WhatsApp parental controls
A genuinely locked-down account type exists now — but only for under-13s, and only as a new account, not a layer over an existing one.
- Time
- 12 minutes
- Difficulty
- A few steps
- Where
- Set up on the child’s phone, approved from yours
- Checked
- 2026-08
Recently changedParent-managed accounts launched in March 2026, with iPhone set-up simplified that August.
Before you start: A six-digit parent PIN. The child cannot unlink themselves.
Do this
- Install WhatsApp on the child’s phone
- At set-up choose Create a parent-managed account
- Enter their number and date of birth to generate a QR code
- Scan it from your phone, verify you are an adult, and set a six-digit parent PIN
The settings that matter
| Setting | Younger child | Teenager |
|---|---|---|
| Who can contact themUnknown senders go to you as a request to review. | Review everything | Not available — this account type is under-13 only |
| Group participationControls which groups they may join. | Approve individually | Not available |
What this does not do
- There is no equivalent for 13 to 17 year olds. If your teen already has a normal WhatsApp account, none of this applies.
- Messages remain end-to-end encrypted and invisible to you, by design.
What people get wrong
- Expecting to convert a teenager’s existing account. Parent-managed accounts are a separate account type for younger children.
Checked against WhatsApp parent-managed accounts
in 2026-08. Platforms change these settings often — if what you see does not match, the platform’s own
page is the authority, and we would be glad to be told.