Hello,
I have a few questions regarding URL Filter (iOS 26) and Content Filter Providers.
- URL Filter
According to the WWDC26 video, URL Filter appears to be available for both consumer and enterprise deployments. This seems consistent with the classic Network Extension Provider Deployment documentation (TN3134 – August 2025), where no specific deployment restriction is mentioned.
However, a more recent document (Apple Platform Deployment, September 2025) indicates the following for URL Filter:
“Requires supervision on iPhone, iPad and Mac” (with a green checkmark).
👉 My question: Is URL Filter actually available for consumer use on non-supervised iPhones (deployed on Testflight and AppStore), or is supervision now required?
- Content Filter Providers
From past experience, I remember that Content Filter Providers were only available on supervised devices.
Based on the current documentation, I am questioning their usability in a consumer context, i.e. on non-supervised iPhones.
In the Network Extension Provider Deployment documentation, it is stated that this is a Network Extension and that, since iOS 16, it is a “per-app on managed device” restriction.
In the more recent Apple Platform Deployment document, it states for iPhone and iPad:
“App needs to be installed on the user’s iOS and iPadOS device and deletion can be prevented if the device is supervised.”
👉 My understanding:
Supervised device: The Content Filter Provider is installed via a host application that controls enabling/disabling the filter, and the host app can be prevented from being removed thanks to supervision.
Non-supervised device: The Content Filter Provider is also installed via a host application that controls enabling/disabling the filter, but the app can be removed by the user, which would remove the filter.
👉 My question: Can Content Filter Providers be used in a consumer context on non-supervised iPhones (deployed on Testflight and AppStore), accepting that the user can uninstall the host app (and therefore remove the filter)?
Thank you in advance for your feedback.
Sources:
TN3134 => TN3134: Network Extension provider deployment | Apple Developer Documentation
Apple Platform Deployment / Filter content for Apple devices => https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/deployment/dep1129ff8d2/1/web/1.0