How can I set up a kid's Apple account on their device?

There are good reasons to set up a kid with their own Apple account (also known as Apple ID or iCloud account). Learn what we recommend, and when you're ready, follow each step below.

Before you begin

Make sure you know your own (i.e. a parent's) Apple account's email & password. You'll need it at the end of this process (yes, even though you're setting up a kid's Apple account – it's a weird Apple requirement).

Step A: determine if your kid already has an Apple account within your Apple family group.

  1. On your own device (i.e. the parent's), open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Family (sometimes called "Family Sharing").
    • If you see your kid's name in the list, they have their own account and are in your Apple family group. You can skip this and the following section – head straight to Step C instead.
    • If your family group is not set up, then either:
      • A) Your spouse or partner hasn't invited you. Ask them to make you a guardian, then continue with this guide.
      • B) You haven't set one up. Tap Set Up Your Family and invite anyone who already has an Apple account, including any other parents/guardians.

Step B: create an account for your kid (if necessary).

To create a new kid Apple account, you can follow Apple's instructions, or here's a simpler version:

  1. Get your own iPhone in hand.
    • It is important to do this from the parent's phone, not the kid's device (which is unfortunately buggy).
  2. Open the Settings app.
  3. Tap Family (sometimes called "Family Sharing").
  4. Tap the add member icon (in the upper-right corner).
  5. Tap Create Child Account, and follow the prompts.
  6. If your kid already has an email address, you can use that as your kid's email identifier.
    • Otherwise we recommend just selecting Create a new Apple account.
  7. Don't turn on Screen Time, if you're asked to, as this could conflict with Screenable.

Step C: on their device, sign out of the current Apple account (if necessary).

If a parent or another kid is signed into their device, you'll need to sign out first. (If you have concerns about signing out of your own account, please read more in our advice about kid Apple accounts.)

  1. On your kid's device, open the Settings app.
    • If it says "Sign in to your iPhone" at the top right under "Settings", it's already signed out so you can skip to Step D.
  2. Tap the name/photo at the top to view the Apple account that the device is currently signed into.
  3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
    • If the button is disabled with a message that says, "Sign out is not available due to restrictions", this is (yet another) Apple Screen Time bug. Fix it from the parent phone by temporarily turning off your screen time passcode for the kid account you're trying to sign out of. Go to Settings > Family > Choose the kid to sign out > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode > Turn off Screen Time Passcode. Wait less than a minute, re-open settings, and try to Sign Out again.

Step D: sign your kid's device into their own Apple account.

  1. On your kid's device, open the Settings app.
    • Reminder that if it says their name at the top, they have an account and are already signed in.
  2. Tap Sign in to your iPhone at the top and enter their account email and password.
    • You may need to provide 2FA (two-factor authentication) via a text or code from your own device. You'll probably also need to enter that device's passcode.
    • (This will also sign them into iCloud, which is necessary for them to be detected as part of your Apple Family. If it doesn't for whatever reason, tap their name and you'll see "iCloud – Set Up >", which you should tap and set up.)

You should now see their name at the top of Settings – and you're done! Close this article and head back to the Screenable app to continue setup.