By Jack Hughes, President of Parent Tech Support
Keeping up with parental controls device updates is one of the most overlooked aspects of protecting children online. Parental controls are only as strong as the software running them. Jack Hughes explains why keeping your devices updated is critical to maintaining effective parental controls and protecting your children online.
Why Regular Updates Matter
Many parents invest time setting up parental controls on their children’s devices, only to have those protections fail because the software is outdated. Operating system updates and app updates frequently include patches for security vulnerabilities and improvements to parental control features.
When you skip updates, you leave gaps in your child’s protection. Outdated software can allow kids to bypass restrictions that were working perfectly before.
Common Issues with Outdated Software
- Parental controls stop working after a bug – Software bugs can disable restrictions, and updates are the only way to fix them
- New apps bypass old filters – Newer apps may not be recognized by outdated filtering systems, allowing children to access content you intended to block
- Security vulnerabilities – Unpatched devices are more susceptible to malware, phishing, and other threats that can compromise your child’s safety
- Feature gaps – Apple, Google, and other platforms regularly improve their parental control features, but you only benefit from these improvements if you update
Third-Party Parental Control Apps
If you use third-party parental control apps like Bark, Qustodio, or Net Nanny, keeping them updated is equally important. These apps rely on up-to-date databases to filter content and monitor activity. An outdated app may miss new threats or fail to work with the latest version of your device’s operating system.
Always check that your third-party apps are compatible with the latest OS version before updating.
Tips for Keeping Parental Controls Updated
- Enable automatic updates – Turn on automatic updates for both the operating system and all installed apps so you never fall behind
- Schedule regular check-ins – Set a monthly reminder to review your child’s device settings and ensure everything is working correctly
- Test after every update – After an update, verify that your parental controls are still active and functioning as expected
- Stay informed – Follow Parent Tech Support and subscribe to the newsletter to learn about important updates that affect parental controls
- Update all devices – Do not forget about tablets, gaming consoles, and any other internet-connected devices your child uses
Watch the Full Video
Jack walks through the most common update-related parental control failures and shows you how to prevent them.
Keep Your Defenses Current
Outdated devices are unprotected devices. Visit Parent Tech Support for exclusive guides and the latest news on keeping your children safe.
For more on related topics, read Jack’s articles on the ultimate parental controls strategy and 3 dangerous myths parents believe about parental controls.
