Set up an iPhone or iPad for your kid
If you’re a parent or guardian in a Family Sharing group, you can use your iPhone or iPad to help set up a child’s new device with parental controls. When you bring your iPhone nearby, you can use Quick Start to set up a new device with an existing child account or create a new one. You can also set up the device manually.
Tip: During the setup process, select which apps your child can access to help them get off to a focused start.
Before you start
Make sure you have a Family Sharing group set up on your device. See Get started with Family Sharing. You also need to be signed in to your Apple Account on your device. If your child already has a Child Account, make sure they’ve been added to your Family Sharing group. If your child doesn’t have a Child Account, you can create one for them while you set up their device.
If you’re reusing an old iPhone or iPad for your child, make sure you create a backup, sign out of your Apple Account, and remove your personal information. For more information, see the Apple Support article What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad.
If you’re using Quick Start, your device must be on iOS or iPadOS 16 or later. Bluetooth® must be turned on.
Note: A Child Account is required for children under 13 and available for children up to 18. (Age may vary by country or region.)
Set up an iPhone or iPad for your child
Press and hold the side button or top button until the Apple logo appears to turn it on.
Select your country or region and your language.
When the Quick Start screen appears, bring your iPhone or iPad next to the new device to begin setup.
You can also tap Set up Without Another Device and follow the onscreen instructions.
Wait for an animation to appear on your child’s new device. Hold your device over your child’s device, then center the animation in the viewfinder.
Choose who will be using the new device, then tap Continue. Only children in your Family Sharing group who are under 13 appear on this screen during setup. Or choose Create New Child Account if you want to add a child who’s not in your Family Sharing group yet.
Note: Exact ages may vary by country or region.
Follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up your child’s device.
What’s next?
Get an overview of all the parental controls on your child’s device. See Explore parental controls on your kid’s device.
If you’re new to Family Sharing, explore the benefits. See Get started with Family Sharing.