How to lock games on your child's phone (iPhone and Android)

On an iPhone running iOS 27, open Settings → Family → your child → Screen Time → Time Allowances and set a daily limit for Games; use Screen Time Schedule to block games during school and bedtime. On iOS 26, use App Limits and Downtime instead. On Android, open the Family Link app → your child → Screen time → App limits, then limit or block a game. For a prayer pause, try a prayer lock app like Prayer Latch.

Games are designed to be hard to stop, which makes "just one more level" a nightly argument in a lot of homes. Both iPhone and Android include free parental controls that can limit or block games without a fight at the door. Steps below come from Apple's and Google's help pages as of October 2026. For families who want games to wait until after prayer, Prayer Latch, a prayer lock app, can lock them at set times on your child's phone.

Which control should I use?

How do I limit games on an iPhone with iOS 27?

iOS 27, released in September 2026, renamed and redesigned Screen Time. Every device in your Family Sharing group needs iOS 27 to use the new controls.

1. On your iPhone, open Settings → Family → [your child] → Screen Time.
2. Tap Time Allowances, then set a daily limit for the Games category (and others, like Social Media).
3. Tap Screen Time Schedule, turn on Schedule, tap Add Schedule and choose which categories are available during school, dinner and bedtime.
4. Under Always Allowed, add the apps your child can always use, like Phone and Messages.

How do I limit games on an iPhone with iOS 26?

1. Open Settings → Screen Time → [your child].
2. Tap App Limits → Add Limit, choose Games (or single games), tap Next, set a time and tap Add.
3. Tap Downtime, choose Scheduled and set the hours.
4. Set a Screen Time passcode and turn on Block at Downtime. Without a passcode, limits can be ignored once they're reached. See how to set a Screen Time passcode.

How do I stop my child installing new games on iPhone?

Turn on Ask to Buy in Settings → Family → [your child] → Apps & Websites → Ask to Buy. You'll get a request for every download, even free ones. To block games above an age, go to Content & Privacy Restrictions → Content Restrictions and choose an App Store age rating. Since iOS 26 the ratings are 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+ and 18+.

How do I lock games on an Android phone?

Use Google's free Family Link app on your phone, linked to your child's Google account:

1. Open Family Link and choose your child.
2. Tap Screen time → App limits.
3. Choose a game. Turn off Allowed to block it, or tap Set limit to give it a daily time.

Blocking takes effect within about 5 minutes once your child's phone is online. For set hours, go to Screen time → Schedules and turn on Downtime or School time. To control new installs, go to Controls → Google Play and choose the highest rating allowed under Apps & games.

Prayer Latch tip: Let your child pick the game that goes on Prayer Latch's Lock list, with an after-school lock time. It opens once they've prayed and held to say Amen, which turns a daily argument into a routine they agreed to.

Should I block games completely?

Usually, limiting works better than banning. A clear daily limit, set hours and a rule like "games after homework" teach self-control better than a lock your child spends all week trying to get around. Explain why, model it with your own phone, and loosen the rules as they show responsibility. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6, KJV).

Can I lock games until my child has prayed?

Yes. Prayer Latch locks the apps you choose, including games, at set times on the phone it's installed on. At each lock time, the games stay closed until your child prays, with a short guided prayer or their own words, and holds to say Amen. It works well for a morning or after-school lock time. It's a prayer pause, not a parental control: it has a free emergency unlock and can be turned off on the phone, so pair it with Screen Time or Family Link if you need a hard limit.

What about consoles and Roblox?

Consoles and many games have their own parental controls, like Xbox Family Settings, Nintendo Switch Parental Controls and Roblox's parental controls. The steps above cover phones only.

Pray before you scroll

Prayer Latch locks your chosen apps each morning until you pray. Your first 7 days are free, no card needed.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Updated October 27, 2026 by the Prayer Latch team at Janus Works LLC.