Create a Child Account for your kid’s Apple devices
Creating a Child Account gives your child age-based protections that you can adjust anytime based on your family’s needs. When you create a Child Account and add your child to your Family Sharing group, you can add other adults as a parent or guardian to help manage their parental controls and share purchases and subscriptions with them.
Note: A Child Account is required for children under 13 and available for children up to 18. The minimum age for Child Account creation may vary across countries and regions. See the Apple Support article Create an Apple Account for your child.
Before you begin
If you haven’t yet, first set up Family Sharing. If you’re the Family Sharing organizer or a Family Sharing parent or guardian, you can create a Child Account and customize age-based settings.
Depending on your family’s situation, you may need to do one of the following options instead:
If you’re setting up your child’s first iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch: When you set up an Apple device for your child for the first time, you’ll be walked through creating their first Apple Account. You’ll also be guided through Screen Time and other parental controls during this process. See Set up an iPhone or iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch for your kid.
If you’re handing a device down to your child: If your child uses a device that’s been signed in to with your Apple Account, sign out of your account, then set them up with a Child Account using Family Sharing. This way your personal information stays separate and you get access to age-based parental controls. See What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, then follow the instructions below.
If your child’s age isn’t accurate: Some children may have an Apple Account that wasn’t set up with their correct birthday, so age-based settings might not work as expected. You can correct the birthday and, if needed, convert it to a child’s Apple Account. This way, your child can have age-based parental controls that you can customize based on your family’s needs. See Change an Apple Account to a Child Account.
Create a Child Account
Open your settings:
On iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app, then tap Family.
On Mac: Go to System Settings, then click Family.
Tap or click the Add button, then tap or click Create Child Account.
Enter your child’s name and birthday, then follow the onscreen instructions.