apps to Always Allowed and YouTube will still be locked.

This approach works well if you want to enforce a bedtime rule or a no-screens period during dinner. The downside is that it blocks everything, not just YouTube, so you have to manually allow each app you want available during Downtime.

Blocking YouTube through Safari and web browsers

YouTube can be accessed not just through the app but also through Safari and other web browsers. If someone opens Safari and goes to youtube.com, Screen Time's app limits do not stop them.

To block YouTube in Safari, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Toggle this on, then tap Web Content. Choose Limit Adult Websites, then tap Add Under the Allowed Websites Only section, you can manually add websites you want to allow and block everything else. This is stricter but requires you to maintain a list.

Alternatively, choose Unrestricted and then tap the Restrict Web Content toggle. Scroll down to Restricted Websites and add youtube.com. This blocks the site in Safari but allows other websites. The downside is that determined users can work around this by using a VPN or a different browser, but it stops casual access.

What happens if you forget the Screen Time passcode

If you set a Screen Time passcode and forget it, there is no password recovery option. You cannot change or remove Screen Time restrictions without the passcode.

The only way to regain access is to erase the iPad and set it up again. Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This deletes everything on the device, so back up anything you need first. After the erase, you can set up the iPad fresh without Screen Time restrictions.

This is why Screen Time passcodes are effective — forgetting it is genuinely inconvenient, which discourages casual bypass attempts. If you are setting this up for yourself, write the passcode down and store it somewhere you will not lose it but also somewhere you cannot easily access in a moment of frustration.

Using DNS filtering as an alternative to Screen Time

If Screen Time feels too broad or you want a backup method, some home networks support DNS filtering. This blocks YouTube at the network level, so it cannot be accessed through any app or browser on that WiFi network.

This requires access to your router settings or a service like Cloudflare's Family DNS or OpenDNS. You log into your router, change the DNS settings to point to a filtering service, and add YouTube to the blocked list. Any device on that WiFi network — iPad, phone, computer — cannot reach YouTube.

The limitation is that this only works on your home WiFi. Once someone leaves the network and uses cellular data or a different WiFi, the filter no longer applies. It is useful as a layer of protection but not as a complete block if the iPad leaves the house.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone bypass Screen Time by restarting the iPad?

No. Restarting the iPad does not reset Screen Time restrictions. The blocks stay in place until the passcode holder changes them or until the time limit resets at midnight. Restarting is a common first attempt to bypass restrictions, but it does not work.

Will blocking YouTube through Screen Time also block YouTube Music?

Yes. Screen Time blocks the entire YouTube app, which includes YouTube Music if it is part of the same app. If YouTube Music is a separate app on the iPad, you would need to add it to App Limits separately to block it.

Can I block YouTube on one user account but allow it on another?

If the iPad has multiple user accounts set up through Family Sharing, you can set different Screen Time rules for each account. Each person has their own passcode, and restrictions explore only to that account. This requires setting up Family Sharing in Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing.

What if the person using the iPad uses a VPN to get around the block?

A VPN can bypass some network-level blocks but not Screen Time app limits. If YouTube is blocked through Screen Time, the app itself will not open regardless of whether a VPN is active. DNS filtering can be bypassed with a VPN, but Screen Time cannot.

Does blocking YouTube through Screen Time use up storage space?

No. Screen Time is a restriction tool that runs in the background. It does not install anything or take up meaningful storage. The YouTube app itself still takes up space if it is installed, but blocking it does not change that.