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How to restrict Siri web search and Game Center features in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16

Apple has been granted a patent for “Unconventional Virtual Assistant Interactions” involving Siri.

With Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, you can restrict Siri web searches and restrict Game Center features.

To restrict Siri web searches:

° Go to Settings and tap Screen Time.

° Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, then tap Content Restrictions.

° Scroll down to Siri, then choose your settings.

You can restrict these Siri features:

Web Search Content: Prevent Siri from searching the web when you ask a question.

° Explicit Language: Prevent Siri from displaying explicit language

To restrict Game Center features: 

° Go to Settings and tap Screen Time.

° Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, then tap Content Restrictions.

° Scroll down to Game Center, then choose your settings.

You can restrict these Game Center features:

° Multiplayer Games: Prevent the ability to play multiplayer games with everyone, allow with friends only, or allow with anyone;

° Adding Friends: Prevent the ability to add friends to Game Center;

° Connect with Friends: Prevent the ability to share a Game Center friend list with third-party gamers;

° Screen Recording: Prevent the ability to capture the screen and sound; 

° Nearby Multiplayer: Prevent the ability to enable the nearby setting;

° Private Messaging: Prevent the ability to voice chat or send or receive custom messages with game and friend invitations;

° Profile Privacy Changes: Prevent the ability to change profile privacy settings;

° Avatar & Nickname Changes: Prevent the ability to change Game Center avatars and nicknames.

(This how-to is based on my experiences and info on Apple’s support pages.)

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.