Create an Apple Account for your child
Creating an Apple Account for your child helps make sure they can use their device and Apple services safely with age-appropriate settings in place. It allows you to easily set age-based parental controls.
How to create an Apple Account for your child
Parents or guardians have to create an Apple Account for children under 13 (age requirements vary by country or region). Creating a Child Account allows you to manage your child’s Screen Time and parental controls.
If you haven’t yet, first set up Family Sharing. If you’re the Family Sharing organiser or a Family Sharing parent or guardian, you can create an Apple Account for your child with age-appropriate settings in place.
On your iPhone or iPad
If you haven’t yet, set up Family Sharing.
On the Family Sharing organiser’s device, go to Settings, then tap Family.
Tap the Add Member button
.
Tap Create Child Account, then tap Continue.
Enter the child’s name and birthday. Make sure you enter the correct birthday.
You might be asked to confirm that you’re an adult.
For your child’s Apple Account, you can use the suggested @icloud.com address. You can also tap “Already have an email address for [child’s name]?” to use their existing email.
Create a strong Apple Account password that your child can remember.
Follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up the account. If you need help, learn more about the parental controls and options you can set up.
On your Mac
If you haven’t yet, set up Family Sharing.
On the Family Sharing organiser’s device, go to the Apple menu , click System Settings, then click Family.
Click Add Member.
Click Create Child Account.
Enter the child’s name and birthday. Make sure you enter the correct birthday.
You might be asked to confirm that you’re an adult.
For your child’s Apple Account, you can use the suggested @icloud.com address. You can also click “Already have an email address for [child’s name]?” to use their existing email.
Create a strong Apple Account password that your child can remember.
Follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up the account. If you need help, learn more about the parental controls and options you can set up.
Get help finishing setup for for an Apple Account for your child
Choose a phone number that can be used for two-factor authentication when your child signs in to their Apple Account. You can choose a phone number of the Family Sharing organiser or another adult in the family. If your child has their own phone number, tap or click “Use a Different Number for [child’s name]”.
You have the option to set up parental controls that can help you manage the apps and websites your child can access, who they communicate with, when they use their devices, and more. Depending on your state, country or region, and your child’s age, some parental controls are on by default and can’t be removed.
Choose if you want to turn on Ask to Buy to approve what your child purchases or downloads from the App Store and other Apple media services. Depending on your state, country or region, and your child’s age, Ask to Buy might be on by default and can’t be removed.
Choose if you want to share the child’s location in Find My with the Family Sharing group.
If you’re setting 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.
If you are the Family Sharing organiser or a Family Sharing parent or guardian, you can help reset a child’s Apple Account password using your iPhone. Learn how to reset your child’s Apple Account password.
Settings for kids by country and region
Some Apple Account settings and features have varying requirements for children and teens. Age requirements can vary by country or region.
Find out more about region-specific rules for managing an Apple Account
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