iOS child account setup

Create an Apple ID for your child and add them to Family Sharing to enable Screen Time parental controls on iPhone and iPad.

Video tutorial

Why you need a child Apple ID

• Enables Screen Time - Without Family Sharing, you cannot manage your child's Screen Time remotely
• Prevents unauthorized changes - Your child cannot disable Screen Time without your passcode
• Prevents app deletion - Control which apps can be deleted on your child's device
• Activity monitoring - View app usage, screen time reports, and content restrictions
• Find My - Locate your child's device and manage Family Sharing features

Before you start

You'll need:

• Your own iPhone or iPad with iOS 16 or later
• Your Apple ID (signed in and as the family organizer)
• Your child's information (name, birthdate)
• Your child's iPhone or iPad
• About 15 minutes for setup

Step 1: Set up Family Sharing (if not already enabled)

If you haven't set up Family Sharing yet:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings
2. Tap your name at the top
3. Tap Family Sharing
4. Tap Set Up Your Family if this is your first time
5. Follow the prompts to complete Family Sharing setup

Official guide: Set up Family Sharing (opens in a new tab)

Step 2: Create an Apple ID for your child

On your iPhone or iPad (parent device):

1. Go to Settings → tap your name → Family Sharing
2. Tap Add Member
3. Tap Create Child Account
4. Enter your child's name and birthdate

5. Review and agree to the Parent Privacy Disclosure
6. Enter the security code from your credit card on file (Apple requires this for parental verification)
7. Create your child's Apple ID:
   • Enter a name for the account
   • Choose an email address (you can create an @icloud.com address)
   • Create a password (help your child choose a secure one they can remember)
8. Turn on Ask to Buy when prompted (recommended)
9. Turn on Share Location when prompted (recommended for Find My)
10. Review the terms and conditions and tap Agree

Official guide: Create an Apple ID for your child (opens in a new tab)

Step 3: Sign in on your child's device

On your child's iPhone or iPad:

1. If setting up a new device:

   • Follow the setup assistant
   • When prompted, sign in with your child's Apple ID (created in Step 2)

2. If the device is already set up:

   • Go to Settings → tap Sign in to your iPhone/iPad
   • Enter your child's Apple ID and password
   • Enter the verification code sent to your (parent's) device

3. Complete the sign-in process

Step 4: Verify Family Sharing and Screen Time

On your (parent's) iPhone or iPad:

1. Go to Settings → tap your name → Family Sharing
2. Verify your child's name appears in the family list
3. Tap your child's name
4. Tap Screen Time
5. You should see Screen Time options for your child's device

Verify on your child's device:

1. On your child's device, go to Settings → Screen Time
2. It should show "This iPhone is managed by [Parent's Name]" or similar
3. Your child should not be able to turn off Screen Time without your passcode

Step 5: Set a Screen Time Passcode

On your (parent's) device:

1. Go to Settings → tap your name → Family Sharing
2. Tap your child's name
3. Tap Screen Time
4. Tap Turn On Screen Time if not already enabled
5. Tap Use Screen Time Passcode
6. Enter a 4-digit passcode (don't share this with your child)
7. Re-enter the passcode to confirm
8. Enter your Apple ID and password for passcode recovery

Troubleshooting

"I can't create a child account"

1. Make sure you're the family organizer (the person who set up Family Sharing)
2. Verify you have a valid payment method on file (required for parental consent)
3. Check that you haven't exceeded the 5 child accounts limit per family
4. Try restarting your device and trying again

"My child's device isn't showing in Family Sharing"

1. Verify your child is signed in with the correct Apple ID
2. On your child's device: Settings → tap their name → check it shows your family name
3. Make sure both devices are connected to the internet
4. Try signing out and back in on your child's device

"Screen Time settings aren't syncing"

1. Ensure both devices have internet connectivity
2. Wait a few minutes for settings to sync
3. On your child's device, go to Settings → Screen Time → Share Across Devices (ensure it's on)
4. Restart both devices

"My child can change Screen Time settings"

1. Make sure you set a Screen Time Passcode (Step 5)
2. Verify the passcode is enabled: Settings → your name → Family Sharing → child's name → Screen Time
3. If your child knows the passcode, change it immediately

"I forgot the Screen Time Passcode"

1. Go to Settings → your name → Family Sharing → child's name → Screen Time
2. Tap Change Screen Time Passcode
3. Tap Forgot Passcode?
4. Enter your Apple ID and password to reset it

Age requirements

Official resources

• Create an Apple ID for your child (opens in a new tab)
• Set up Family Sharing (opens in a new tab)
• Use Screen Time with Family Sharing (opens in a new tab)
• Manage Screen Time for a family member (opens in a new tab)
• If you forgot your Screen Time passcode (opens in a new tab)

Next steps

After creating your child's Apple ID:

1. Configure Screen Time - Set up iOS Screen Time to block app deletion and restrict Safari
2. Install WhitelistVideo - Add the iOS Child App from the App Store
3. Test the protections - Make sure your child can't delete WhitelistVideo or access YouTube in Safari