Create an Apple Account for your child

Instead of sharing an account with your child, which can give them unwanted access to your personal data, create an Apple Account for them. Then you can easily set age-based parental controls, and they can use Family Sharing, Messages, the App Store, and other Apple services.

How to create an Apple Account for your child

Children under 13 can’t create an Apple Account on their own1. But if you’re the Family Sharing organiser or a Family Sharing parent or guardian, you can create an Apple Account for your child.

To verify that you’re an adult, you may need a credit card. On your iPhone, you can also verify with an ID card added to Wallet where available.

On your iPhone or iPad

  1. Go to Settings > Family.

  2. Tap the Add Member buttonNo alt supplied for Image.

    iPhone Settings showing Family settings, with the Add Member button highlighted
  3. Tap Create Child Account, then tap Continue.

    iPhone showing a Family Sharing invitation, including the option to Create Child Account
  4. Enter the child’s name and date of birth. Make sure you enter the correct birthday.

  5. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up the account. For your child’s Apple Account, you can use their email address, the suggested @icloud.com address or their Game Center nickname.

On your Mac

  1. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Family.

  2. Click Add Member.

    Mac System Settings showing Family settings, including the button to Add Member
  3. Click Create Child Account.

    Mac System Settings showing Family Sharing invitation, and the Create Child Account button
  4. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up the account. For your child’s Apple Account, you can use their email address or their Game Center nickname. Make sure you enter the correct birthday.

If you need to connect your child’s device to your family group

If you set up a new iPhone or iPad and choose a child or teen age range, you can choose to connect that account to a Family Sharing group later.

Reset a child’s Apple Account password

If you are the Family Sharing organiser or a Family Sharing parent or guardian, you can help reset a child account’s Apple Account password using your iPhone.

Find out how to reset your child’s Apple Account password

About settings and features for kids under 13

Some Apple Account settings and features work differently for children under 13. For example, a child under 13 can’t create an Apple Account without permission and consent from a parent or guardian. Find out about updating the birthday of a child account.

The minimum age for account creation may vary across countries and regions:

  • Under 14 in Austria, Bulgaria, China mainland, Cyprus, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, South Korea and Spain.

  • Under 15 in Czechia, France, Greece, Peru and Slovenia.

  • Under 16 in Brazil, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Singapore and Slovakia.

  • Under 13 in all other countries and regions.

Need more help?

Tell us more about what’s happening, and we’ll suggest what you can do next.

Get suggestions

Published Date: