Mac child account setup

Create an Apple ID and user account for your child to enable Screen Time parental controls on Mac.

Video tutorial

Why you need a child account

• Enables Screen Time - Parental controls only work when your child has a separate account
• Prevents admin access - Standard accounts can't change system settings or disable protections
• Remote management - With Family Sharing, manage Screen Time from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
• Age-appropriate restrictions - Child accounts (under 13) have automatic content restrictions
• Privacy - Keep your files, apps, and settings separate from your child's account

Before you start

You'll need:

• Your own Apple ID (parent/guardian)
• Family Sharing set up (or you'll set it up during this process)
• Your child's information (name, birthdate)
• The Mac where your child will have an account
• About 20 minutes for setup

Step 1: set up Family Sharing

Family Sharing lets you manage your child's Apple ID and Screen Time remotely.

On your Mac:

1. Click the Apple menu () → System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS)
2. Click your name at the top
3. Click Family Sharing
4. If you don't have a family group, click Set Up Family and follow the prompts
5. If you already have Family Sharing, proceed to Step 2

On your iPhone/iPad:

1. Go to Settings → tap your name at the top
2. Tap Family Sharing
3. If not set up, tap Set Up Your Family
4. Follow the prompts to create your family group

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

Step 2: create an Apple ID for your child

Option A: create during Family Sharing setup (recommended)

1. Go to System Settings → your name → Family Sharing
2. Click Add Member
3. Click Create Child Account
4. Enter your child's name and birthdate
   • Children under 13 are automatically supervised
   • Ask Permission for purchases is automatically enabled
5. Create an email address for your child (iCloud email)
6. Create a password
7. Set up security questions or verification
8. Agree to the terms and disclosures

Option B: from your iPhone/iPad

1. Go to Settings → your name → Family Sharing
2. Tap Add Member → Create Child Account
3. Follow the same steps as above

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

If your child already has an Apple ID:

1. Go to System Settings → your name → Family Sharing
2. Click Add Member
3. Select Invite People
4. Enter your child's Apple ID email
5. They'll receive an invitation to join your family
6. For children under 13, you'll become the manager of their account

Step 3: create a Mac user account for your child

Now create a user account on the Mac:

On macOS Ventura or later:

1. Click Apple menu () → System Settings
2. Click Users & Groups in the sidebar
3. Click Add User (you may need to click the lock icon and enter your password first)
4. For New Account, select Standard
5. Enter your child's full name
6. Enter an account name (username)
7. Create a password for the Mac account
8. Click Create User

On older macOS versions:

1. Click Apple menu () → System Preferences
2. Click Users & Groups
3. Click the lock icon and enter your admin password
4. Click + to add a new user
5. Select Standard from the New Account dropdown
6. Enter your child's name, account name, and password
7. Click Create User

Step 4: link the Apple ID to the Mac account

When your child signs into their Mac account for the first time:

1. Sign out of your account (Apple menu → Sign Out)
2. At the login screen, select your child's account
3. Enter the password you created
4. During setup, sign in with your child's Apple ID (the one you created in Step 2)
5. Complete the setup process

If they're already signed in to a different Apple ID:

1. On your child's Mac account, go to System Settings
2. Click their name at the top
3. Click Sign Out
4. Sign back in with the Apple ID you created for them

Step 5: enable Screen Time for your child

From your device (remote management):

1. On your iPhone/iPad/Mac, go to Settings → Screen Time
2. Under Family, tap your child's name
3. Turn on Screen Time if not already enabled
4. Set a Screen Time Passcode (don't share this with your child)
5. Configure restrictions:
   • Downtime - Set bedtime hours
   • App Limits - Limit time on specific apps
   • Content & Privacy - Block inappropriate content

Directly on your child's Mac:

1. Sign into your child's Mac account
2. Go to System Settings → Screen Time
3. Turn on Screen Time
4. Click Use Screen Time Passcode and create a passcode
5. Under Family Sharing, your child should appear as supervised

Official guide: Use Screen Time on your Mac (opens in a new tab)

Step 6: verify everything is set up correctly

Check Family Sharing:

1. On your device, go to Settings → your name → Family Sharing
2. Verify your child appears in the family list
3. Tap their name and confirm "Child" status

Check Screen Time remote access:

1. Go to Settings → Screen Time
2. Your child's name should appear under Family
3. Tap their name—you should be able to see and edit their restrictions

Test on the Mac:

1. Sign into your child's account on the Mac
2. Have them try to access a website you've blocked
3. Try to access System Settings → Screen Time (it should require the passcode)

Troubleshooting

"My child isn't showing in Family Sharing"

1. Make sure you created their Apple ID through Family Sharing (or invited them)
2. If invited, ensure they accepted the invitation
3. Check that both devices are connected to the internet
4. Sign out and sign back into your Apple ID

"Screen Time settings aren't syncing"

1. Verify both devices are signed into the correct Apple IDs
2. Check internet connection
3. Go to Screen Time settings and toggle off/on
4. Wait a few minutes—sync can take time

"I can't find the option to create a child account"

1. Make sure Family Sharing is set up first
2. Update to the latest macOS version
3. Try creating the child account from your iPhone/iPad instead

"My child can access Screen Time settings"

1. Set a Screen Time passcode if you haven't already
2. Make sure you're managing their Screen Time through Family Sharing, not locally
3. Verify their Mac account is Standard, not Administrator

"My child has administrator access"

1. Sign in with your administrator account
2. Go to System Settings → Users & Groups
3. Click your child's account
4. Change account type from Administrator to Standard
5. Restart the Mac

Account types explained

Official resources

• Set up Family Sharing (opens in a new tab)
• Create an Apple ID for your child (opens in a new tab)
• Set up users on Mac (opens in a new tab)
• Use Screen Time on your Mac (opens in a new tab)
• Set up Screen Time for a child (opens in a new tab)

Next steps

After creating your child's Apple ID and Mac account:

1. Configure parental controls - Set up Mac Screen Time settings to block browsers and restrict apps
2. Install WhitelistVideo - Add the extension to Chrome on your child's Mac
3. Verify account type - Double-check that your child's Mac account is set to Standard (not Administrator)
4. Test Screen Time - Make sure the passcode blocks your child from changing settings