Help your child set up an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Set up your child’s device so that they can use Family Sharing, keep their device secure, and more. If you already set up your child’s device, you can still adjust settings and set up features.
If your device and your child's new device are both updated to iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 or later, you can use Quick Start to set up your child's device with your preferred parental controls.
Set up Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode
Set up a passcode that your child can use to unlock the device. Don’t use the same passcode on your child’s device and your own device. Remind your child not to share their passcode.
You can also set up Face ID or Touch ID so that you can unlock the device with a glance or a touch. You can enroll an Alternate Appearance for Face ID and up to five fingerprints, so add your child’s and your own.
Set up Family Sharing
Family Sharing lets you and up to five other family members share subscriptions to Apple services like iCloud+ and Apple Music. You can also share purchases from the App Store, iTunes Store, and more, and help locate each other’s missing devices.
If you haven't set up Family Sharing yet, you can follow the onscreen steps to create an Apple ID for your child, turn on Find My, and set up parental controls like Screen Time and Ask to Buy.
If you already set up Family Sharing, skip to the next step.
Ask your child to enter their Apple ID and Apple ID password
An Apple ID is the account that you use with Messages, the App Store, and other Apple services. Everyone should have their own Apple ID, so don't share your Apple ID with your child. If your child uses your Apple ID, your child will have access to all your personal content, including text messages and photos.
If your child doesn’t have an Apple ID, you can create an Apple ID for them when you set up Family Sharing.
If your child already has an Apple ID, they should keep using it. Ask your child to sign in to appleid.apple.com and make sure that their birthday is correct.
Turn on Find My
After you turn on Find My, the people in your family group can share locations and help when a family member's device goes missing.
Set up parental controls
If you want to block or limit specific apps and features on your child’s device, set up parental controls. You can restrict explicit content, prevent purchases and downloads, set limits for games, and more.
Turn on Ask to Buy
If you want kids to get permission before they buy items, download free apps, or sign up for a subscription, set up Ask to Buy. Ask to Buy is automatically on for children under 13.*
*Age varies by country or region.
