TikTok Parental Controls: How to Set Up Family Pairing (2026)

Step 1: Link accounts with Family Pairing

You and your teen each need your own TikTok account, and both of you must be 13 or older.

1. Open Family Pairing. On both phones, go to Profile → Menu (☰) → Settings and privacy → Family Pairing.
2. Choose roles. Pick Parent on your phone and Teen on your teen's phone.
3. Scan the code. Your teen scans the QR code shown on your phone.

Step 2: Know the teen defaults

1. Private accounts. Accounts for ages 13–15 are private by default.
2. DMs off under 16. Direct messages are off by default for users under 16.
3. 60-minute daily limit. A 60-minute daily screen-time limit is on by default for all users under 18.
4. STEM feed. The STEM feed is on by default.

Step 3: Set screen time

1. Daily Screen Time. Set Daily Screen Time and a custom daily schedule.
2. Time Away. Schedule Time Away windows when TikTok is locked.
3. Wind Down. For under-16s, Wind Down shows a calming takeover after 10 p.m.
4. Breaks, dashboard and night notifications. Use screen-time breaks, review the dashboard, and mute notifications at night.

Step 4: Filter content and search

1. Restricted Mode. Turn on Restricted Mode.
2. Filter topics and keywords. Manage content topics and filter keywords and hashtags.
3. Search. Turn Search on or off.
4. STEM feed. Keep the STEM feed on or off.

Step 5: Set messaging and privacy

1. Direct messages. Restrict DMs or turn them off.
2. Interactions. Control comments, Duet, Stitch and downloads.
3. Social-graph visibility. See who your teen follows, their followers and accounts they've blocked.